Walking backwards wth, pix sucks.

What are you going on about?  I just walked backwards with every bot I had in my hanger... 'twas fairly easy, too.  I just dragged my thumb down on the little "joystick" and it walked backwards.  Well, the legs turn around, and then face behind the torso... wait... Maybe you were in some kind of cramped area and part of your bot was stuck?

Well, it's either torso rotation to walk backwards, or you have a fixed torso and won't have the ability to turn. Take your pick, buddy

If you've ever played games which use the reverse function as you've described (with 360 turrets) they can be extremely difficult to manage.
I've not seen any games which managed to iron out the transition between (reversing then moving to the side) there's always an awkward moment where forward/backwards gets confused.

I think it could be improved

I agree with the OP. When I've mentioned it to others I was scoffed at and told it's always been that way. But it's not.

I first saw this on one of the test servers some 3 sessions ago, but the effect was so exaggerated it made all the robots, the heavies especially, feel like you were driving something with treads instead of legs.

On the next 2 server sessions, I noticed a similar effect was still in place, but more fine-tuned to the stepping animations and less like a tank. It has a very negligible effect on light robots, but was still noticeable in mediums and definitely there with the heavies. Then I loaded up one of my first Furies. Ugh. Something that large should not have to do a shuffle dance to swing their legs from going forward to going back. With the 2.5 update, these changes are now live, but subtle enough for doubts to arise. I won't be gas-lighted.

The "Jump" ability allows you to counter this effect, as it allows for inertia-less directional changes. Light and Medium bots and analog controls (sorry PC WASD users, not sure) can avoid this effect by making all directional changes into softer curves. The momentum effect is making corner shooting into an OCD PITA. I can only imagine the annoyance factor this is giving dedicated LoS-range snipers, but it has made counter sniping a little easier when you are on the hunt for one. You just can't twitch back behind cover like we used to be able to.

So what you gonna do about it??? If you have noiced a change in your bots maneuvering that wasn't there before the update, and it's definitely not an improvement. Put your mouth were your time and/or $$$ is.

Form a constructive and descriptive complaint about the problem you experience and voice it to Pixonic. (I just did) after I remove emotion from my words. This could simply be a side effect to the new update or an intented handicap to even the playing field. Either way, no action will be taken, if action from the consumer isn't attempted. Rant in this forum, voice you complaints there with the developers.

I don't like the movement behavior, so I let them know I want something done to fix it!

Perhaps an effort at making the missile boats expose themselves an extra coupla seconds? oh wait....they are all smaller bots...

I noticed this immediately and got the same response when asking other players. Low skill players will not notice, but I used dodge magnums by walking backwards and forwards in my Griff, or next to a corner I would walk backwards a couple steps so that I could move forward faster instead of rotating, then moving. It is far worse for the poor Rhino, before the update , I could fire weapons, than rotate and bring my shield up to escape in the opposite direction, now it tap dances instead and you get blown to bits. I was told that pixonic did it to balance heavys , but I don't believe they would intentionally make tap dancing bots, even Adrian has made remarks about how he doesn't like the new movement mechanics.

I too have ceased to purchase from the game; I went back to review the 2.5 update points. No where does it say they will nerf the Lances and slow them down -5mph... I did send a complaint about the two legged shuffle. I didn't invest in Lances to have them remove its giving abilities. It's basicly stealing $$$

My Cossack can not only walk backwards, It can jump backwards multiple times. It's a great tactic to keep that left ECU pointed to the right.

This may be old post but relevant none the less. I'm not a fan at all of my bot having to turn its entire lower torso just to walk backwards or take a few steps left or right. Caught in the line of fire by another bot it'd be helpful in the extreme if we did not have to wait for our bots legs to align towards where we want to go. I can't count the number of times I've lost my bots because of that factor. Would rather have it so that the legs only turn around when full direction and speed is activated at the same time. Slight pressure should just cause our bots to start walking in the needed direction. A true backwards or sideways stepping action. The difference between a live bot and a dead bot can be but a few steps after all.