MechWarrior 2

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: December 12, 1995
• Genre: Simulation
• Style: Giant Robot Sim
• Similar Games: MechWarrior (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

MechWarrior 2 gives you the chance to participate in the Clan Refusal War, a bloody civil war between the Clans that occurs after the Battle of Tukayyid. The Crusaders, led by Clan Jade Falcon, seek to launch another attack into the Inner Sphere. The Warden faction, led by Clan Wolf, believe that coexistence with the Inner Sphere is the best choice. The war will ultimately dictate which faction dominates the Clans.

You can play as either a Clan Jade Falcon or Clan Wolf MechWarrior and command a range of mechs ranging from light scout to heavy 100 ton assault mechs. Before missions, each player can select one or more mechs for his or her unit as well as customize equipment and weaponry. Although there is no restriction to stop you from taking the maximum number and tonnage complement, the Clans reward players who take fewer mechs or less tonnage than allowed.

The game's 3D world is viewed from a first person perspective. Mission objectives must be completed while evading or destroying enemy mechs. During missions, each player must manage their mechs' heat level and ammunition, as well as command the CPU controlled friendly mechs to organize strategy. Missions end in failure if the objective is lost or if mechs are destroyed through damage or overheating.

Review: Overall

MechWarrior 2 is perhaps the single most important game in defining giant robot simulators. The concept has been tried before, most notably with the original MechWarrior. But MechWarrior 2 takes the genre so far above previous efforts that it has become the new high watermark by which all other giant robot simulators will inevitably be judged.

Whereas MechWarrior dealt with a storyline that on the global Battletech scale was relatively minor, MechWarrior 2 gives you a chance to play as either Clan Jade Falcon or Clan Wolf in the Clan Refusal War. The war is one of the most important developments in the Battletech storyline and the game manages to convey that epic feeling somewhat successfully through the before and after mission briefings. The heart of gameplay is in mech combat and, despite some flaws and overlooked details, this is where the game truly shines.

From the beginning, you have the entire range of mechs and parts available to you. While this eliminates the mercenary and resource hoarding part of the original MechWarrior, it also gives you a lot of freedom in customizing your raiding party for each mission. You earn honor points based on your performance in each mission but the number of mechs you bring with you and their total tonnage also affects your honor point total. If you max out your squad on the allowed tonnage and mech number on each mission, you'll get relatively few honor points. But, if you manage to complete a mission meant for three heavy mechs using only one medium mech, the game rewards you heavily with honor points. The Clans are funny that way.

The mechs themselves are completely customizable. You can swap weapons to fit your playing style and even replace engines and scale armor up or down. This gives the linear mission progression quite a bit of replay value, as the experience of going through a mission as a long range missile platform mech is a lot different from the experience of the same mission with a close fighting laser loaded mech.

MechWarrior 2's combat engine manages to turn the sophisticated combat system from Battletech into a thoroughly enjoyable real-time action. Heat is an all-important element -- overheat and your mech will shut down, becoming a sitting duck. The game does allow you to override the shutdown at the risk of blowing apart the mech's engine core and killing you. Mission objectives are quite varied. While you do have to go on destruction rampages most of the time, the game also throws more interesting escort or defensive missions your way as well.

The game's technical aspects don't disappoint either. MechWarrior 2 release precedes the 3D accelerated graphics card revolution, thus, it uses software rendering for graphics. The visuals are quite impressive nonetheless. The terrain looks beautiful up close and you can see quite far into the distance. Individual mechs are detailed quite nicely and are texture mapped to be easily distinguishable. Despite the heavy graphical burden, the game manages to move along at a silky smooth frame rate. During missions you'll be treated to a variety of atmospheric music clips, some done so well you may remember parts of the theme months or years afterward.

MechWarrior 2, like Doom, is the defining game of its genre. Any fan of giant robot simulators should experience the game.

Review: Enjoyment

The combat system incorporates a lot of detail like heat, terrain and armor while retaining a fairly simple interface for gamers.

Review: Graphics

The game displays beautiful and detailed graphics while maintaining a very smooth frame rate.

Review: Sound

Some of the game's musical tracks are really great and the sound effects are quite nice too.

Review: Replay Value

The honor system is like a constant challenge for you to do more with less on each mission.

Review: Documentation

The game's documentation is a little sparse, with some equipment only getting a cursory treatment.