Patlabor Units
Patlabor is a popular mecha series in Japan, and a very interesting addition to City Shrouded in Shadow. The series takes place in the near future of 1998-2002, at least for when the series started. Mechanical suits known as Labors are employed to help do various things around the city like construction. Labors are also used by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force for an elite squadron of Patlabor police officers. Most of the series revolves around Section 2, Division 2 of the Patlabor police force, with the main character being a member of the division by the name of Noa Izumi. Interestingly, Patlabor is a bit different from other mecha anime, as the mecha themselves aren’t infinitely powerful machines of destruction. Rather, they’re portrayed as machines that need constant maintenance and can easily break down, just like any other machine.
The Japan in Patlabor also isn’t some hugely futuristic city, but one with some minor technical upgrades. Most plotlines in the series deal with the police force combating hijacked Labors, terrorist cells, and the general heightened crime that can take place with mecha technology available. In addition to the Ingram units of the police force, the game will also feature the Grau Bear and Pyro-Buster units. At this point it’s unclear what the Patlabor units will be fighting in City Shrouded in Shadow, but the police force will of course be on the side of the people, protecting you from whatever menace threatens the city.
