History Series / VRTroopers

* ExpendableClones: Stickland and Ziktor's secretary Skugs get destroyed several times, only to be replaced with new Skugs. Ziktor doesn't really care. This is implied to be the case with ''all'' his minions.

* FollowTheLeader: No, ''not Franchise/PowerRangers''; {{Toku}} is a genre of its own. However, high schooler heroes use pendants to fully transform into robotic forms? Sounds suspiciously like the new-at-the-time Creator/MarvelComics character ComicBook/{{Darkhawk}}.

** JB and Kaitlin were composites of [[Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban Spielban and Diana Lady]], as well as Metalder's two human friends, [[Series/ChoujinkiMetalder Hakko and Mai]] (despite the fact that Spielban was the hero of his own show, J.B. was more of a sidekick to Ryan like Hakko was to Ryusei, while Kaitlin was a reporter like Mai). When footage of Spielban's sister Helen Lady (who wore the same suit as Diana Lady) began to be used, she became a mirror image of Kaitlin who could be summoned in battle, essentially making Kaitlin a composite of three characters.
** Dark Heart is directly based on Topgunder of ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder'', but his backstory [[spoiler:as Ryan Steele's father, Tyler,]] not only merges Dr. Koga from ''Metalder'', but Dr. Bio from ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban''.

** Meanwhile, Dr. Bio was turned into Colonel Icebot, though components of Dr. Bio's backstory were given to Tyler Steele (see above).

* GagDub: Supposedly, when the cast got word that the series was being canceled, some of them, including the main three and a few voice actors, went out, got drunk, came back to the studio, went into the recording booth and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_HrVhnqNg redubbed various scenes]] to be more mature and... [[ToiletHumor vulgar.]] The results are pretty funny.

** Fanbot does this against JB's Laser Lance, which normally slices through Grimlord's robots like a hot knife through butter, and then lifting JB up while he's holding onto the Laser Lance for dear life and tossing him across the battlefield.

** Some monsters fit this trope, but an egregious example was the last monster they ever fought, Fanbot, a Creator/JerryLewis {{Expy}} who was clumsy on the battlefield and seemed to trip over his own feet. Until the end where [[LetsGetDangerous JB's finishing attack failed to do any real damage and the robot simply]] [[OhCrap grabbed JB's Laser Lance (while it was glowing) and tossed him aside and prepared to suck him up]]-- in order to win, JB had to use the VR Technobazooka to finish him off, something normally reserved for Grimlord's air forces and not a MonsterOfTheWeek.

* {{BFG}}: JB's VR Technobazooka, and Ryan's VR Shoulder Cannon; the Skybase and Ryan's unnamed airbase would transform into these. They were typically used on Grimlord's air forces only, though on one occasion JB had to use the Technobazooka against a monster who just wouldn't die.

* NoSell: Most monsters surrendered when impaled by JB's laser lance or at least got "heartburn", a few actually laughed at it, the penultimate monster Fanbot actually calmly responded with a sarcastic quip and even no sold the slashing. JB had to resort to the Technobazooka to avoid being cut to ribbons by a bot who earlier in the episode had quickly dispatched a super powerful robot created by Knighttime out of Grimlord's best fallen bots.

** The Millennium saber.
** [[Administrivia/ZeroContextExample Fanbot, just...Fanbot]]

** KnightTime had one when Fanbot drained his powers after destroying Conatron, his own robot, and squashed his rebellion against Grimlord. Fanbot would eventually prove himself to be invulnerable to every attack, even the laser lance, and would require the mighty VR TechnoBazooka to get the job done.

* FollowTheLeader: No, ''not Franchise/PowerRangers;'' {{Toku}} is a genre of its own. However, high schooler heroes use pendants to fully transform into robotic forms? Sounds suspiciously like the new-at-the-time Creator/MarvelComics character ComicBook/{{Darkhawk}}.
* GagDub: Supposedly, when the cast got word that the series was being canceled, some of them, including the main three and a few voice actors, went out, got drunk, came back to the studio, went into the recording booth and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_HrVhnqNg redubbed various scenes]] to be more mature and... [[ToiletHumor vulgar.]] The results are... pretty funny.
--> '''Grimlord's army:''' HAIL SLUMLORD, MASTER OF LOW INCOME HOUSING!

As of June 2011, the entire series (along with ''[[Series/{{Beetleborgs}} Big Bad Beetleborgs]]'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'') is available for streaming on Netflix. It's also released on DVD in Europe in the 1990s and in North America in the mid 2000s. But due to mediocre sales, Creator/ShoutFactory has released a statement that they cannot release the last DVD that has the remaining episodes in the series, though they later released it exclusively through their online store.

* AdaptationAmalgamation: This series is initially adapted from 2 Metal Hero shows ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'' and ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. By the second season kicks in, the show incorporates elements from ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider''.

* AdaptationAmalgamation: This series is initially adapted from 2 Metal Hero shows, ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'' and ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. By the second season kicks in, the show incorporates elements from ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider''.

* VirtualWorlds

* DeadpanSnarker: Jeb.

[[SpiritualSuccessor In the spirit of, on the heels of, and by the makers of]] ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', several ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' {{Toku}} series were adapted by Creator/SabanEntertainment into a new show known as ''VR Troopers'' in 1994.

Like ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', three ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' series were used as source materials to make one. Ryan's armor, Grimlord, and any villain ever seen ''in'' Grimlord's lair came from ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. Another show, ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'', provided armored Kaitlin and JB, Colonel Icebot and General Ivar, the Skugs, many of the team's vehicles, and most of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] (such as Red Python and Desponda). The second season, in which Ryan's armor and Grimlord's tech are switched out, takes footage from still another show, ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider'', which ''predates'' the other two shows.

* ShesAManInJapan: Despera's Japanese counterpart, Priest Poe, is actually male.

** His alter ego Ziktor appears to avert this. Given the way his secretaries are dressed, it is implied that he may be a chauvinist.

* BBCQuarry: The "virtual world," when we see it, is the same quarry frequently seen in ''Franchise/PowerRangers's SuperSentai'' footage. JB frequently teleports the entire battle back here so as to keep civilians from getting hurt.

* OhCrap: Several instances come to mind
** When Ryan finds out Dark Heart is his father

* MusicalAssassin: Fiddlebot, a robot Grimlord personally makes after [[SurroundedByIdiots getting fed up with Icebot's creations]]. He proceeds to curbstomp Ryan for most of both their battles.

** Monster killed

* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: Skugs can assume human form and generally look just like normal everyday people until they reveal their true forms. This makes them extremely useful for Grimlord's plans. Doom Master and Despera has this power as well.

* TheManBehindTheMonsters: Grimlord is stated to be a 'creature from virtual reality' in the first episode, but his true identity is Karl Ziktor, a CorruptCorporateExecutive that transforms into Grimlord like the Troopers do.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Kaitlin is the only female VR Trooper.

Like ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', three ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' series were used as source materials to make one. Ryan's armor, Grimlord, and any villain ever seen ''in'' Grimlord's lair came from ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. Another show, ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'', provided armored Kaitlin and JB, Colonel Icebot and General Ivar, the Skugs, many of the team's vehicles, and most of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] (such as Red Python and Desponda). The second season, in which Ryan's armor and Grimlord's tech are switched out, takes footage from still another show, ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider'', which ''predates'' both ''Metalder'' and ''Spielban''.

Like ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', three ''Series/MetalHeroes'' series were used as source materials to make one. Ryan's armor, Grimlord, and any villain ever seen ''in'' Grimlord's lair came from ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. Another show, ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'', provided armored Kaitlin and JB, Colonel Icebot and General Ivar, the Skugs, many of the team's vehicles, and most of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] (such as Red Python and Desponda). The second season, in which Ryan's armor and Grimlord's tech are switched out, takes footage from still another show, ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider''.

[[SpiritualSuccessor In the spirit of, on the heels of, and by the makers of]] ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', the ''Series/MetalHeroes'' {{Toku}} series was adapted by Creator/SabanEntertainment into a new show known as ''VR Troopers'' in 1994.

* ButtMonkey: Percy, courtesy of Jeb. Also, General Ivar to an extent, because every time he went into combat against the Troopers, his tank would get rolled off a cliff, he'd be beaten by JB in a sword fight, etc. This despite his competence amongst Grimlord's forces.

* TheDragon: Season 1 had Decimator, who was explicitly said to be Grimlord's second in command, and usually either guarded Grimlord or acted as field commander. He also had his go-to recurring monsters and his assistants as Ziktor, as well as sub-villains who handled the technical end of his plans or prepared the MonsterOfTheWeek, such as General Ivar, Colonel Icebot and the various commanders of sections of his army. When Grimlord disposed of the Virtual Dungeon for Season 2, Icebot and Ivar were still around, with warriors Doom Master and Despera and the monster-maker Oraclon as the new guys.

* HealingHands: Only two episodes ("Error in the System", "My Dog's Girlfriend") have Kaitlin run to JB's rescue and, seeing that he is critically injured by Skuggs, she uses her healing technique/command called "Power Transfer" to restore JB's power. And the technique choreography in the former episode is amazingly longer than in the latter.

* LizardFolk: Grimlord's second form has traits of this, complete with a long lizard-like tail.

* MoralityPet: The only being Ziktor gives a darn about is his pet iguana Juliet.
* MundaneUtility: While Grimlord often uses his virtual army for attempts to TakeOverTheWorld, he also uses them in attempts to benefit his business and even makes personal assistants with it. Justified as he effectively is hedging his bets: he takes over the town as a CorruptCorporateExecutive? He wins. He takes over the entire world as Grimlord? He wins.

* YouHaveFailedMe: Grimlord threatens his minions with this nearly every episode, and on occasion does have his minions dragged off for punishment, but makes it clear he's sorely tempted to just slaughter them wholesale for their failures. Once he gets the means to upgrade to a set of shiny new minions, he makes good on his it and blows the old ones to kingdom come.

Saban picked up the rights to a fourth ''Metal Hero'' series ''Series/JuukouBFighter'', but rather than risk alienating the show's fan-base by changing the entire team's costumes and motifs like they did with ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'', they decided to start fresh with a new Americanized version, ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}'', resulting in the cancellation of ''VR Troopers''.

* '''Percy''', mayor's nephew and would-be beau of Kaitlin. Highly obnoxious. Strictly comic relief. Occasionally, his aunt and uncle show up. They're even more comic relief.
* '''Karl Ziktor''', a Corrupt CEO who has a dual identity: in virtual reality, he's the BigBad, '''Grimlord''', with an army of VR cyborg creatures.

* BadBoss: When Grimlord gets new tech and uses it to make a new fortress and minions, he self-destructs his old base, killing all of his old minions except for the small handful he decided were useful enough. They probably shouldn't have been surprised given how many times he'd threatened to slaughter them all for their incompetence. On one occasion he mentioned that he didn't care that they destroyed his monster of the week since it was just a distraction from the master plan.

** Fanbot does this against JB's laser lance, which normally slices through Grimlord's robots like a hot knife through butter, and then lifting JB up while he's holding onto the laser lance for dear life and tossing him across the battlefield.

** Another example is Fiddlebot, who's main weapon is a fiddle and roses he throws and is powered by an Irish musician. However, Grimlord created him personally after [[SurroundedByIdiots being fed up with Icebot's robots failing him]], and he gives Ryan a CurbstompBattle for nearly the entire episode.
* {{BFG}}: JB's VR Technobazooka, and Ryan's VR Shoulder Cannon; unmentioned in dialogue, but the Skybase and Ryan's unnamed airbase would transform into these. They were typically used on Grimlord's air forces only, though on one occasion JB had to use the Technobazooka against a monster who just wouldn't die.

** Due to the different footage sources meaning there's no Japanese footage of everyone against the same monster, capturing ''somebody'' is a common way of explaining someone's absence from the final round with the MonsterOfTheWeek.

* CutShort: Our heroes never got to defeat Grimlord or learn that he was Karl Ziktor. Although it's implied that they kind of figured out that he was Karl Ziktor (when a skug was connected to Ziktor) but they never were able to get the proof.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Considered by fans to be much darker and more serious than Franchise/PowerRangers. Some of the story arcs the show had were quite dark, especially when we discover who the villain Dark Heart really is. Then again, ''Metalder'', ''Spielban'' and ''Shaider'' were no comedic romps either.
** Also the villains were allowed more gruesome deaths than there were on Franchise/PowerRangers, due to the series being syndicated - decapitations, splitting in half, and impalement were not uncommon (the last of these was, in fact, how JB usually dispatched the monsters he fought).

* DrillTank: Two. The VR Battlecruiser (piloted by both Ryan and JB) and the VR Combat Module (Ryan's exclusive season 2 vehicle) had these available.

* EvilDetectingDog: The veterinarian who was {{Brainwashed}} into becoming the Red Python was suddenly a lot less popular with her patients after her change.

** Ryan has several, including a flying drop kick and a flying, spin move, but his most common is his Lightning Hand attack, a super charged karate chop. His new armor gives him a Laser Saber, which has a slashing finisher.
** JB has his Laser Lance, usually done by impaling the monster to stun it and then deliver powerful slashes to finish them off. The VR Techno Bazooka ''could'' be used as this, but was normally used for anti-aircraft purposes.
** Kaitlin doesn't have a formal finisher, but she does take part in VR Double Team with JB to weaken an enemy and set it up for JB to finish off.

* GreaterScopeVillain: While never elaborated on, Ziktor calls on 'forces of darkness' whenever he transforms, and when he first obtained his powers, it was by invoking them on the Box of Isis, an ancient magical artifact. What they are is never elaborated upon and they have no direct influence, but evidently are providing power to Grimlord in some way.
* HauntedHouse: The episode "Grimlord's House of Fear" features one. Turns out it's just Colonel Ice-Bot trying to break into the Real World.

* HenpeckedHusband: The Mayor. Apparently, his wife requires him to discuss any decisions he makes with her.

* HumongousMecha: In Season 2, the Troopers gain one called the VR Troopertron, the alt form of the Skybase. While Ryan initially is the one to use it, the others gradually start using it too. Ryan's unnamed shuttlecraft was also one, but we're not sure if that was ever used in show, mainly due to Shaider's terrible-looking suit (a clip of its' transformation sequence was shown in the season 2 intro, however). Both the Skybase and Ryan's analogue shuttle also transformed into their respective BFGs, according to the footage at least, it wasn't mentioned in dialogue (the Japanese series had giant Trooper holograms firing these guns, the same thing might have been used in here as well).

** The VR Troopers have one: strong magnetic fields, which can wreck their computer systems and make their armor nigh impossible to actually move in. This results in [[ManOfKryptonite Magnetbot]] giving them a CurbstompBattle by exploiting it. Dr. Hart is able to repair the armor and reinforce it to protect against it, but it takes time and his first attempt with Ryan's only lessens the weakness rather than eliminate it.

* LetsSplitUpGang: Since Ryan's Trooper form and Kate/JB's Trooper forms came from different shows, they always managed to find an excuse to split up.

* NoEnding: Due to running out of Series/MetalHeroes footage, the show never had a proper finale. Then again, [[spoiler: Metalder [[DownerEnding didn't have the happiest of endings...]]]]

* OrcusOnHisThrone: Grimlord in the first season. To be fair, he's more than capable of kicking butt without getting off it. Justified as Ziktor is running a massive company and many of his ideas for evil plans ''come'' from troubles he's being caused to his company, so he generally only sticks around the virtual world long enough to make a plan then goes back to his office.

* RealityEnsues: In episode 10, Kaitlin realizes Grimlord's spy has no records at all. She and J.B. quickly put two and two together that when your enemy can create minions from nowhere that can assume human form means the guy with no records is likely a virtual minion.

* RightHandCat: Ziktor's iguana takes this role.

* SecretIdentity: Unlike the heroes, Ziktor keeps his identity as Grimlord very under wraps and by the time the series ended, he still had his identity intact. It's to the point the Troopers don't even know he ''has'' a SecretIdentity until half way through season 2 and believe Grimlord is an extradimensional invader.

* SoLastSeason: Ryan's new armor and Grimlord's revamped forces. Oddly enough, ''Shaider'' (the show that was used for Ryan's second season suit) is a much older show than ''Metalder'' (the source of his original suit). The Skybase is a better example, as it quickly gets demolished by Grimlord's new fighters and has to be rebuilt stronger than before. Kaitlin and JB's powers are both too weak compared to Grimlord's new forces, so [[spoiler:Ryan's father]] makes an upgrade program to give them both a permanent upgrade.

* UltimateJobSecurity: Percy's gigantic ego causes so much trouble around the Underground Voice, including at one point ''frying one of their computers'' in a stupid stunt (as well as an important story), but never gets fired.

* VillainWorld: "Dream Battle" sees Knighttime trap the Troopers in a nightmare where [[TheBadGuyWins Grimlord already won]]. The entire city has posters of him, the Underground Voice is a propaganda machine for him, the Dojo is an abandoned due to Tao being evicted and in ruins as is the lab, and the world is crawling with Skugs and Grimlord's minions.

* YouHaveFailedMe: Grimlord threatens his minions with this nearly every episode, and on occasion does have his minions dragged off for punishment, but makes it clear he's sorely tempted to whole sell slaughter all of them for their failures. Once he gets the means to upgrade to a set of shiny new minions, he makes good on his it and blows the old ones to kingdom come.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Grimlord blows his old base and most of his remaining old minions to smithereens once he gets his prism and can upgrade to a new, better base and army. Crossed over with YouHaveFailedMe, as he'd threatened for the entire season to do just that for their failures. He then does it to his orb so he can replace it with the prism.

Like ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', three ''Series/MetalHeroes'' series were used as source materials to make one. Ryan's armor, Grimlord, and any villain ever seen ''in'' Grimlord's lair came from ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. Another show, ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'', provided armored Kaitlin and JB, General Icebot and Ivar, the Skugs, many of the team's vehicles, and most of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] (such as Red Python and Desponda). The second season, in which Ryan's armor and Grimlord's tech are switched out, takes footage from still another show, ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider''.