Battle Cougar

The Battle Cougar is a type of Zoid, a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe.

Overview
The Battle Cougar is a Griffin-type Zoid, used by the Helic Republic.

Rare amongst airborne Zoids, the Battle Cougar is able to function as both a land and an air combat machine. One of the fastest flying Zoids ever created, the Zoid is coprable to conteporaries like the Orudios or Gungyarados and far ahead of modern airborne Zoids like the Storm Sworder. Addtionally, the Battle Cougar is able to run and leap on the ground, with performance similar to that of a Liger-type Zoid.

In addtion to being very fast, the Battle Cougar is also very well armed. The Zoid carries a half-dozen medium to heavy beam cannons, and is capble of unleashing a devestating hail of fire on any target it faces. Backing them up are its powerful claws and beak, as well as a sharp horn. Its firepower can be further enhanced by use of Grade-Up wepaons on the Zoid's back.

The Zoid is also compatible with the Transfighter Zoids. Its usual partner is the Shoteagle, as both Zoids are capable of flight.

Battle Story appearances
The Battle Cougar first appeared in ZAC 2055, appearing in the aftermath of the Gilvader's defeat. The Helic Republic sent a force of new Zoids to invade the Guylos Empire by crossing over the polar reigon. Consisting of Battle Cougar, Godkaiser and King Baron and supported by the Transfighters, the force was intuially succesful. However, they encoutered a Guylos force consisting of the Ice Blazer and Gungyarados, and were repulsed.

The remaining Battle Cougars stayed were destoryed in ZAC 2056, when a metor struck Zi. In the aftermath, the Republic lost the abilty to manufacture the Zoid and were forced to rely on the older Pteras.

While the New American Release Battle Cougar doesn't have an "offical" battle sotry as such, fan specualtion suggests that it was developed on the Eastern Continent following the republic's defeat.

Video games
The Battle Cougar's sole media appearance is in the Game Boy Color game Jashin Fukkatsu! Geno Breaker Hen (Evil God Revived! Geno Breaker Story), where they appeared as "wandering monsters", and are one of the more difficult opponents in the game.

Original Japanese Release - Grade-Ups

 * Assembly required. (Snap-together, no glue needed. Scissors or X-acto knife recommended for trimming off excess plastic bits.)
 * The model's colours are moulded into the plastic, and it does not need any paint.

The Battle Cougar kit comes on five frames, along with a battery-powered motor, four gears on three axles, two metal contacts, a battery switch, eight rubber caps, a small chromed gold pilot and label sheets. The Battle Cougar is moulded in black, whilte and bright red and chrome gold.

The Battle Cougar is a part of the Grade-Up Series of Zoid kits. These models have spinning connectors that are powered by the Zoid’s motor. Optional weapons systems can be mounted on these connectors that have action features powered by the Zoid’s motor

The Battle Cougar’s construction isn’t overly complex or difficult, putting it roughly in the middle of the range for Zoid complexity. Like many of the other "Grade-Up" Zoids, the Battle Cougar's motor does not come as an assembled unit like other Zoids, and needs to be built. The Zoid uses a single "AA" battery for power. Once activated, the Zoid walks forwards, the power connection on its back spinning. The wings can be manually positioned, and the cockpit can be opened.

No specific extra weapons were made for the Battle Cougar, beyond the Grade-Up units that were used by all grade-up Zoids. unlike other Grade-Ups, the GU-03 Eye Flasher mounts on the Battle Cougar's back rather then its belly, and thus cannot be used with other grade-up weapons.

The Battle Cougar was first released in 1990.

Technozoids
The Battle Cougar was re-released as a part of the TechnoZoids line under the name Storm Tiger. The Zoid was recoloured in light grey, red, tan and chrome gold. Addtionally, it came with a recoloured version the GU-01 Dual Beam Cannon, the only time a Grade-Up wepon has been re-issued.

New American Release
The Battle Cougar was re-released in 2004 by Hasbro], and was one of the last Zoids released in the New American Release. Unlike other NAR Zoids, the Battle Cougar did not have a corridponding New Japanese Release version and, as such, was never re-released in Japan.

The NAR Battle Cougar was recoloured in bright yellow, light red, dull grey and beige. Addtionally, the Zoid's motor came pre-assembled, with the corrisponding parts allready deleted from the frames. The motor unit itself had several moulding changes, including the addtion of a pair of screws over the battery case. This suggests that the mould was re-created by Hasbro.

To avoid conflicting with the NJR numbering shceme, the Zoid was given the designation RZ-111 by Hasbro.