The review by Beard of Oz praises the Mirai Guardian MX for its striking, modern design and impressive missile loadout, but criticizes its sluggish handling, limited versatility, and lack of onboard amenities. He concludes that while the ship is visually appealing and solid as a heavy fighter, its practical drawbacks make it a questionable purchase at its current price, suggesting waiting for future deals.
The video review by Beard of Oz discusses the Mirai Guardian MX, a missile-heavy variant of the Guardian ship introduced during this year’s Invictus launch week. The reviewer highlights the ship’s striking design, noting its higher stance, redesigned body, and the addition of four hardpoints with two size five weapons on each side, as well as missile pods on top. The aesthetic improvements, including a blast shield cockpit and peripheral glass windows, are praised, giving the ship a sleek, modern look that feels like a significant upgrade from the base model.
In terms of specifications, the Guardian MX boasts increased resilience with more shields and hull HP, thanks to its heavier armor. It is equipped with a single size two power plant, coolers, shields, and a quantum drive. However, this added durability comes at the cost of maneuverability, making the ship feel sluggish despite its firepower. Out of the box, it carries four size four laser repeaters and 24 size two missiles, emphasizing its role as a missile-focused heavy fighter.
The reviewer examines the ship’s combat utility, suggesting it performs adequately as a heavy fighter but is hampered by its reduced agility. While it can withstand small-scale threats with its shields and armor, it struggles against heavier opponents. The missile loadout, though impressive in quantity, is limited to only size two missiles in dedicated pods, reducing versatility. The missile launch system is visually appealing but can be awkward in combat, with aiming and firing off-target at times, and the high cost of restocking missiles is a notable drawback.
Aesthetically, Beard of Oz appreciates the ship’s modernized design, internal features like the weapon locker, and the overall build quality. However, he criticizes the removal of the bed and bunk, which diminishes its practicality for extended missions or living aboard. The ship’s internal space feels more like a combat station than a versatile vessel, and the absence of comforts like a bed or seating for crew members is a significant negative for him, despite the ship’s impressive external appearance.
Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that while the Mirai Guardian MX is a beautiful and solid fighter within its class, it falls short of expectations due to its sluggish handling, limited versatility, and lack of onboard amenities. Priced at around $300 USD, he recommends waiting for future sales or offers rather than purchasing immediately. Despite its strengths, Beard of Oz admits he cannot love the ship and feels it is more of a “chunker that kind of could,” leaving viewers to decide whether they agree or see its value differently.