History Main / HomingLasers

* As previously mentioned, {{Darkseid}}'s EyeBeams follow the target. In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Franchise/{{Batman}} became the first human to dodge them, which earned Darkseid's respect.

[[folder: Web Original]]
* [[TheCape Legend]], of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', is capable of projecting lasers from any point on his body, and can guide their path-even to the point of making them turn corners.
[[/folder]]

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': {{Darkseid}}'s [[EyeBeams omega beams]] can do this.

** ''VideoGame/{{Kamui}}'' has bosses like the ALLTYNEX OS that uses them, too.

* ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'' has these as one of the Nautilus' primary armaments. Of course, the director was HideakiAnno (who also made the TropeNamer, ''{{Gunbuster}}'' several years later).

** The same goes for the ''Anime/EurekaSevenAo'' universe, particularly where the [[EldritchAbomination Secrets]] are concerned.

Subtrope of FrickinLaserBeams, and SisterTrope to HomingProjectile, which can also overlap with ImpossiblyCoolWeapon. May involve, but is ''not'' strictly limited to {{Roboteching}} and often leads to a flashier version of the HighSpeedMissileDodge.

This is NOT simply BeamSpam, where so many beams are fired that the target will get hit solely because of the sheer amount of beams (though there's no reason you can't [[SpamAttack spam]] [[UptoEleven homing lasers]]). It also excludes guns that auto-tracks to keep an otherwise normal, straight-flying beam on the target and any remote reflection, refraction or beam-bending/splitting devices that can be made to aim at a target. Also does not count if the beams simply bend randomly in-flight; they ''must'' actively chase the target(s) in question.

* Many [[ShootEmUp shoot 'em ups]] love to use them, particularly as enemy attacks. Especially en masse and with tight enough focus, they rival BulletHell as some of the more intimidating attacks in the genre because they're harder to dodge than projectiles firing along static paths.

* To a degree (a very, ''very'', '' '''VERY''' '' SMALL one), this is technically TruthInTelevision, as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM630Z8lho8 this video's first example]] shows, meaning that all lasers (which are made of light) [[RealityIsUnrealistic are indeed drawn toward]] ANYTHING with energy and momentum. Just nowhere near enough to be noticeable or count for anything.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': {{Darkseid}'s [[EyeBeams omega beams]] can do this.

* On several scenes of the ''GallForce'' OVA, many ships fire lasers at each other that make 90-degree turns to hit their targets.
* [[XamdLostMemories Xam'd]]'s [[EldritchAbomination Hiruken Emperor]] uses these as one of his primary methods of attack. '' '''[[BeamSpam LOTS of 'em!]]''' ''

* SITER SKAIN's [[TheEpic legendary]] ''[[TheTaleOfAlltynex Tale of ALLTYNEX]]'' series of [[DoujinSoft doujin]] shoot 'em up loves this trope as much the ''RAY'' series.
** In ''AlltynexSecond'', a [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of the little-known FM Towns game ''ALLTYNEX'' by the same creator, you take of a fighter that transform into a semi-mecha that can use homing laser along with a [[SpreadShot vulcan cannon]], [[LaserBlade beam]] [[DualWielding swords]], and a WaveMotionGun. The same goes for the orginal FM Towns game.
** In ''RefleX'', which is also a remaking of a PC game called ''Reflection'' (that's also [[FreewareGames freeware]]), your ship can ''reflect'' them.
** ''{{Kamui}}'' has bosses like the ALLTYNEX OS that uses them, too.
* Edelweiss' ''[[VideoGame/EtherVapor ETHER VAPOR]]'' has a fighter craft called the Ex-tio that uses a weapon that fires an endless (albeit fairly average in fire power) barrage of homing lasers, which like in the ''RAY'' series is needed [[TwoAndAHalfD to shoot stuff in the background]].

* ''CrimzonClover'' is pretty much ''[=RayForce=]'' as if it made by Creator/{{CAVE}}. Specifically speaking, the Type-1 ship fires lasers whereas Type-2 fires [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]].

** Its SpiritualSuccessor, ''CrimsonDragon'', have these too.
* E-102 Gamma in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', as well as Tails and Eggman from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', are equipped with homing lasers that behave extremely similarly to ''Panzer Dragoon''[='=]s. However, they are platformers with mostly static targets, and not rail shooters where the targets would inevitably go out of range of their own volition. To counter this, the targeting laser eventually dies out, losing your lock on every target, requiring players to lock onto all targets within a short timeframe if they want to fire anything.
* ''VideoGame/{{R-Type}}''[='=]s Green powerups fire a laser that bends to hit enemies.

* {{Solatorobo}}: The Titano-Machinas' lasers bend at right angles before going to the target.
* In ''[[VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander Jak 3]]'', the final [[AppliedPhlebotinum Blue Eco]] Mod for Jak's [[MorphWeapon Morph Gun]] is the Needle Lazer. You don't even need to aim the gun at your enemies because the laser bullets will find them for you.

* ''{{Axelay}}'' had several exemples of bending/homing lasers.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': Darkseid's [[EyeBeams omega beams]] can do this.
[[/folder]]

* {{Darkseid}}'s EyeBeams follow the target. In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Franchise/{{Batman}} became the first human to dodge them, which earned Darkseid's respect.

->'''''[[CallingYourAttacks "HOOOMIIIIINNGU RREEEIIZAAAAAA!!!!!]]"'''''

[[RuleOfCool Who cares]] if they [[ArtisticLicensePhysics have no known or plausible way of steering]] and [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon don't possess the correct attributes to identify a target]]?! They make for some [[CrazyAwesome amazing]] action sequences, and that's [[RuleOfCool all that matters]].

This is NOT simply BeamSpam, where so many beams are fired that the target will get hit solely because of the sheer amount of beams (though there's no reason you can't [[UpToEleven spam Homing Lasers]]). It also excludes guns that auto-track to keep an otherwise normal, straight-flying beam on the target and any remote reflection, refraction or beam-bending/splitting devices that can be made to aim at a target. Also does not count if the beams simply bend randomly in-flight; they ''must'' actively chase the target(s) in question.

This trope is not strictly limited to lasers per-se. Particle beams and beams of PureEnergy also count, as do beams or bolts made of any kind of in-universe [[AppliedPhlebotinum phlebotinum]]. HardLight projectiles also count, though only if they do not imitate the workings of conventional homing weapons. This is where it overlaps with HomingProjectile.

* {{Shoot Em Up}}s love to use them, particularly as enemy attacks. Especially en masse and with tight enough focus, they rival BulletHell as some of the more intimidating attacks in the genre because they're harder to dodge than projectiles firing along static paths.

* Edelweiss' ''[[VideoGame/EtherVapor ETHER VAPOR]]'' has a fighter craft called the Ex-tio that uses a weapon that fires an endless (albeit fairly average) barrage of homing lasers, which like in the ''RAY'' series is needed to shoot stuff in the background.

* G.rev's hybrid of ShootEmUp-[[XMeetsY meets]]-FightingGame series ''VideoGame/SenkoNoRonde'' features some mechs known as Rounders with homing laser weaponry (e.g. Changpo's Citronette or Lili's Brinstä), [[UpToEleven even moreso]] with certain [[SuperMode B.O.S.S.]] Shells.
* Some of Virtuaroids of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''[[VideoGame/VirtualOn Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON]]'' like Viper-II (and the later descendants) have an homing laser attack.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** Charged shots from a plasma pistol will curve off after the nearest target. They won't [[{{Roboteching}} robotech]], but the path of the bolt will bend by up to about fifteen degrees.

** In ''Saga'', [[OddballInTheSeries which is an RPG instead of a]] RailShooter, the downside is instead that they lock-on to targets automatically and indiscriminately, which can be a problem with large crowds if they target several weak {{Mooks}} when you wanted to hit a strong one.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' Saisei Hen features a new Anti-Gurren Lagann, which fires pink/ purple beams from the ports all over its body that home in on their target, [[{{Roboteching}} even those fired from the back of the mecha]].

* ''Jak3Wastelander'': The final [[AppliedPhlebotinum Blue Eco]] Mod for Jak's [[MorphWeapon Morph Gun]] is the Needle Lazer. You don't even need to aim the gun at your enemies because the laser bullets will find them for you.

* Terra's weapon from ''Franchise/MegaMan'' V Spark Chaser. Not only it homes on your enemies, but a single laser can hit multiple times.

[[quoteright:300:[[EurekaSeven http://ghostlightning.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/coalgirls_eureka_seven_psalms_of_planets_48_960x720_blu-ray_flac_5bb972b1-mkv_snapshot_13-32_2011.jpg?w=640&h=394]]]]

->'' '''[[CallingYourAttacks "HOOOMIIIIINNGU RREEEIIZAAAAAA!!!!!]]"''' ''
-->-- '''Noriko Takaya''', ''{{Gunbuster}}''.

[[RuleOfCool Who cares]] if they [[ArtisticLicensePhysics have no known or plausible way of steering]] and [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon don't possess the correct attributes to identify a target]]?! They make for some [[CrazyAwesome amazing]] action sequences, and that's [[RuleOfCool all that matters]].

If a sci-fi work contains these, it's more than likely to be on the [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness softer side]] of the sci-fi spectrum.

Often causes the one on the wrong end to have an OhCrap moment, especially if they think the shooter has missed, and may be {{Lampshaded}} with "HowIsThatEvenPossible", depending on the [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness hardness]] of the setting. Or at least, how hard [[GenreBlindness they think]] it is.

Subtrope of FrickinLaserBeams, SisterTrope to HomingProjectile, overlaps with ImpossiblyCoolWeapon. May involve, but is ''not'' strictly limited to {{Roboteching}} and often leads to a flashier version of the HighSpeedMissileDodge.

This is NOT simply BeamSpam, where so many beams are fired that the target will get hit solely because of the sheer amount of beams (though there's no reason you can't [[UpToEleven spam Homing Lasers]]). It also excludes guns that auto-track to keep an otherwise normal, straight-flying beam on the target and any remote reflection, refraction or beam-bending/ splitting devices that can be made to aim at a target. Also does not count if the beams simply bend randomly in-flight; they ''must'' actively chase the target(s) in question.

This trope is not strictly limited to lasers per-se. Particle beams and beams of PureEnergy also count, as do beams or bolts made of any kind of in-universe [[AppliedPhlebotinum phlebotinum]]. HardLight projectiles also count, though only if they do not imitate the workings of conventional homing weapons. This is where it overlaps with HomingProjectile.
----
!! Examples:

[[folder:{{Anime}}]]
* ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'' is the TropeNamer for this, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin as can be clearly seen]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment from the page quote]].
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' features [[WaveMotionGun a very big one]] mounted on the Mobile Armour "Regnant".
* Numerous examples exist in the ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' universe, including the Devilfish and The END.
* The same goes for the ''Anime/EurekaSevenAo'' universe, particularly where the [[EldritchAbomination Secrets]] are concerned.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' there's one Storm Release (Water + Thunder) Technique that shoots a volley of laser-like bullets that home on the target curving and bending midair.
* On several scenes of the 'GallForce' OVA, many ships fire lasers at each other that make 90-degree turns to hit their targets.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': Darkseid's [[EyeBeams omega beams]] can do this.

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* The Orbital Frames of ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders'' are known for mixing this with BeamSpam, particularly Jehuty and Anubis.

** However subverted with the larger scale Covenant plasma torpedoes (seen briefly in the "escape from the Pillar of Autumn" cutscene in ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', but elaborated upon by the EU), bolts of plasma contained in a magnetic field generated by the vessel that fired them projected over the intended target. As such, it merely appears as if the bolt is chasing the target, when in fact the weapon appears to be more of a continuous "beam" that simply alters its angle to keep on the target, as the plasma bolt is just made to follow the natural path of the field as it tracks.
* The ''Franchise/{{Predator}}'' uses a Plasma Caster that shoots Plasma bolts. It follows the laser sight built into his helmet and in the [[Film/AlienVsPredator AvP videogames]], the bolt actually homes in on the target. Very useful against those fast-moving aliens!

** Dragons fire these, if you hold the button and scroll your cursor over relevant targets. They're much more powerful than your rapid-fire gun, and are guaranteed to hit, but having to lock-on all the targets takes longer, and they don't lock on to projectiles that could otherwise be shot down.
** In ''Saga'', which is an RPG instead of a RailShooter, the downside is instead that they lock-on to targets automatically and indiscriminately, which can be a problem with large crowds if they target several weak {{Mooks}} when you wanted to hit a strong one.
* E-102 Gamma in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', as well as Tails and Eggman from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', are equipped with homing lasers that behave extremely similarly to ''Panzer Dragoon''[='=]s. However, they are platformers with mostly static targets, and not rail shooters where the targets would inevitably go out of range of their own volition. To counter this, the targeting laser eventually dies out, losing your lock on every target, requiring players to lock onto all targets within a short timeframe if they want to fire anything.
* RType's Green powerups fire a laser that bends to hit enemies.
* Terra's weapon from MegaMan V Spark Chaser. Not only it homes on your enemies, but a single laser can hit multiple times.

* ''Videogame/{{SuperRobotWarsZ}}'' Saisei Hen features a new Anti-Gurren Lagann, which fires pink/ purple beams from the ports all over its body that home in on their target, [[{{Roboteching}} even those fired from the back of the mecha]].

* ''Videogame/KidIcarusUprising''. Most of your shots have some degree of homing, and many of them are laser-like. Bows in particular tend toward both.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* {{Darkseid}}'s EyeBeams follow the target. In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', {{Franchise/Batman}} became the first human to dodge them, which earned Darkseid's respect.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:RealLife]]
* To a degree (a very, ''very'', '' '''VERY''' '' SMALL one), this is technically TruthInTelevision, as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM630Z8lho8 this video's first example]] shows, meaning that all lasers (which are made of light) [[RealityIsUnrealistic are indeed drawn toward]] ANYTHING with energy and momentum. Just nowhere near enough to be noticeable or count for anything.

* ''Jak3Wastelander'': The final [[AppliedPhlebotinum Blue Eco]] Mod for Jak's [[MorphWeapon Morph Gun]] is the Needle Lazer. You don't even need to aim the gun at your enemies because the laser bullets will find them for you.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': Darkseid's [[EyeBeams omega beams]] can do this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* {{Darkseid}}'s EyeBeams follow the target. In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', {{Franchise/Batman}} became the first human to dodge them, which earned Darkseid's respect.
[[/folder]]

---

Subtrope of FrickinLaserBeams, SisterTrope to HomingProjectile, overlaps with ImpossiblyCoolWeapon. May involve, but is not strictly limited to {{Roboteching}} and often leads to a flashier version of the HighSpeedMissileDodge.

* ''Anime/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' has {{Magitek}} looking bullets of HardLight that curve a multitude of times to seek out their target, even flying through ''keyholes'' to get at their victims.