18,700
edits
Konoko's armor: Difference between revisions
replaced B&W version of "Mark I" with newly found color version and adjusted commentary accordingly; other formatting improvements
m (replaced underscores with spaces for easier editing) |
(replaced B&W version of "Mark I" with newly found color version and adjusted commentary accordingly; other formatting improvements) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The "Mark | Here we attempt to reconstruct the stages of evolution which Konoko's armor went through. The "Mark ''N''" terminology is unique to this article. Feel free to adjust, expand or redefine. See [[Konoko's gun]] for an examination of the evolution of her gun. | ||
{{TOCnonum}} | {{TOCnonum}} | ||
==Mark Zero== | ==Mark Zero== | ||
[[Image:Early Konoko model.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Early (earliest?) game model of Konoko]] | [[Image:Early Konoko model.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Early (earliest?) game model of Konoko]] | ||
Barely "armored" or TCTF-affiliated at all, the 3D model shown on the right still looks like Bungie's first attempt at a "uniform" that Konoko would wear in battle. | |||
Concept art of this design can be seen near the end of the 1998 trailer of Oni, as it flashes by at about 1:44-1:45 (huge thanks to [[User:Paradox-01|Paradox-01]] for the reconstruction effort). | Concept art of this design can be seen near the end of the 1998 trailer of Oni, as it flashes by at about 1:44-1:45 (huge thanks to [[User:Paradox-01|Paradox-01]] for the reconstruction effort). | ||
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px | <gallery mode=packed heights=200px class=center> | ||
Lost Konoko - Jacket.jpg | Lost Konoko - Jacket.jpg|Paradox's reconstruction | ||
Paradox - Jacket Konoko by Okita.png | Paradox - Jacket Konoko by Okita.png|Paradox's imagination | ||
Geyser - Jacket Konoko by Okita.png | Geyser - Jacket Konoko by Okita.png|geyser's imagination | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Despite the coarse detail of the video, as well as some minor discrepancies, this is clearly the same design: | Despite the coarse detail of the video, as well as some minor discrepancies, this is clearly the same design: | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
*the concept art's jacket seems to have some sort of "extension" attached, and | *the concept art's jacket seems to have some sort of "extension" attached, and | ||
*the lowermost section of the boots is much more detailed in the concept art. | *the lowermost section of the boots is much more detailed in the concept art. | ||
Just as the exposed belly and cleavage (fully in line with the late-1990s trend towards skimpy action heroines), the armor elements or Mark Zero are fairly generic overall, and were replaced with more unique-looking design starting with Mark I. | Just as the exposed belly and cleavage (fully in line with the late-1990s trend towards skimpy action heroines), the armor elements or Mark Zero are fairly generic overall, and were replaced with more unique-looking design starting with Mark I. | ||
One feature stands out, though: <u>the jacket</u>. Casually thrown over a skin-tight uniform, it is strongly reminiscent of Motoko Kusanagi from [[Ghost in the Shell]] (a ''major'' influence for Oni; no pun intended).<ref>As far as jackets go, Armitage III comes to mind as well, but Armitage's jacket is bundled with other skimpy clothing, whereas Motoko sports a more unique jacket-catsuit combination. Not sure which of the two "Mark Zero" is leaning towards the most.</ref> | |||
It is interesting how the jacket apparently survived the purge and ended up ([[:Image:Konoko Leather Render.jpg|with somewhat longer sleeves]]) in Konoko's in-game wardrobe, as well as in [[:Image:Biker Konoko.jpg|this promo art]]. | |||
==Mark I== | ==Mark I== | ||
[[Image:Early Konoko 1.jpg|thumb|right|150px]] | [[Image:Early Konoko 1 color.jpg|thumb|right|150px]] | ||
Like Mark Zero, this outfit is barely armored or TCTF-affiliated, but it is a clear precursor of the TCTF uniform as we know it. | Like Mark Zero, this outfit is barely armored or TCTF-affiliated, but it is a clear precursor of the TCTF uniform as we know it. | ||
;Wrist | ;Midriff | ||
: | :The bare midriff continues on from Mark Zero. | ||
;Wrist, collarbone, neck and shoulder guards | |||
:These are already the same armor pieces as in Mark II-IV: the orange inlays (a recurrent element of TCTF uniforms) make their appearance here, as well as the "domino" perforation on the wrist guard. | |||
;Fingerless glove design | ;Fingerless glove design | ||
:Ever since this iteration, Konoko's gloves have had a distinctive two-color design where the darker color only covers the middle and ring fingers but leaves the index, thumb and pinky "bare".<ref>The only iteration that didn't feature the "fingerless color scheme" seems to be the greatly simplified AIC intro version (Mark V).</ref> The actual "fingerlessness" is a separate aspect of the gloves: | :Ever since this iteration, Konoko's gloves have had a distinctive two-color design where the darker color only covers the middle and ring fingers but leaves the index, thumb and pinky "bare".<ref>The only iteration that didn't feature the "fingerless color scheme" seems to be the greatly simplified AIC intro version (Mark V).</ref> The actual "fingerlessness" is a separate aspect of the gloves: in Mark I and the final versions of the outfit (Mark VI and Mark VII), all the fingers are actually fingerless, whereas for Mark II all the fingers are clothed. | ||
;Armored garters | ;Armored garters | ||
: | :In this version we are already seeing the metal bands that TCTF Konoko wears around her thighs for some reason. | ||
:Unlike the other impractical details (straps/belt sticking out sideways, total lack of torso armor, gloves that are fingerless except for the index), the garters will become a persistent feature of Konoko's TCTF outfit, appearing in practically every iteration.<ref>Again, the only version of Konoko's outfit that doesn't have the metal garters is the greatly simplified Mark V (AIC intro).</ref> | :Unlike the other impractical details (straps/belt sticking out sideways, total lack of torso armor, gloves that are fingerless except for the index), the garters will become a persistent feature of Konoko's TCTF outfit, appearing in practically every iteration.<ref>Again, the only version of Konoko's outfit that doesn't have the metal garters is the greatly simplified Mark V (AIC intro).</ref> | ||
==Mark II== | ==Mark II== | ||
| Line 82: | Line 80: | ||
==Mark IV== | ==Mark IV== | ||
<div style="clear:left; float:right; background:none;"> | |||
<gallery mode=nolines class=right widths=250 perrow=1> | |||
1998 trailer 28.png | |||
1998 trailer 29.png|Not such an early model, it would seem (the armor is final, except for the bare midriff). | |||
</gallery></div> | |||
Featured in the 1998 trailer (as a 3D model), this uniform is practically the same as the final game model (that is, Mark VII), except that the "bare midriff" <strike>rears its ugly head</strike> flashes its pretty self one last time.<ref>Of course it is only Konoko's TCTF outfit that gets covered up in the midsection area following Mark IV. In-game, Konoko will still have three outfits out of seven featuring a bare midriff (casual clothes).</ref> | Featured in the 1998 trailer (as a 3D model), this uniform is practically the same as the final game model (that is, Mark VII), except that the "bare midriff" <strike>rears its ugly head</strike> flashes its pretty self one last time.<ref>Of course it is only Konoko's TCTF outfit that gets covered up in the midsection area following Mark IV. In-game, Konoko will still have three outfits out of seven featuring a bare midriff (casual clothes).</ref> | ||
| Line 97: | Line 93: | ||
To be completely fair, the trailer is rather fast-paced and the resolution is poor, so it's hard to tell if there are other differences between Mark IV and Mark VII, apart from the naked belly. | To be completely fair, the trailer is rather fast-paced and the resolution is poor, so it's hard to tell if there are other differences between Mark IV and Mark VII, apart from the naked belly. | ||
{{clearall}} | |||
==Mark V== | ==Mark V== | ||
Used exclusively in the AIC anime intro, this version doesn't seem related to any other armor design and comes across as greatly simplified: | Used exclusively in the AIC anime intro, this version doesn't seem related to any other armor design and comes across as greatly simplified: | ||