i have thoughts about the groovetron
i think the current fandom may be used to the idea that the groovetron is just some kind of genie energy that grants wishes, but an aspect that's not really discussed very much originating from the first game is that, according to the manuals and guidebooks, the characters ALREADY HAVE the groovetron's power: it's the source of heat's fire powers, it brings frida's paintings to life, gas-o uses it to further his experiments. capoeira invented it and intended for earth to use it for peaceful purposes (this excuse is also changed later to be that capoeira are "investigating" whether people on earth can "properly utilize" the groovetron power, whatever that means). by comparison, robo-z was built to harness the total power of the groovetron for nefarious purposes. in guidebooks it's also revealed that burger dog and columbo were both brought to life by hamm's and shorty's groovetron, respectively; one a mascot and the other a plush toy.
by the time the second game rolls around, this aspect of characters innately housing groovetron and doing supernatural/extraordinary things with it is kind of forgotten about/not brought up and the focus is shifted to what the characters would like to use the groovetron for instead. i speculate that the "everybody has groovetron in them" aspect hasn't been forgotten about entirely though. see: comet! her powers of being able to turn people into food is just another manifestation of the groovetron's power: being able to bend reality at will. notably, heat only gains his fire powers after being injured in an almost fatal car crash. is it coincidence, then, that comet's powers activate when she's almost killed in a kidnapping attempt? this isn't even getting into james suneoka, holy shit i forgot all about that guy. i bet that guy is comprised solely of groovetron the way he can withstand all that abuse.
by dance summit 2001, the focus is entirely on winning the competition to obtain the now "legendary" groovetron in order to get your wish granted (but only one wish, and then it disappears! and it can talk? weird.). none of the cast really have any crazy powers like the previous contestants. maybe it's a resource that's been rendered scarce? is it possible that the contestants of DS2001 really have groovetron power themselves, but less than previous characters? is it shared between the four members? also i guess it has a corporeal form in DS2001 because candy just leaves that shit on a train cuz she forgor💀.
from a practical perspective, how does the groovetron work when it comes to the first game re: characters obtaining it? i think it's as crazy as the entire game is, which is that you can take other people's groovetron power from them by styling on them with your wicked awesome moves and beating them in a dance battle. this actually seems to happen in heat's ending cutscene in BAG1 with robo-z.
