Are Reaverbots...alive?

[satoh]

One might assume not, as to the average player, they probably seem like nothing more than robotic game abstractions that hinder you from the treasure at the end of the level... and sure... they are...

But is there more than that?

If they were really -just- security guards, woudln't they all just have a bunch of varying guns that shoot at all intruders... instead of complicated things like launching bombs, using flamethrowers... and lets not forget trying to smash you when it has a laser in its eye (looking at you Hanmuru Doll).

So now that I've planted that seed, lets look at two things...
One, Alpha, A, the first... Purpose. If they're so complicated, wouldn't you think that they had some other purpose than just killing Triggers?
Lets look at Hanmuru Doll. This is the easiest one to explain the function of for me...

What are its traits? It has a laser in its eye, it doesn't move quickly, it can launch its arms like rockets, and oh, yeah, it smashes things... What possible function would this thing have in any normal society?
Simple really. Garbage disposal, or possibly mining.

It uses its laser to cut a block out, then it smashes it into rubble, then it pushes it out of the way to cut another block.

So, with that in mind, you might still be thinking "how does this make it alive?"
It doesn't, but I've proven that its plausible for them to have other functions, next, we look at 4 specific reavers...

Mandomantal
It floats around, and does nothing. In fact it is so docile that you have to nearly obliterate it before it retaliates. How exactly is that a security feature?

Next, Wojigairon.
This gal is freaking huge, and mildly aggressive... or is she simply territorial? The only time it ever attacks when you first see it, is when you're encroaching on her room, she smashes the windows to bite you.. or maybe she's just getting a closer look, and is a bit...clumsy. (Got a lot of weight to throw around)
In fact, she spends most of her time eating liquid earth. Its only once the magma has cooled that she seems to really focus on Trigger. She'll nip at him once in a while, but know.. He's in her domain.

Balfura
It seems to serve no purpose at all except to get eaten... hardly a useful guardian... but speaking of which...

Galgalfummi
Large and in charge. Literally. It is the boss of the ruins. not only that, but it too is seen eating. Not just eating mind you, but in fact predating on Balfura!
Why would a simple robot need to eat at all, nonetheless eating other robots in its own chamber if these robots are simply for ruins security.

So I ask you again... are reaverbots alive?
Are they part of some strange ecosystem we simply don't understand?
Are some of them domesticated as beasts of burden, or are they built that way?
Are they built at all? At least two different reaverbots are seen 'giving birth' to other bots. (Gainee Toren; Hippulbash)

Please. Discuss.

[MegaTuga]

So you are saying that somewhat like the robot Masters in the classic series who have other uses rather than "Mega twerp smash"?

That makes sense. One could think that they were the ones who built the ruins that they live in for example.

Are they alive? I suppose that you should ask if they are sentient. Because being "alive" is a very discussed matter with robots.
Then yes, they are sentient. They seem to act on instinct but that's the way they are programmed, I'm pretty sure that they are capable of thought and that they are not animals.

Also, I always thought that behind the ruins's walls there was some sort of assembly line that we cannot access. Or they are built with remains of the deceased ones...

And then there is the Horroko that crystallized, the weird "human doll" (although I don't think we can take the curator's word for this one) and other random things that they seem to own more than just parts for themselves but possessions.

P.S.- Where did you get the idea that Hanmuru Doll has laser shots in it's eye? If you are mentioning the tutorial, that's just an effect of it's eye Lighting up.

[satoh]

Aug 20, 2013 8:18:27 GMT -5 MegaTuga said:

P.S.- Where did you get the idea that Hanmuru Doll has laser shots in it's eye? If you are mentioning the tutorial, that's just an effect of it's eye Lighting up.

Misadventures of Tron Bonne. It's one of the bosses you have to fight, and also a puzzle room. Since your kobun are horribly inept and you can't be there in person, you have to direct them to use floor switches to set it on fire repeatedly.
It attacks them and the Finkel your monitoring robot that also serves as "you" for that kind of dig) with its arms, and if you wait around a while and continually stay out of reach, it shoots a laser across the floor and up the wall hitting everything between it and the wall basically.

I understand why you might be skeptical about that comment if you hadn't played it, but I assure you, it is a thing, there's even a piece on it right here!

[RyanLEO]

Other than the Mandomantal and the things that just get eaten, I think the rest are for security since they are instantly hostile towards you. Plus the Hanmuru Doll actually followed megaman to keep fighting him.

The first time I played, I never thought the reaverbots had anything to do with the construction of the ruins. Was it ever actually confirmed who made all of the ruins? It could have been original humans who made the ruins and then constructed reaverbots.

[satoh]

Aug 20, 2013 17:49:25 GMT -5 RyanLEO said:

Other than the Mandomantal and the things that just get eaten, I think the rest are for security since they are instantly hostile towards you. Plus the Hanmuru Doll actually followed megaman to keep fighting him.

The first time I played, I never thought the reaverbots had anything to do with the construction of the ruins. Was it ever actually confirmed who made all of the ruins? It could have been original humans who made the ruins and then constructed reaverbots.

I disagree, I think that security is what they do, but not necessarily what they are for.

A pen is a decent weapon, cleaning tool, securing brace, lever, projectile, compass needle, paperweight, tongs, and generally a very versatile thing if you have a mind to use it, but while all of those things are common things pens do, none of them are what pens are for.

I feel reaverbots are the same. They had functions and/or employments when there were humanoid operators, but once the facilities stopped having workers, no one was around to give them instructions, so they fell back on secondary duties... keep out unauthorized persons.

Just like a janitor at a nuclear facility wouldn't idly let a bunch of obviously unauthorized persons roam about in the facility. Sure the janitor is only there to empty wastepaper baskets and keep the toilets reasonably whitish colored, but its not like they would sit around doing nothing while unsavory types went around stealing things and touching knobs and buttons.

I think its far less an intellect thing and more a primary versus secondary programming thing for Reavers, but lets not forget...

Are they ALIVE.
We know they eat, we know they reproduce, we know some even -breathe,- and also, they all have some sort of roughly animalian appearance.

I also on a side note, ask you this, are Yuna, Sera, Gatz, Geetz, Juno, and Trigger "alive?"
The first 5 are all at least in part, mechanical, and Trigger can be assumed as such too, since he was among the same classification as they.
Obviously one would assume that they are living things, they look and act like living things...

Reaverbots too though. They take on the appearance of life, and they mimic life and many life-processes...
I'm not asking, "what is life," I'm asking, are reaverbots in fact alive by the common sense of the word.
Reaverbots are certainly more alive, scientifically speaking, than a virus.

Again on function though, mechaniloids all had some function, and a lot of them were mundane, but they were employed as security forces and obstacles in every previous Megaman series.
Just because they do, doesn't mean they are.