Hardbear

Hardbear
NBZ Hardbear
NBZ-02 Bear Type Beith Republic
Crew	1
Weight	30.0 tons
Depth	9.7 m
Height	5.7 m
Maximum Speed	180 km/h (111 mph)
Weapons	Bite Fang, Giant Claw (4), Triple Barreled Beam Cannon, Beith Impact Cannon (2), 6-Barreled Shock Gun
Equipment	Hard Point (2), Hard Armor (8)

The Hardbear (ハードベアー, Hādobeā) is a type of Zoid, a race of biomechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe.

Overview

While the Bravejaguar is probably the most visible of the Beith Republic's Zoids, the Hardbear is its most versatile. Its nominal primary role is for bombardment with its Beith Impact Cannons. However, it possesses thick armor and powerful claws that allow it to hold its own in melee combat, its aquatic operational capabilities let it make amphibious landings, and the hardpoints on its back provide for a wide variety of mission-specific equipment. There are numerous field variants of the Hardbear.

The Hardbear's functionality is enhanced by its usefulness as a component of a larger Zoid; it can combine with Bravejaguar and Hurricanehawk to form Bitegriffon, and with Bravejaguar and LB Murasame Liger to form Valkyrie Caesar.

Battle Story Appearances

When the Republic's Bravejaguars engaged the Dinas Groundrago units in the Imperial invasion, Hardbears provided the long-range firepower they needed in order to withdraw and cool down their systems. The Hardbears and Bravejaguars ultimately ran out of ammunition, however, and were only saved from being overwhelmed by the arrival of Hurricanehawks with which they could form Bitegriffons.

Although the Bitegriffons blunted the initial invasion force, the arrival of the Empire's G2 Rex turned the tide in Dinas' favor, and many Bitegriffons (and their Hardbear components) were destroyed.

Model

Hardbear Box art

Hardbear Box art (back)

Neoblox

The Hardbear was initially released in April 2006 as part of the Neoblox line. It includes one small, one medium and one large Neoblox and a gold-chrome Republic pilot. The Hardbear was also released in July 2006 as part of Bitegriffon and in September as part of Valkyrie Caesar.