The Gravity of the Situation

Super Robot Wars features a number of mecha that have gravity-based powers, but none are more spectacular that Shu Shirakwa’s Granzon. The Granzon can effortlessly throw its enemies around by manipulating the gravity around them, and it can also create wormholes or fire miniature black hole clusters in order to crush them. Some of its attacks appear to break the laws of physics, but its innovative “anti-matter annihilation engine” gives it unparalleled control over gravity and spacetime manipulation. The mecha becomes even more imposing when it morphs into the Neo Granzon, and its final form is considered to be one of the strongest machines ever created. The Granzon’s command over gravity is obvious to all, but I can’t justify ranking it any higher on this list since its more of an elaborate vehicle than a proper character.

Hein seldom breaks his polite tone and uses an elegant fighting style with moves named after chess terms. All things considered, he’s remarkably mild-mannered for a guy who participates in street fighting tournaments. Hein works as a butler for a crime lord named Geese Howard, but his role is more akin to a bodyguard and he isn’t nearly as harmless as he appears. As he so aptly puts it, part of his job is taking out the trash. Although he tries to be modest, Hein takes a passive aggressive tone with his rivals and clearly has a sadistic side. By commanding a mysterious red energy, Hein is somehow able to alter gravitational fields. Whether he’s creating gravity traps to pull his opponents into the floor or conjuring gravity bombs to repel his foes, Hein relishes the opportunity to showcase his abilities.

Aleksandra “Zarya” Zaryanova is a celebrated athlete and one of the strongest women in the world. She seemed destined to shatter records and win championships, but she sacrificed personal glory to defend her country as a soldier in the Russian Defense Forces. Zarya was surrounded by post-war destruction as a child, and her interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding was informed by a desire to gain enough strength to protect her loved ones. Zarya’s primary weapon is a particle cannon, and her ultimate ability is her “Graviton Surge” which creates a temporary gravity well that pulls in all nearby enemies and renders them helpless against other attacks. The Graviton Surge doesn’t deal a lot of damage on its own, but it can stop anyone in their tracks. It’s somehow fitting for a weightlifter to incorporate gravity into their arsenal.

Even the biggest Mega Man fans will admit that Capcom was starting to run out of ideas by the time Mega Man 5 was released. (Electronic Gaming Monthly even gave the game the dubious “Too Many Sequels” award in their annual buyer’s guide.) I’ll concede that the game wasn’t exactly groundbreaking, but Gravity Man’s stage was creative and memorable even if the rest of the game wasn’t. At various points in the stage, the gravitation is reversed from the floor to the ceiling, and this dynamic is carried over into the fight with Gravity Man himself. His weapons are weak and his attacks are predictable, but no one can accuse Gravity Man of false advertising. He keeps things interesting by constantly shifting the gravity in his room, and his appearance on the game’s North American cover further cements his legacy.

In the original Strider, players had to contend with a computer that used a device called a gravitron to violently throw Strider Hiryu against walls and create situations where he would have to walk on ceilings. A computer would seem out of place on a list of best characters, but Juroung from the 2014 remake of Strider is a perfect fit. The powerful shaman appears to have the ability to control water at first, but his spectacular attacks are all made possible by a gravitron that’s embedded in his body. The gravitron in the first Strider game was a core component in a flying airship, but Juroung’s gravitron is optimized for combat. By manipulating gravity, Juroung forms water into different shapes like hands, insects, and pillars. When all else fails, he can also create powerful gravity wells that can freeze Hiryu in place.

Metal Storm takes place in the year 2501 in an era where mankind has colonized the solar system. After a computer on Pluto malfunctioned, the people on Earth watched helplessly as Neptune was destroyed by a super laser. Attempts to activate the station’s self-destruct system failed, so the Earth sent in the most sophisticated weapon they had. The M-308 Gunner is an all-purpose combat robot equipped with a gravity control device that allows it to flip from the floor to the ceiling at will. This ability made Metal Storm one of the most unique games of its generation. After the mission is completed, the Earth somehow gave M-308 Gunner the gift of everlasting life and enlisted its help to protect mankind from future threats. I think they probably should have given it immortality before the mission, but I’m not here to judge.

Sin is a destructive monstrosity who is believed to have come into being in order to punish the world for its hedonistic ways. With the possible exception of the Granzon, no one on this list has a stronger command on gravity than Sin. The gargantuan whale-like beast uses gravity for attack, defense, and even transportation. Its signature “Giga-Graviton” attack is strong enough to tear entire cities apart, and the gravity wells it creates suck in everything around it like black holes. Sin can also use gravitational fields as makeshift shields, and it can even propel these fields outwards in order to vaporize its enemies. Outside of battle, Sin manipulates gravity to allow its massive body to fly through the air. It eventually sprouts some feathery wings, but they’re not necessary for flight and are mostly there for decoration.

Layle is a snarky mercenary and one of a handful of “Crystal Bearers” who was born with the power to harness magic. A crystal located in his right cheek grants him the ability to alter the gravity of pretty much anything around him. His powers are useful in battle, as they allow him to turn innocuous objects into projectiles. He can also move his enemies against their will and even force them to fight among themselves! His abilities are helpful outside of battle too, as they allow him to activate switches from afar or latch onto ledges with an energy-based grappling hook. (The untrained eye could mistake Layle’s abilities with garden variety telekinesis, but his powers are directly tied to gravity.) The benefits of being a Crystal Bearer are many, but Layle tries to hide his powers since they make him a target for persecution.

VVVVVV is a retro platforming game that draws inspiration from 8-bit computer titles like Jet Set Willy and Terminus. Unlike most games in the genre, VVVVVV does not give players the ability to jump. Instead, they must manipulate gravity in order to progress through the game. Captain Viridian’s uncanny ability to invert his personal gravity lets him walk on floors and ceilings alike, and this ultimately allows him to avoid hazards and solve puzzles. Captain Viridian would be completely helpless without his special ability and would be woefully unequipped to climb a simple flight of stairs. However, his grasp on gravity allows him to navigate through complex, spike-lined mazes without breaking a sweat. These skills come in handy as he sets out to find his missing crew members after his spaceship is affected by mysterious “dimensional interference.”

Kat is Sony’s best character since the PS1 era and an easy choice for the top position on this list. At the onset of Gravity Rush, an amnesiac Kat wakes up in a floating city next to a mysterious cat that she names Dusty. Dusty’s origins are not fully explained, but the fantastical creature bestows Kat with the ability to manipulate gravity at will. This allows her to walk on walls or ceilings, and it even gives her the ability to fly! By controlling the direction gravity comes from, Kat can move around at incredible speeds and is resourceful enough to use her momentum to deliver devastating kicks. Kat also learns how to alter the gravity of other objects, and her powers could almost be likened to telekinesis. Intelligent, upbeat, and selfless to a fault, Kat is remarkably down-to-earth for someone who can take to the skies.