History Main / TransformingMecha

* Mr. Heli Robo at the beginning of Stage 6 in ''{{Contra}}: Shattered Soldier''.

** [[spoiler: General Pepper's Ace Custom flagship]] in Star Fox Assault however, is this, its battle form using its wings as melee weapons.

* Kirby 64 features the HR-1, a towering robot that transforms into a rocket-mode for the second half of the battle and attacks using scissors.

* {{Starhawk}}, the upcoming SpiritualSuccessor to {{Warhawk}} has these as the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i08a0o-xpfw&feature=player_detailpage#t=49s standard, flying vehicle]].

* The taxi in the French [[Film/Taxi movies]] deploys spoiler wings and gains about 500 hp at the touch of a button.

** Some of the Four Generals seem to have multi-mode mecha. Adiane's can go from a humanoid shape with a talking vagina to a hulking scorpion monster mech.

If one cool vehicle can help the hero out, then more than one can certainly be better, right? But if the hero is out with one, and needs the other, he's up the creek. Not so, for he's driving a TransformingMecha, which can mechanically rearrange itself into a variety of different machines for different roles.

** Additionally, there is a reasonable explanation for the use of these mechas (well, at least the fighter-jet sized ones), something not all [[RealRobot Real]] or SuperRobot shows care to give to the viewers, mind it. In the first few episodes of [[SuperDimensionFortressMacross the original series]], [[BadAss Roy Focker]] states that the Valkyries were designed to be able to fight "on even grounds" with the Zentradi. While most GiantRobot shows have mechs almost entirely for RuleOfCool, a quick flash of FridgeBrilliance makes one realize that "on even grounds" doesn't mean tech-wise, but the fact that using [[TransformingMecha Variable Fighters (VF-1's)]] is the ''only'' way to engage in true infantry-based-warfare with [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever the Zentradi]], while their jet-based primary form is to provide fast, long-distance travel that would normally be provided by transport planes/choppers, and the Gerwalk transitional form exists (as stated in the show itself) as a VTOL form for difficult terrain for taking off in the Valkyrie form and landing in the Battroid form. There is a certain degree of MundaneUtility to the Gerwalk mode as well, some supplementary materials state that this is the mode that they use to transport Valkyries around the hanger for maintenance outside of combat.

* ''GetterRobo'' in all its incarnations was both a CombiningMecha and a TransformingMecha.

** The Rescue Megazord from ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' and its counterpart VRV Robo from ''Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger'' is a CombiningMecha made of five TransformingMecha.

* The Baterra from ''{{Bionicle}}'' could shapeshift into anything, including trees and rocks, but avoided taking on the shapes of other people out of choice. [[ToylessToylineCharacter Sadly, they never appeared as sets]], [[WhatCouldHaveBeen although there were plans]]. Toys that ''did'' shapeshift were the Bohrok/Bohrok-Kal (into balls) and the Vahki (bipedal to quadruped).

** ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars W'' contains a ''ship'', the Valstork, that transforms into the giant humanoid Valguard by [[CombiningMecha augmenting itself with its in-house mech Valhawk]], which itself has [[TransformingMecha a plane Air Force mode and a humanoid Close Combat mode]]. When they [[CombiningMecha fuse with the Armstra ship into the even more massive Valzacard]], the Arm Arcus transforms into a sword or a bow for it to wield.

* In ''MischiefMakers'', each member of the Beastector has their own unique TransformingMecha, which resembles the same animal as its pilot.

* ''VideoGame/ShogoMobileArmorDivision'' is a rare case of a FirstPersonShooter with TransformingMecha.

''[[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaCDIGames Link: The Faces of Evil]]'' actually turns into a flying tank-chariot thing with spikes all over him to escape. He is seen transforming back in a cutscene prior to his second encounter, and after he is defeated again, his armor falls off, revealing a feeble old man underneath.

** AND R-GUN! A Gundam-ish mecha transformed into a [[Main/BFG GUN?!]] Nice for you to get gunned-to-crap by [[CallingYourAttacks METAL! GENOCIDER!]]

** Aussenseiter and Daizengar's combination attack, which transforms Aussenseiter into... a giant mecha horse. Which Daizengar mounts. And then Daizengar produces a sword no less than three times the length of itself. That's about when Trombe! is reaching its climax in the song, and you REALLY should have been running a long time ago.
** AND R-GUN! A Gundam-ish mecha transformed into a [[BigFancyGun GUN?!]] nice for you gunned-to-crap by [[CallingYourAttacks METAL! GENOCIDER!]]
*** R-gun was INTENDED TO BE A GUN FOR [[SuperRobot S!R!X!]] on the first place. Cue [[TheHero Ryuusei]] crying [[PunctuatedForEmphasis HYPER! TRONIUM! BUSTER! CANNON!]] for the god's sake!

* In ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquer Red Alert 3]]'', the Empire's Tengus (anti-infantry mecha and anti-air jet) and VXs (anti-air mecha and anti-tank chopper). The Sea-Wing/Sky-Wings are more MilitaryMashupMachine.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'': The titular gundam (known in series as "Unit 1") can go from Bird mode to Mobile Suit mode and back, and [[SuperPrototype Wing Zero]][[hottip:*:The prototype for ''all'' the gundams, making it a double SuperPrototype]] could transform as well. Epyon transformed into a dragon shapped mecha. Gundam Wing Endless Waltz changed the designs however.

* Turbo Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan7'', Ground Man in ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', & Nitro Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan10''; as well as Ride Boarski of ''VideoGame/MegaManX 7''.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'': As the direct successor to the Zeta gundam, it follows the same design.

* ''AmbassadorMagma'', by Osamu Tezuka is the possible TropeMaker. The giant robot was capable of transforming into a rocket.

* The Terran Viking units in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII''.

* Most seasons of ''PowerRangers'' have at least one mecha that can both [[CombiningMecha combine]] and transform on its own.
** The Rescue Megazord from ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' and its SuperSentai counterpart ''GekisouSentaiCarranger'''s VRV Robo is a CombiningMecha made of five TransformingMecha.
** The Dinozords from [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the first season]] combined into a tank which would then be transformed into the humanoid battle mode, often without ever firing a shot. There was an instance of it transforming back to tank mode to knock Goldar over before switching to battle mode again.
* One pre-Power Rangers ''SuperSentai'', ''DenshiSentaiDenziman'', had the Daidenzin, which could transform from the space shuttle-like [=DenziFighter=] into the {{Super Robot}}esque Daidenzin.

** In the series proper, KITT transforms into other [[strike:Ford ProductPlacement Opportunities]] vehicle types for specialized situations, like an F-150 for off-road.

* ''{{Transformers}}'', obviously enough, and probably the most famous example in the west. The higher capability is somewhat of a JustifiedTrope here, as some individual Transformers are older than our whole species. Also notable for being [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots sentient]] rather than piloted (although the [[MerchandiseDriven original toys]] were repainted from Japanese toys that ''were'' supposedly piloted).

* ArmoredCore features quite a few of these.

* ''{{Shogo}}'' is a rare case of a FirstPersonShooter with TransformingMecha.

* In what may be the earliest example of this trope, there was "The Terror", a vehicle from Creator/JulesVerne's ''The Master of The World'' which could become an airplane, a submarine & some kind of tank/armoured car that could move so fast it could not be seen by the naked eye, [[OlderThanRadio making this one...]]

* ''BattleTech'' has the Land-Air Mechs, which are Battlemechs that were able to transform into fighter craft. The originals were based off artwork of the Macross Valkyrie Fighters above, though there are now some that use artwork original to BattleTech. They also somewhat subvert the trope in that they're acknowledged as highly specialized and somewhat extravagant niche units, not really competitive with either pure 'Mechs or pure aerospace fighters in their respective roles and of course requiring pilots specifically cross-trained to handle them competently in ''all'' of their possible modes ('Mech, fighter, and depending on the design possibly [[MilitaryMashupMachine a hybrid "[=AirMech=]" configuration]]).

* ''BattleTech'' has the Land-Air Mechs, which are Battlemechs that were able to transform into fighter craft. The originals were based off artwork of the Macross Valkyrie Fighters above, though there are now some that use artwork original to BattleTech.

* The Terran Viking units in ''StarcraftII''.