Arcade Berg aka. "Learning Game Design with Arcade Berg"

Animalistic Robots

Huge metalic contraptions, controlled with levers and buttons while roaring like a wild beast.

Robots (Mechas) are often portraid like animals in games, having them use an animal-like movement pattern and sometimes even sounding like them.

Why is that? Does people like it? Does it have any effect?

I like it. A lot of people don't.

I can only guess, but I think it's because we can instantly relate to what we know about the specific specie, race or whatever reference we have. It's all about our cognitive models. To having us use our own resources of knowledge, instead of having to input them into us.

Ie. when seeing a cat-like machine instantly makes me assume it's an agile piece of machinery. Perhaps even mischievous.

Agile and Fast

A somewhat recent example from AAA-games are Metal Gear Solid 4 and its different bosses. The Metal Gear Ray for example, launches in front of you, stretching its head (cockpit) towards the sky and lets out a tremendous roar, resembling Godzilla.

Now, in reality, there probably wouldn't be much point in doing so; but while in the Metal Gear world, within the magic circle it said:

- I'm a monstrous foe! Fear me, as I am a primal carnivore!

I'm gonna assume you're dangerous

And that's intimidating! We know to run from dangerous looking things that growls at us. What's more scary? A quiet robot that doesn't move at all, or a fierce sounding robot with a daunting "idle" movement?

I think it's a great developer technique to have the player use his own instincts and base of references. The more iconic; the better.

Of course, sometimes concept artists just think it looks cool and that's why it's in the game...