Dark Horn

The Dark Horn (also written as Darkhorn) is a type of Zoid, a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional "Zoids" universe.Zoids
Zoid_name = Dark Horn
ImageName =
Caption = "New American Release" Dark Horn
Model_number = DPZ-10
Faction = Guylos Empire
Zoid_type = Styracosaurus
Crew = 3
Weight = 115
Length = 20.8
Height = 13.5
Width = 8.3
Speed = 130
Weapons = Hybrid Vulcan Cannon, Beam Launcher, Crasher Horn, Smash-Up Tail, 80 mm Surface to Air Double Barrelled Beam Cannon, Anti-Zoid 3-Barrelled Linear Cannon, SSM-Pod, TEZ 20 mm Linear Laser Gun (2), AEZ 20 mm Beam Gun (2), High Pressure concentrated Sulfuric Acid Powder Cannon
Equipment = All-Weather 3D Radar Antenna (4), Composite Sensor Unit, Infra-Red Laser Searcher

Overview

The Dark Horn is a Styracosaurus-type Zoid, created by the Guylos Empire, based on the older Zenebas Red Horn.

The Dark Horn is one of the “Dark” Zoids that use a special power source. The Zoids cores are bonded to a material found only on the Dark Continent of Nyx called Deochalcum, likely after the legendary metal Orichalcum. This allows them to absorb light and heat into their bodies and convert it into power for their weapons systems. As a result, while the Dark Horn is only a mid-sized Zoid, it is devastatingly powerful. The Dark Zoids give off a distinctive green glow from their power plant and other components.

The Dark Horn differs from the Red Horn in that it mounts a large Hybrid Vulcan cannon (popularly mistranslated as ‘Hibilt Balkan’) on its back. The weapon connects directly into its special power system, giving it a considerable degree of firepower. In addition, the Dark Horn retains all of the Red Horn’s existing weapons and systems.

Despite being heavier than its predecessor, the Dark Horn is just as fast as the Red Horn, possesses greater agility, and is better armoured. This is due to the special materials used in its construction.

Battle Story appearances

The Dark Horn appeared in ZAC 2053, used by the Guylos Empire to attack the Helic Republic. Like the other "Dark" Zoids, it had a devastating effect on the Helic forces. The Dark Horn was later used by the Guylos army to defend the Dark Continent, being used to fend off the Republican Army. Many of these Dark Horns were piloted by Zenebas ace pilots; forced into the service of the Guylos Empire.

Waiting inside the Bloody Gate, the only entrance to the Dark Continent, a group of Dark Horns led by Störmer attacked the Helic army’s force of Gunbluster Zoids. Despite the firepower of the Gunblusters, Störmer’s force was able to fight them to a standstill. The Dark Horn was used in other operations, proving that the design was capable of taking on even the most powerful of Helic Zoids.

The destruction of much of the Dark Continent, along with the changes to Zi during the ZAC 2056 meteor strike, destroyed the sources of the ores needed to construct and maintain the Dark Horn’s power sources. As a result, the Guylos Empire lost the ability to build the Dark Horn. To make up for this loss, they reverse-engineered the design back into the Red Horn.

Media appearances

Anime

Chaotic Century and Guardian Force

As in the Zoids anime, the Guylos Empire is located on the Central Continent, rather than the Dark Continent, the Dark Horns in the Zoids anime do not appear to be anything beyond differently coloured Red Horns.

The Dark Horn first appeared in "", under the control of Major Karl Schubaltz. It participated in the battle of Red River, and was inherited by Marcus when Karl upgraded to his Iron Kong. Marcus then also acquires an Iron Kong; what happens to the Dark Horn after that is never explained.

A Dark Horn piloted by a mercenary named Brad (unrelated to the "New Century Zero" character), would briefly appear as the very first victim of Raven's Geno Saurer.

A small force of heavily modified Dark Horns would be used for security by entrepreneur McMann, Moonbay's ex-boyfriend. These Dark Horns had gold weapons, stabilisers and horns as opposed to grey and green like the standard kind, and possessed different armaments; a pair special edition Gatling Rifles, and twin horns on their snouts, similar to a Rhinoceros.

Dark Horns would be stolen from the Palace security by Metlinick and his gang of thugs, to try and assassinate Crown Prince Rudolph. However, Metlinick's gang would prove to be incompetent pilots, their Dark Horns often losing to far less powerful Zoids, among them a Molga piloted by the Desert Acrobeleno Gang, Stinger's custom Guysak and Irvine's Command Wolf.

In Guardian Force, Raven would use a Dark Horn to attack a base, and performed exceptionally with it for a brief period. The Dark Horn was later replaced by a new Geno Saurer

In addition to these Dark Horns, many anonymous examples would appear, belonging to various Imperial forces. Squadrons of Dark Horns were present at both battles against the Death Saurer.

New Century Zero

In "", a Dark Horn is piloted by Harry Champ, one of the major characters. Harry’s Dark Horn is a substantially modified version of the kind belonging to McMann, sporting a Hyper Beam Cannon in addition to a heavily modified special edition Gatling Rifle, as well as small boosters on its sides to grant increased manoeuvrability.

In its initial appearance, Harry boasted about his Dark Horn's improved performance and unique armaments. He chased Bit Cloud's Liger Zero through an abandoned city being utilised as the battle field, but Bit managed to defeat Harry's Zoid by constantly turning left; the Dark Horn, never meant to turn on a dime in rapid succession and further impeded by the weight of its added equipment, bent its legs out of shape, causing Harry to crash. However, before Bit could administer the "coup de grace", both the Dark Horn and the Liger Zero were shot down by a trigger-happy Leena's Dibison.

Harry would use this Dark Horn several more times until it was taken away by the Backdraft group, afterwards acquiring the Iron Kong M1896, (an anime specific variant identical to the Iron Kong PK). However, Harry's Dark Horn would be seen again later- no explanation is offered if it is Harry's original Dark Horn or a new one with the same specifications. Harry’s Zoid is not available a model, and can only be constructed with considerable customisation.

Also in the series, a Dark Horn was used by Alteil to go and recruit the Fuma team for an unsanctioned battle against the Blitz Team. This one, like Harry's Dark Horn, is based on the McMann variant.

Fuzors

Several Dark Horns appeared at various points in "". Once again, they were based on McMann's Dark Horn, with the golden parts switched back to grey. All the Red Horns in "Fuzors" have a glowing green power plant, similar to the Dark Horn models.

Models

Original Japanese Release

*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 Dark Horn kit comes on five frames (one of which is a weapons frame also shared with the Death Saurer, Dimetrodon and Sabre Tiger), along with a battery-powered motor, two canopy covers, sixteen rubber caps, a coiled metal spring, three small chromed pilots, and label sheets. The Dark Horn is moulded in black and silver, with green weapons, a silver gattling cannon, and opaque neon-green canopies and motor housing. The canopies, motor and stickers all glow in the dark.

The frames are identical to those used for the Red Horn, with the exception of the additional frame for the Hybrid Gattling.

The Dark Horn’s construction isn’t overly complex or difficult, putting it roughly in the middle of the range for Zoid complexity. The Dark Horn uses a pair of “AA” sized batteries for motion. Once activated, the Zoid walks forwards, its jaws chomping while the Hybrid Vulcan’s barrels spin.

The Dark Horn model was first released in 1989, with production continuing until about 1990. As the Dark Horn shares its mould with the Red Horn, it too is showing signs of wear and mould degradation.

Several other versions of the Dark Horn have been produced; they are detailed below.

Pre-New Japanese release

The Dark Horn was re-released in 1998, prior to the launch of the "New Japanese Release" in a limited production run. This version of the Dark Horn was nearly identical to the original version, save for the motor being modified to use only a single AA battery with no loss of performance. The original and pre-release versions are impossible to distinguish from external appearance.

Limited edition

Another version of the Dark Horn was released in Japan in 2000 as a limited edition version. This version resembles the original version, with slight colour changes and blue pilots, but does not glow, and has the same stickers as the NJR Red Horn. It also has a screw-shut battery case instead of the clip of the original version.

New American Release

The Dark Horn was re-released in North America by Hasbro in 2002. This version of the Dark Horn is identical to the previous Limited Edition, but lacked Hybrid Vulcan sprue, while the weapons sprue was moulded in silver. This is the only non-limited Dark Horn since the original Japanese version.

The Zoid was also re-released in near identical packaging as a part of the "New Pacific Release".

Fuzors

A limited edition version of the Dark Horn was released in 2004 as a part of the "Fuzors" line, combined with Toy's Dream Project. This version is identical to the Pre-release Japanese version in colour, but has a screw-shut battery case. The dark chrome pilots are replaced with dull red ones, and it has a new label sheet based on the original stickers. The motor, eyes, and stickers on this version do glow.

Despite some of the packaging artwork depicting a Dark Horn with two Gattling Cannons, along with several other design changes, the kit has no modifications from a standard Dark Horn model.

LB Dark Horn

A Legends Blox version of the Dark Horn was announced as a competition prize in December 2006. Based on the LB Redhorn, this version is recoloured to match the Dark Horn's colours, and comes with an extra frame of parts for the scaled-down Hybrid Vulcan. Production is limited to 500 units.