Some parallel inspiration for the new Viper?

[hoggydog]

As a fan of old school shmups I realised the similarities between the new Viper model and the Vic-Viper from the Gradius games.

see what you think:

Elite Viper:

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First Encounters Viper:

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Notice on the above the very basic shape (mainly down to the available technology at the time)

Now here is the Vic-Viper:

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... and the new model:

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Okay so the new model is much stubbier than the Vic but the twin forks and the side engine/wing pods not present on the original Elite model certainly look like a nod towards the Konami classic. All it needs really is a stubby tail fin and the look would be complete!

what do you guys think?

 

[Arkantes]

The viper does remind me of something, but not any of those. Instead, I present you the Hiigaran interceptor:

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I guess it's a pretty common design. (The hiigaran interceptor still looks better )

 

[Susimetsa]

The original Viper was Viper Mk I

Then FE2 and FFE introduced Viper Mk II

And now we have Viper Mk III

 

[EAGLE 5]

The original Viper was Viper Mk I

Then FE2 and FFE introduced Viper Mk II

And now we have Viper Mk III

FE2 only had the MK.I in it.

The Mk.II Was that curved shaped derivative from FFE.

It would be nice to have some Mk.I's flying around ED after all they were produced for virtually 100s of years and in use by every major police force it would be inconceivable for them to have completely disappeared by 3300.

 

[Susimetsa]

FE2 only had the MK.I in it.

The Mk.II Was that curved shaped derivative from FFE.

It would be nice to have some Mk.I's flying around ED after all they were produced for virtually 100s of years and in use by every major police force it would be inconceivable for them to have completely disappeared by 3300.

Ah, good to know - I played FFE a lot more than FE2, so it is difficult to remember that some of the ships weren't in both games.

And, yes, it would be great to see all three Viper models in Elite4 eventually. Viper Mk III is very cool, but I'd also like to see a modern reimagining of the curved Mk II and - of course - the traditional model as well.

 

[EAGLE 5]

Ah, good to know - I played FFE a lot more than FE2, so it is difficult to remember that some of the ships weren't in both games.

And, yes, it would be great to see all three Viper models in Elite4 eventually. Viper Mk III is very cool, but I'd also like to see a modern reimagining of the curved Mk II and - of course - the traditional model as well.

I played mostly FE2 but spent quite some time in FFE so it all evens out.

The original Viper was always my default go to ship for starting on Lave (also in FFE) because of its very small profile which makes it harder to hit and because you can fit it with an autopilot and beam laser from the start which makes you less of a target (or a crater on a planet) then attempting to start with the Cobra, a pulse laser and no clue about Newtonian flight

 

[hoggydog]

Ah I didn't realise the Viper in ED was an evolution of the original design. The variance from the original makes sense now.

Still think it looks like a small fat Vic-Viper though

and I can also see the similarity to the Hiigaran Interceptor too Arkantes. (although I believe they were not single seat fighters and more like small multi-crew cutters/corvettes?)


mind you I suppose any twin forked space ship is going to look vaguely similar, heck some could say it looks a bit like an A-Wing!

 

[Susimetsa]

heck some could say it looks a bit like an A-Wing!

A-Wing was always my favourite in SW canon.

 

[hoggydog]

A-Wing was always my favourite in SW canon.

Was always a B-Wing fan myself. I liked all the extra guns

 

[Arkantes]

and I can also see the similarity to the Hiigaran Interceptor too Arkantes. (although I believe they were not single seat fighters and more like small multi-crew cutters/corvettes?)

I can't find anything about that in the lore, but from what I remember of the artwork I think they were single-crewed. Interceptors were very fast and agile, corvettes were completely different beasts.

 

[hoggydog]

I can't find anything about that in the lore, but from what I remember of the artwork I think they were single-crewed. Interceptors were very fast and agile, corvettes were completely different beasts.

Well I must admit it is a while since I played either of the HW games but the scale of everything in the game just seemed so big to me. Even the little ships.