Mekamon V2 review | TechSwitch

It’s lower than a yr since we reviewed the primary iteration of Mekamon – a spider-like robotic designed to battle others of its variety, or digital enemies in augmented actuality through a smartphone app. Suppose Pokémon in actual life and also you’re a lot of the means there.Mekamon V2 is offered in white, black, and a fetching new gray camo sample. The camo is unique to Apple Shops, however all robots are appropriate with each Android and iOS. It’s additionally backward appropriate, so V2 bots can battle their V1 counterparts with none hassle. Mekamon’s creator, UK-based Attain Robotics, says it intends to proceed supporting its older fashions, so that you don’t want to fret about your bot turning into out of date when V3 struts into shops.DesignThe robotic itself seems similar to its predecessor, with 4 limbs (every with three joints), removable armor plates, and a pair of detachable ‘weapons’ atop its torso. The primary distinction is the sunshine inside its head, which now glows totally different colours to point its temper.When you lose a battle, or take away a bit of the robotic’s gear, it turns crimson and stomps angrily simply to verify there’s no confusion about its displeasure. Clip the accent again on, or emerge from battle victorious, and it’ll glow inexperienced whereas bobbing with enthusiasm.Picture 1 of 3Image 2 of 3Image three of 3The authentic Mekamon was solidly constructed, and its predecessor is much more strong – which is simply as nicely, as a few of its ‘dying’ animations contain the machine stiffening and toppling over on its again. In actual fact, animations have been improved throughout the board, giving Mekamon V2 extra character (and sass) than its predecessor. You’ll be able to even create your personal – extra on that in a second.Companion appWhen you first load the Mekamon app, you’ll be introduced with a brief comic-book fashion video summarizing some new lore, adopted by a menu that includes three choices: Play, Create and Uncover. Uncover is at present greyed out, however will ultimately function a obtain heart the place yow will discover content material made by different robotic homeowners. Attain Robotics hopes to have it up and working quickly, and can roll it out as a free replace as soon as it’s prepared.Once you launch Create mode – a brand new addition for V2 – you’ll discover two sections: MekaMotion and MekaCode.  The latter is at present unavailable, however will hopefully be unlocked earlier than Christmas. When full, it is going to let customers create applications for his or her robots utilizing blocks of pre-written code. This might be notably helpful for teenagers studying to code, and for colleges which have invested in a Mekamon for educating, or obtained one as a donation (schooling is a key precedence for Attain Robotics’ founder Silas Adekunle).One other new addition is Mekamotion, which helps you to obtain and create new animations on your Mekamon. On this mode, you may gently place the robotic’s legs like a clay stop-motion determine, then use the app to ‘seize’ every pose as a body of animation. When ‘unlocked’ for animation (individually or in teams), the legs tackle a sort of waxy flexibility, permitting you to bend them gently after which remaining of their new place till modified manually. Frames might be copied and pasted if you wish to repeat a movement. Generally you’ll should assist the Mekamon’s physique to attain a specific impact, and it appears like the method is perhaps simpler if the legs have been a bit of stiffer (typically the machine sags a bit of after being posed), but it surely’s a novel concept that works nicely on the entire. To get an concept of what’s attainable, there’s a choice of pre-made animations to obtain, together with twerking, a dab, and enthusiastic tail-wagging to make just some.Play and fightSelecting Play mode offers you two choices: Freedrive and Skirmish. Freedrive allows you to get a really feel for working the robotic, and supplies varied choices for tinkering with its motion, together with pace, step top and extra. Mekamon V2 strikes quicker than its predecessor, and there’s far much less latency between you working the controls and the robotic responding.One of many largest variations for Mekamon V2 is that the robotic now not requires a specifically marked map to orient itself. Simply set it down (it really works tremendous on onerous flooring and carpets) and it’s prepared to make use of instantly in Create or Freedrive modeBefore beginning a Skirmish, you’ll must spend a second strolling round together with your telephone to map out a battlefield. As you progress, the ground might be coated with a sample of squares in your telephone’s display, displaying the world the place the battle can happen. It’s not good, and might be foxed by objects like low tables, but it surely’s way more handy than the mat and usually works nicely.Picture 1 of 3Image 2 of 3Image three of 3Before getting into battle, you’ll be prompted to decide on a loadout. Every of those entails a special configuration of shields and weapons, and comes with totally different properties, reminiscent of pace and forms of assault.The robotic is steered utilizing two on-screen ‘joysticks’  – one controlling its motion (ahead, backward, left or proper) and the opposite altering the path by which it faces. It’s greatest to begin by standing instantly behind the robotic, however the motion quickly feels pure. To assault, guarantee your Mekamon is going through its enemy (actual or digital) then faucet and maintain the weapon controls. Watch out, although – fireplace too usually in speedy succession and your Mekamon will ‘overheat’, necessitating a cooldown interval earlier than you may resume battle.ConclusionMekamon V2 is nice enjoyable, and though it is missing some options at current, most of these are software-based and might be added with future app updates. There’s nice potential right here to get youngsters inquisitive about coding, and sharing their very own creations.Though it actually is not low cost, it is spectacular that Attain Robotics has managed to knock down the beginning worth from the primary robotic’s preliminary tag of $299.95 (£299.95, round AU$535). The dedication to backwards compatibility can also be reassuring.Mekamon is stocked in Apple Shops all through the US and UK, so if you happen to’re undecided whether or not to take a position you may head over and check out one out on the store ground. Simply do not blame us if you happen to’re nonetheless there making the robotic twerk when it is time for the workers to lock up for the night time.