SpaceGodzilla

nihongo|SpaceGodzilla|スペースゴジラ|Supē-suGojira, is a modified clone of Godzilla featured in the Heisei era of Godzilla films. In "Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla" (1994), the film which introduced the giant monster, characters hypothesize that Godzilla cells somehow cast into space fell into a black hole and reemerged, mutated and now a partially crystalline life form, from a white hole. As to how its cells had entered space in the first place, the film offers two possibilities: either cells from Godzilla's previous clone Biollante escaped Earth orbit after the it did battle ("Godzilla vs. Biollante", 1989) or Mothra inadvertently carried the cells into space en route to deflecting a meteor headed for Earth ("Godzilla vs. Mothra", 1992). The Trendmasters toyline introduced SpaceGodzilla in its "Godzilla Wars" line, and introduced a slightly modified origin based solely on the Biollante theory, in which Godzilla cells did not become a crystalline life form through the exposure to Black and White Holes, but rather a fusion with a pre-existing crystalline life form.

The kaiju has not appeared since its titular debut in any other films, although an action figure of him and many other Kaiju can be seen in "".

Powers

SpaceGodzilla possesses powers similar to those of Godzilla, including the benefits of Godzilla's physical invulnerability and an oral energy weapon called the corona atomic breath which is inaccurate but capable of changing direction after being fired and being able to home on its target. The crystals extending from its shoulders grant SpaceGodzilla control over gravity; allowing SpaceGodzilla to fire gravity beams like those used by King Ghidorah from them, levitate itself or other objects, or even hurl its enemies through the air. As his power derives from cosmic energy, SpaceGodzilla can strengthen himself by materializing crystalline growths out of the ground to turn the Fukuoka Tower into a massive energy conduit. These crystals can also be used by SpaceGodzilla as impromptu projectiles through the use of his gravity manipulation or even as a cage which he used to imprison Little Godzilla. Other powers include a crystal force field strong enough to deflect Godzilla's atomic ray and the ability to encase itself within a harness of crystals which sprout from its back. While in its crystalline form, SpaceGodzilla gains powers of flight as well as increased defensive and offensive abilities. During its battle against MOGUERA in the asteroid belt, the crystals blocked the machine's plasma lasers and carved deep gashes into MOGUERA's hull with their sharpened points. SpaceGodzilla's crystalline form is also capable of firing gravity beams in any direction and can also cause disruptions in electrical equipment as it flies overhead. SpaceGodzilla's tail is surprisingly strong, as he managed to stab his tail through MOGUERA as well as release a burst of energy into MOGUERA through his tail. Finally, SpaceGodzilla seems to have the ability to home in on Godzilla himself; first landing on Birth Island, where Godzilla and his son reside.

Notes

Unlike Godzilla, who in the Heisei series of films is depicted as a force of nature, and being neither good nor evil, SpaceGodzilla appears to have an element of true malice, as the monster was said by the Cosmos to be headed to Earth for the purpose of killing Godzilla. Whatever further intentions the monster may have had, if any, are unknown.

Like Biollante upon defeat, SpaceGodzilla's physical body changed into particles of energy and ascended skyward. As Biollante was claimed to be immortal, this could mean that SpaceGodzilla may not have died either. To date, SpaceGodzilla has only reappeared in the Trendmasters toyline, and in the videogames "" and "Godzilla Unleashed".

Conceptual origins

SpaceGodzilla was an older idea that was originally planned to continue the Showa series (along with "Godzilla vs. the Devil") after "Terror of Mechagodzilla", but which had been scrapped. The concept would be pulled from obscurity in 1994, following the failure of TriStar Pictures to begin production on a planned Hollywood Godzilla film, which would be another four years in the making. The design was based on an alternate form of Godzilla featured in the 1993 Super NES videogame "Super Godzilla"; the design was reworked to incorporate crystals into the kaiju's form.

Original versions of the script called for SpaceGodzilla to face Godzilla and a second Mechagodzilla, a plan scrapped when it was realized that against the combined might of Godzilla and the machine which very nearly killed him the previous year would make the battle too one-sided. Instead, the less-powerful Moguera was revived and updated for this purpose.

Video Game Appearances

SpaceGodzilla first appeared in ' for the Game Gear. SpaceGodzilla's made another appearance in the '. One of the unlockable monsters, SpaceGodzilla is a very strong weaponry-oriented combatant. Able to call up crystal towers to speed his energy recharge rate (which otherwise recharges very slowly), SpaceGodzilla can use a variety of energy and missile-based attacks, from crystal shards, slamming his foe with a large chunk of crystal, making the towers fire energy bolts at the foe to his powerful corona atomic breath. SpaceGodzilla also uses energy in many of his melee attacks, and especially in his grabs and throws, levitating opponents and buildings into the air and catapulting them with his telekinesis. SpaceGodzilla is as tough defensively as Destoroyah, making him a powerful and difficult monster to defeat. He replaces Orga as the final opponent in hard mode. His rage attack is Crystal Prison where he causes an orange arua around his head and he then sends several crystals at his opponent. SpaceGodzilla is believed to have joined forces with the Vortaak, and made a deal to help control the monsters with his telekinesis, and in exchange would be allowed a spot as ruler of the Earth

SpaceGodzilla returned in "" as the final boss in story mode and the game's main antagonist. In the PlayStation 2 version, he is responsible for the crystals, and probably Obsidius' and Krystalak's creator. After being imprisoned in "Save the Earth", SpaceGodzilla tried to escape his prison, causing the crystals appearing across the planet. In the Wii version, he uses the crystals' radiation to escape his prison.