Two Legged Robots

[ChunkyMonkey]

First allow me to say that this is not a criticism of the game at all. I haven't played it yet, and I enjoy the first game very much both, on pc and on ipad.
I watched the preview videos and looked at screenshots. I see that in this game everything is much more futuristic as far as technology goes.
One thing that might be bothering me, or maybe a pet peeve of mine, is 2 legged robots which we've seen in many games and movies since the early 80s. They have chicken like legs with joints backward. This type of robot is seen in Robocop, Star Wars, Mech Warrior, Starsiege Tribes, and many other games.

Now, I don't know if any of you reading this are robot builders, or engineers, but if analyzed realistically, doesn't this design seem very inefficient and inconvenient? What would be the advantage of such two legged robot over lets say a vehicle with huge wheels, maybe three wheels, or up to 8 wheels like the vehicles NASA sent to the moon and mars. I believe one of them is called Mars Rover.

I could imagine a four legged robot, maybe, it wouldn't have balance issues as much as a two legged one. But does anybody think two legged robots such as what we see in pop culture a lot, and specifically in Anomaly 2, are a cliche? or is there some basis in reality for this design?

[Frib]

My guess is that one of the primary reasons for them having two legs is to easily tell what unit it is just by glancing at it. Most if not all units have a walker morph and a wheel/glide morph, and an easy way to make walkers different is by changing the number of legs. So maybe two legs is not practical IRL, but neither is morphing into a completely different vehicle with a completely different way of moving around and with an alternative set of weaponry that wasn't accessible before.

So I guess they based it on the rule of cool mostly

[Rin D. Pryde]

OMG, op, where have you been all these years? You opened humanity's eyes at last! No-one, and I can't stress that enough, NO-ONE ever before thought that 2-legged robots are not practical. Jesus, humanity's warfare history could go the wrong way if not for you! Thank you, thank you so much for your insight! I feel that I write in a thread that will be remembered in history. It's like touching the prophet. I'll never wash this keyboard again. Thank you, op, that you exist. Please, continue to use your superior knowledge to change our planet's life for the better!

[Boreout [Aut]]

The joints of birdlegs are not backwards!
It may look so but it isn't.
http://www.mdavid.com.au/birds/birdknees.shtml

[Korino]

Lol what a topic to discuss... Well, I'm not an engineer but I believe robots being two-legged are made for harsh terrain advantage. Imagine a broken n uneven roads, a vehicle with wheels will most likely spoils their wheels faster bcoz of friction n stuffs, while legged robots can move easier with better mobility. Basically, it all comes down to the terrain where it operates. So, I dunno why do u think it is inefficient and incovenient. If u're thinking of moving in a straight smooth path then yes wheeled vehicles are much faster n efficient.