I Have the High Ground: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

{{quote|'''Obi-Wan Kenobi:''' ''"It's over Anakin! I have the high ground..."''

'''Anakin Skywalker:''' ''"You underestimate my power!"''

'''Obi-Wan:''' ''"Don't try it!"''

 

 

Less about true strategy and more about [[Rule of Cool|looking cool.]] Expect [[Dramatic Wind]] (actually, wind speed increases with altitude, so wind that seems dramatic to those on the ground [[Justified Trope|is *normal* at high altitude]]). In anime and manga this has become a choice dramatic entrance for villains, introduced via a panning away of the camera from a completely every day scene, or the aftermath of a dramatic event, to reveal that they said villain was watching all along, and provide a nice segway for the next part.

 

When [[Translation Train Wreck|the geography that you stands compares you superior]], you are playing with [[Geo Effects]].

 

{{examples}}

* Tuxedo Kamen from ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' was a master of this. That was all he ever did. Haruka and Michiru were fond of standing on high pillars as well, and the ''[[Sailor Moon|Sailor Moon S]]'' opening credits put ''all'' the senshi up there.

** The Stars anime actually parodies this: when Uranus and Neptune try the high ground trick by standing on the dinning table in Usagi's house, Aluminium Siren actually remarks on how rude they are for doing so with shoes on, making them blush in embarrassment.

** Arcueid of ''[[Tsukihime]]'' in the [[Massive Multiplayer Crossover]] ''[[Battle Moon Wars]]'' was immensely fond of this, at one point revealing that she hadn't shown herself until then because there wasn't a cool lamppost that she could stand upon when making her entrance.

* First shot of Rukia in ''[[Bleach]]'' has her standing on top of a powerline pole. When the other two [[The Grim Reaper|Shinigami]] first appear, they too are standing on lampposts. A preference for high places is even listed on Rukia's character sheet.

** Vice-Captain Tetsuzaimon Iba seems to have an affinity for the high ground whenever he battles Ikkaku over who has to buy the next round of sake.

** Sasuke's first warning that his charming big bro Itachi has gone Ax Crazy is catching a glimpse of him doing this in blacked-out silhouette on a telephone pole, against a rising red moon, with only his crazy eyes visible. Shortly afterwards, Sasuke stumbles on the first of many, many bodies...

** Belldandy and Urd do this a couple of times in the ''[[Ah! My Goddess]]'' manga too.

* Likewise various characters from ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''. At one point, Kurama is seen standing on ''the railing of a balcony'' in the manga. Why he just didn't stand on the balcony is a mystery; the anime corrected this, if memory serves.

* Cyberdoll Sara leaps up onto a powerpole in ''[[Hand Maid May]]'', to aid her search of the city for May. Kotaro Nanbara, being mortal and far less cool, is forced to scramble up with normal climbing.

* ''[[Kaitou Saint Tail]]'' does it at least [[Once an Episode]], either when she reveals her presence or once she's secured the stolen goods.

* Lelouch is seen in the first OP of ''[[Code Geass]]'' doing this. Given his utter lack of physical skills and his flair for the dramatic, what we didn't see was the 15 minutes he spent using his [[Mind Control Eyes]] on an army of people to get him up there.

* Volfogg from ''[[GaoGaiGar]]'' is a [[Transforming Mecha|transforming]] [[Ninja]] [[Humongous Mecha|giant robot]] who does this. And can become invisible (visually, and to most sensors), too.

* In ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'', Fate is standing on a telephone pole firing magic when Nanoha first sees her.

** Later, Hegemon Ingvalt of ''ViVid'' makes her first appearance standing on a street light as she challenges Nove to a fight.

* [[Ranma ½]] and his father trained by sparring atop bamboo poles... and were [[Cursed with Awesome]] by falling off into the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyou. Ranma also frequently runs along fence railings. And Kodachi Kuno does this as part of her [[Martial Arts and Crafts]].

* The holy city guards that fight Claire in ''[[Claymore]]'' don't remark how incredible she is until she leaps onto a steeple.

* In the first episode of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'', Flame Wingman does this after the Skyscraper card is activated, glaring down at Ancient Gear Golem from one of the taller 'scrapers, despite being quite visibly capable of flight. It does [[Rule of Cool|look cool]], though. The same happens later in the series, just before Jaden defeats another student who had stolen Yugi's deck and was imitating him.

* Master Asia of ''[[G Gundam]]'' clearly one-upped almost everyone at this trope when he once performed it by standing on the tip of ''his own martial arts belt twisted into a pole shape'' while balancing on top of the wreckage of the [[Humongous Mecha]] that he'd just defeated with nothing but said cloth and ''his bare hands''. He also tended to do it in the traditional manner, and at times even did so ''while in his Gundam'', despite the fact that its weight ''should'' have caused the collapse of what he was balancing on.

** ''[[G Gundam]]'' being a [[Super Robot]] series that runs on [[Rule of Cool]], elite Gundam Fighters like Master Asia can simply tell the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.

* In ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' season 2, <s>Graham</s> Mister Bushido tops them both, in altitude at least, by posing on top of an ''asteroid'' in his Masurao.

* And Yoshiyuki Tomino, in [[Gundam Sousei]]

* Light of ''[[Death Note]]'' visualizes himself and L doing this as imagery of their struggle against one another, using incredibly thin skyscrapers.

* Jeanne of ''[[Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne]]'' almost always starts begins her transformation sequence by jumping off a building, tower, etc. She enjoys attacking her adversaries this way as well.

* A recurring trope in ''[[X 1999]]'' in which almost every character gets to pose dramatically in an absurdly high place at one time or another. (Sorata even comments on this when he first meets Yuuto standing on the top of a rather tall tree.) They always seem to prefer leaping from telephone pole to telephone pole at perilously high speeds rather than take the public transportation, and they're also often seen leaping from building roof to building roof, among other tall things; it's implied that this is a power that all of the Dragons share.

* [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] does this a few times in ''[[Sonic X]]''. There are also variations involving the nosecones of high-speed jets, and trees. He spends a lot of time very high up: balcony ''railings'', trees and rooves are common sleeping places, tall poles and skyscrapers are vantage points, jets are a good place to dive in on the action and he also has a thing for ''mountains''/

* Polylina in ''[[Galaxy Fraulein Yuna]]''. May be a spoof of Tuxedo Kamen, since she wears a mask and holds a rose, and seems to be the main character's crush.

* ''[[Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou]]'' combines this with Walking on Water. Achieved not for coolness but for a sense of serene surrealism (check out the main article on ''YKK'' for a picture)

* Manga example: In the "[[Battle Royale]]" manga, Kiriyama takes this to the extreme, standing on ''the edge of a splinter'' sticking up from a broken wooden pole. To make it more ludicrous, he stands as if he were standing on solid ground, both feet spread wide apart..despite under a square millimeter of one foot (if that) actually having support.

* Various characters do this in [[Silent Moebius]], including both Cheyenne sisters, Katsumi Liqueur, and Ganossa Maximillian

* Evangeline of ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' does this when trying to look scary. It usually works.

* Elfriede in ''[[Tsukuyomi Moon Phase|Moon Phase]]'' stands atop a cross on the roof of a church, with wind, and reflective glasses in the moonlight.

* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Ling is shown in a number of scenes looking from a higher elevation on a city below, alluding to his grand ambitions. {{spoiler|after Greed possess him, he also gets into the habit}}. King Bradley also gets a brief shot standing atop Central Command in the first opening of Brotherhood, with a dramatic zoom-in to boot.

** In addition, [[Sociopathic Soldier|Kimblee]] does this in Ishval, standing on a high wall while blowing up Scar's entire village. Later, Scar [[Lampshade Hanging|hangs a lampshade]] on the role reversal as he stands on top of a building before escaping from Kimblee.

* The first time Himiko Se catches a glimpse of [[Vampire Princess Miyu|Miyu and Larva]], they're sitting (Miyu) or standing up (Larva) on top of a ''torii'' gate.

* Not supernatural, but Sumire Kanou is overly fond of this in '' [[Toradora!]].'' In fact, in a flashback in episode 16, where she's standing on a roof speaking to Kitamura, there's a ladder present, implying she made a point of climbing up before even speaking.

* Lampshaded in ''[[Seto no Hanayome]]''. Sarutobi is playing the role of a wise old sage, so Nagasumi wonders why he's standing on a telephone pole.

* Happens occasionally in ''[[Busou Renkin]]''. At one point, Papillon and and Moonface have a conversation while standing on electric posts.

* Lunatic from [[Tiger and Bunny]] has a habit of mixing this trope with [[Dramatic Entrance]].

* In ''[[Saint Beast]]'', all the characters (but particularly Judas) spend time standing around on cliffs, trees, and other tall objects to add a sense of the dramatic. Zeus doesn't always have to even stand on anything when he can just float above everybody when he likes.

 

* Recent incarnations of ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]]'' have also got him doing doing this, which isn't too much of a stretch, due to his adhesive abilities and equilibrium. (His more usual trick is to hang from ''beneath'' a lamppost arch or flagpole.)

* Used to the point where it is considered an explicit sign of otherworldly skills or powers in the now-physically published [[Web Comic]] ''[[Megatokyo]]''. Many characters are observed walking on phone lines or on poles. It is even used by Miho (a possible [[Dark Magical Girl]], and definitely one of the comic's most powerful beings) to convince Yuki that she is a [[Magical Girl]] by making her follow her up onto a power line without realizing it. Largo can also do it, but for ''Megatokyo'', being good at games also counts as [[Cyberspace|otherworldly]] skills.

* The [http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i212/Kerrah_photos/BatmanTDKR0_000_Introduction.jpg 10th Anniversary Edition cover] for ''[[Batman]]: [[The Dark Knight Returns]]''.

 

* A "manga-tized" Dee Dee from ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'' performs on top of a fence pole in this [http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/avatar_portal/mag/47_48.jpg comic] done by artist Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.

* This ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]''-based fanart. Specifically, Meowth and Chikorita fighting [[Disc One Final Boss|Primal Dialga.]]

* The ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' fanfic ''Tacky Yellow No-Name'' has {{spoiler|Kunzite}} try to become a good guy, and once it's clear that he can't be a Sailor Scout, he decides to try out for Tuxedo Kamen's role. Thus ensues a battle between the two, where each leaps onto higher and more improbable locations, spouting words of wisdom as they go. It quickly devolves into stuff like "Never run with scissors!" - and ends in pain when {{spoiler|Kunzite impales his foot on a weathervane.}}

 

* The fight along the tops of the bamboo grove in ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]''.

* The ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' scene is spoofed in a second ''[[Asterix]]'' movie.

* Daniel LaRusso in ''[[The Karate Kid]]'' practiced his [[Finishing Move]] on wooden posts.

* Although ''[[Star Wars]]: [[Revenge of the Sith]]'' uses this line verbatim during the duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, it's only a mild example as Obi-Wan claims a realistic hilltop as his vantage point rather a towering spire, for ostensibly [[Geo Effects|strategic reasons]]. However, it does also symbolize his moral high ground and happens to give him an especially heroic appearance during the climax of the battle.

** Fan theory has it that Obi-Wan's position was not strategic at all, and he was deliberately goading Anakin into making a mistake. Indeed Anakin, like an idiot, attempts to jump over Obi-Wan thus gaining higher ground to be presumably more strategic and/or look cooler. It does not go well.

* [[Invoked Trope|Invoked]] but subverted in ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man 2]]'', where Rhodey suggests he and Tony take the high ground for their upcoming fight, but their arguing distracts them long enough for the HAMMER Drones to arrive and take that high ground. They win anyway.

 

 

* In ''[[Dark Angel]]'', Max frequently sits on top of the Seattle Space Needle, especially when she is brooding. Other characters, such as Ben and Logan, occasionally go up there as well.

* ''[[Buffy]]'' first meets Angel by doing a handstand atop a streetlight, and then swinging down to ambush her stalker (slayers have superhuman strength and gymnastic skills).

* ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'': Prior to losing the Green Ranger powers the first time, [[Sixth Ranger|Tommy]] was fond of this, appearing atop a skyscraper to play the Dragon Dagger.

 

 

* In the ''[[Sly Cooper]]'' games, one of Sly's many moves is the "Ninja Spire Jump", which allows him to stand atop tall, narrow objects. In ''Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves'', Sly does battle with General Tsao, a crime boss who fancies himself a Chinese warlord, in a [[Boss Battle]] atop a bamboo grove, obviously inspired by ''Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon''.

* Altair of ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' can climb most buildings, and on some of them, he can perch on a ledge to spot what is happening on the streets (thus revealing side missions). And then do an improbable somersault all the way to the ground into strategically placed hay carts. In the second game, you can then jump onto a guard (or two!) and stab them through the neck with your hidden blade(s).

* Ryu Hayabusa of ''[[Ninja Gaiden]]'' fame likes doing this in the cutscenes of the Xbox remake series.

* The [[Big Bad]] of ''[[Metal Wolf Chaos]]'', Richard Hawk, does this on a ''helicopter'' in a ''[[Humongous Mecha]]'' at one point.

* Waka in ''[[Okami]]'' does this all the time. ''[http://www.emploom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Okami-waka.jpg Those shoes...]''

 

* [[Our Angels Are Different|Angels]] in ''[[Misfile]]'' are fond of watching folks from rooftops...when they aren't [[Flight|hovering in mid-air]].

* The ''[[Star Wars]]'' original is mocked in ''[[Darths and Droids]]'', where Obi-Wan's Episode III speech is instead given by Darth Maul at the end of Episode I ''to'' Obi-Wan when he's hanging down the shaft. In ''this case'' Obi-Wan somehow manages to defeat Darth Maul anyway.

 

* In one episode of ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'', Robin also fights atop a bamboo grove against an anthropomorphic monkey while journeying up a mountain to meet a martial arts master. He later perches on top of the bad guy's staff (really his which was stolen), and then leaps off, causing the staff to smack the bad guy in the face.

** It's also how you play Airball, apparently.

* An episode of ''[[Cow and Chicken]]'' featured the characters training with this method. When they ask why, their teacher says "I saw it in a movie once".

 

* [[wikipedia:Stylites|Stylites]]

* Inverted by some shield wall formations, depending on the equipment used. Generally, the weaknesses of a soldier in a shieldwall are the head and feet, with the body being protected by the shield. If you have the low ground, you can go for the enemies' feet while they can't do much against your head if you raise your shield. They can just lower their shields to protect their feet. With a square scutum, this is no problem. With a kite, shaped like an long inverted raindrop, lowering the shields still leaves gaps open while the enemy with their raised shields have better sight of your feet and are quite well protected themselves. Shield walls with kite shields might have preferred to have the lower ground.

* Actually very effective for ranged weapons - higher ground presents both better lines of sight and firing arcs, as well as cover and - which was much more prevalent for bows, but still counts - things fire downwards much easier than upwards. Less so for melee combat, which does play against most use of this trope, though it can be helpful to slip through the holes in plate armour designed to let people's necks turn etc.

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Rule of Cool]]