Another random work tidbit.

[silveradept]

This passed through my head while at work, while thinking about superhero shows as compared to, say, RPGs, tile-based strategy games, and others - ever notice how the heroes of Super Sentai/Kamen Rider/Power Rangers shows don't have to go through a tutorial? They know how to use their powers, their changer devices, and their mecha without having a learning curve or any sort of uncertain period (or if they do, it's probably limited to one episode). Some of these shows get away with it by starting in medias res, so we have no idea whether they had to do all that learning beforehand, but even those who come across their power item have an abnormally fast mastery scale, either knowing it all immediately or being able to pick it up quickly.

Thus, the question - what gives? How do these people know/learn that fast, and thus only suffer setbacks when The Plot demands it?

Comments

[droewyn.livejournal.com]

Well, in Sailor Moon they had the benefit of being reincarnated. Using the power for the first time (and they all did have to be prompted) triggered latent memories that told them what to do next.

[silveradept]

That's at least a plausible explanation of how things work out. That usually doesn't show up in the other Sentai shows - they're starting to work with series where all the players have already been together for a while and trained.

[scribe-of-stars.livejournal.com]

My guess is that they have that annoying Microsoft paper clip stuck in their helmets' heads-up display.

"It looks like you're piloting a giant robot. What would you like to do?

() Pose dramatically in the cockpit

() Attack the enormous, silly-looking creature that threatens the city

() Combine your robot with others to form an even larger robot

() Flail dramatically as your robot takes damage and sparks fly everywhere

[] Don't show me this tip again"

[silveradept]

Microsoft's OS wouldn't last too long in world-saving situations - all it would take is one BSOD that lived up to the name.