Zoids Info

IGUAN[20]

During the Central Continent War era, the Zenebas Empire developed the Iguanodon-type Zoid Iguan.[20] At the time, in the realm of small-class Zoids, Godos enjoyed an invincible reign, and all small-class Zoids fielded by the Zenebas Empire were utterly defeated by it. To counter this, the Iguan was developed by capturing and studying a Godos.[20]

Although the machine’s structure resembled the Godos, its internals were completely newly designed.[21] It could be considered a sister machine to the Godos, but thanks to the introduction of equipment such as the Flexible Thruster Binder, its overall performance slightly surpassed the Godos.[20] With this machine, the Imperial Army gained a means of countering the Godos, but at the same time it was a bitterly ironic result—it proved the excellence of the Godos, and that (at that stage) only the Godos could truly oppose another Godos.[20]

At the outbreak of the Western Continent War, it was the second most mass-produced machine after the Molga,[20] and as part of the Guylos Empire’s battle forces—whose preparations had been completed even before the war’s start—it played an active role. Making use of its great deployment numbers in fortress assaults and similar missions, it filled the ground to the point of covering it, serving as the mainstay of armored divisions.[22]

During the Second Intercontinental War era, it was used as a main force machine of the Guylos Empire Army, but gradually gave way to its successor, the Rev Raptor.[26]

In this setting, it is portrayed as belonging to an independent lineage connected to the operational history of the Garius within the Zenebas Army, positioning it as not just a dead copy of the Godos but as an equal rival, with embellishments tying into the feud between the brother nations.

The continuity linking the HMM versions of Godos and Pteras in design is maintained, with the Iguan said to actually be based on a misidentified set of Pteras design data mistaken for a Godos improvement type. Thus, while its structure is lighter than the Godos, it has weaker impact in its kicks, compensated by clawed toes.

Due to production facility circumstances and issues stemming from shared parts, mass-production was hindered in the latter half of the First Central Continent War. In the Western Continent War, while it saw early use, its full-scale adoption was avoided because the base wild Zoids did not exist on the Western Continent. As a result, it was quickly replaced by the Rev Raptor, which had an abundance of wild counterparts there. Later, it was brought into favor by the Neo-Zenebas Empire, finally regaining status as a small-class mainstay.[27]

Meanwhile, in the series entry Iguan Marking Plus Ver, it is described as having undergone modernization after the Great Catastrophe of Planet Zi, due to its large number of surviving units, and being adopted as a main infantry Zoid of the Guylos Empire.[28]

(Old) refers to names of equipment during the Central Continent War. (New) refers to names of equipment during the Second Intercontinental War.

Small-caliber accelerated beam gun (Old) / Small-caliber anti-aircraft laser machine gun (New) Mounted on the head, two units. Externally identical to the beam gun (small-caliber anti-aircraft laser machine gun) equipped on the Godos.

4-barrel Great Launcher (Old) / 4-barrel Impact Gun (New) Equipped on the left foreleg of the Iguan.

Twin anti-aircraft gun (Old) / Twin anti-Zoid laser machine gun (New) Equipped at the tip of the tail. Externally identical to the twin anti-aircraft gun (twin anti-aircraft laser machine gun) equipped on the Godos.

Small-caliber electromagnetic gun (Old) / Small-caliber charged particle beam gun (New) Equipped on the tail. Externally identical to the twin Vulcan gun (small-caliber charged particle beam gun) equipped on the Godos.

Machine gun (Old) Equipped under the cockpit.[21]

Flexible Thruster Binder (New) Mounted on the back. A unit that improves mobility for short periods,[20] allowing jumps through use of the Magnésser System.[21] Thanks to this unit, it demonstrates superiority over the Godos in actual combat.[20]

Crusher Vice (New) Equipped on the right foreleg of the Iguan. Has a hardpoint on the side, sometimes mounting a small-caliber accelerated beam gun (small-caliber anti-aircraft laser machine gun).[20][29]

Takara Tomy Power source is a small wind-up power unit. Advances with a simple bipedal walking gimmick (hind legs consist of multiple parts but joints are fixed). Some parts such as the legs reuse those from Godos.

EMZ-22 Iguan Released February 1986. Listed as one of the Heavy Armor Specials.

EZ-017 Iguan Released October 1999. In addition to new coloring, anti-aircraft laser machine guns—previously optional—were mounted to the sides of the head like horns. In the overseas version released by Hasbro in America, the product name was “#017 Iguanasaur.”

Iguan (Dark Army Version) Limited release at the event Wonder Festival 2008 [Summer]. Some parts were molded in phosphorescent material.

HMM Series 39th release in the series. Released September 2013. Shares parts with the previously released Godos and Pteras, combined with original Iguan parts. Decals are Guylos Empire specification, but molding colors and the color guide in the assembly manual follow Zenebas Empire specification. The kit itself allows movement in joints, making forward-leaning poses and kicking poses possible. In addition to the flexible thruster on the back, three heat-dissipation hatches were added to the neck and tail. Moreover, instead of the auxiliary hardpoint on the right arm often shown with a laser machine gun in the battle story, the movable finger-like Crusher Vice can grip and hold additional weapons.

Zoids Battle Story (Shogakukan) Appeared in Zoids Battle Story Volume 1. Rolled out in ZAC 2034. With its overall superiority over the Godos, it played an active role in changing the power balance between the Zenebas Empire and the Helic Republic.[30]

Appearing in the episode “The Red Iguan Descends” included in Zoids Battle Story Volume 2, this is a modified Iguan for airborne troops. The machine’s name is taken from the card appendix of the school-year magazine[32], but within the battle story itself, the call sign (TAC name) “Cardinal (Red Bird)” was used when requesting support from allied forces.[33]

Its left forelimb retains the standard 4-barrel Great Launcher, but the right forelimb is equipped with a large gun. On its back are the main wings of a Pteras, though these were removed in the combat scenes after descent. Lieutenant Colonel Frost’s unit is colored red, while the wingmen’s Iguans are painted in dark yellow and olive drab camouflage.[33]

In Almehen, near the border between the Republic and the Empire in ZAC 2042, a unit under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Frost descended disguised as Pteras to attack the Republic’s Barnham River garrison. Deceived by the silhouettes, the Republic army was caught off guard, and the surprise attack succeeded. With Toby Duncan’s Psy-Curtis restraining the Barigater, the Cardinal fought valiantly against a large force of Godos. After more than 20 hours of continuous fighting, the unit was ultimately annihilated by a reinforcement force of the Republic’s Cannon Tortoise corps. However, they bought enough time for the Imperial reinforcements—limited-type Iron Kong Mk-II—to arrive, securing the invasion route.[33]

Appearing in ZOIDS2: Helic Republic VS Guylos Empire. This is an Iguan equipped with a Pile Bunker, which launches a special metallic spear and thereby enhances its close-combat ability.[34]

Similar modification examples are mentioned in the instruction manual for the CP-08 Pile Bunker Unit, but that version attaches directly to the arm section with the rubber caps removed. Because of this, it is not possible to recreate the same specifications as in the game version without modification. In addition, due to the weight balance being shifted by attaching the Pile Bunker, the kit cannot walk properly when assembled in this configuration.

A variation published on the back of the EMZ-22 Iguan package. This is a heavily armed type equipped with large energy packs and additional firearms across the machine. In exchange for increased weight and reduced mobility, it has acquired tremendous firepower.[21]

In the game Zoids - Resurrection of the Evil God! Genobreaker Chapter, it appears under the name “Heavy Iguan.”[note 5] In both the game’s fixed armament listing and the package illustration mentioned above, the 4-Barrel Impact Gun (4-Barrel Great Launcher) remains equipped.

A variation published on the back of the EMZ-22 Iguan package.[21] Both hands have been replaced with anti-aircraft guns, and anti-air radar has been mounted on the neck area. The intakes on either side of the waist were replaced with ammunition magazines, resulting in reduced mobility compared to the normal type.[21]

Appears in the games ZOIDS: Empire vs. Republic – Genetic Memory of the Mecha Lifeforms and ZOIDS2: Helic Republic vs. Guylos Empire. It is equipped with a medium-sized Zoid capturing device on its left arm. Other than this, it carries no weapons, but in Helic Republic vs. Guylos Empire the Flexible Thruster Binder was added to its equipment.[34]

An Iguan used in the Dark Army during the First Intercontinental War. Its coloring was changed to black and green, and all of its performance was improved.[36]