MechWarrior 3
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MechWarrior 3
- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: July 01, 1999
- Genre: Simulation
- Style: Giant Robot Sim
- Similar Games: MechWarrior 2 (IBM PC Compatible), MissionForce: CyberStorm (IBM PC Compatible), MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (IBM PC Compatible)
Game Description
In the year 3058, the Houses of the Inner Sphere banded together to take on the clans of the most feared warriors in the galaxy, the Smoke Jaguars. The Smoke Jaguars have been pushed back but have not admitted defeat. The final destruction of this powerful clan is your responsibility, should you choose to accept it.The annihilation of the Smoke Jaguars will not be easy. While they have been battered, nothing is more deadly than a wounded and cornered cat. To complete their destruction, you will lead 18 different BattleMechs across the battlefield. As your rank rises, you will be given the opportunity to control more and more of the war, hastening the end of the Smoke Jaguars.
MechWarrior 3 is a total upgrade from MechWarrior 2. You have complete control of your 'Mech as you take charge of eliminating the Smoke Jaguars. Top quality graphics and sound enhance the battle and the game contains a long campaign that keeps the challenge fresh. In terms of multi-player support, MechWarrior 3 can be played over the Internet, LAN or modem for head-to-head play.
A major patch has been released by the designers that addresses weaponry, play balance, control changes and support, sound fixes and multi-player latency (see the review for details). The patch can be found at the MSN Zone web site (www.zone.com) or the official Mechwarrior 3 web site at www.MechWarrior3.com.
~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
MechWarrior 3 builds on the successes of the previous titles in the series, MechWarrior, MechWarrior 2 and MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries. The dedicated web site www.MechWarrior3.com contains a lengthy section on Designer's Notes that should interest most fans of the game.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Welcome to the Eridani Light Horse, one of the premier outfits in the Inner Sphere. Your job is to assist with the eradication of the Smoke Jaguar Clan. Use any means necessary and any means at your disposal. Any questions? Good.MechWarrior 3 is a quantum upgrade on all fronts from the excellent MechWarrior 2, which is saying quite a bit. The tremendous attention to detail in the graphics, gameplay and virtually every other aspect makes this one of the best games of the 1990s, let alone 1999. It is the graphics that will initially grab you and pull you in. Flowing landscapes and wonderful animation are all well and good but MechWarrior 3 goes one better. Shoot off an enemy 'Mech's leg and you'll see the pieces go flying as the enemy crashes to the ground. Drop a Smoke Jaguar tank and you'll marvel at the intricate explosion. This is good stuff.
But graphics only go so far in terms of making a game good. Fortunately for giant robot fans, MechWarrior 3 has it in other areas where it counts as well. Gameplay is initially difficult thanks to the incredibly complex control scheme. After the training missions, though, things smooth out quite a bit. It's much easier with a good multi-button joystick but MechWarrior 3 can be played successfully using nothing more than the keyboard and mouse. The packed-in reference card is a handy and useful addition.
You will need a decent system in order to run the game smoothly. If you've got the muscle in your system, you'll be rewarded with a game that is visually stunning. However, systems with a little less power can run it also and, even toned down, it looks better than a lot of similar games.
The only real complaint I have is in the tutorial section. Regardless of what I did at certain points, the tutorial would not continue. I would do exactly what was asked and nothing would happen. This sort of problem did not occur in the actual campaign game, though, so it's not serious enough that you should consider passing on the game.
There is a patch available for MechWarrior 3 that addresses many of the problems that were unfortunately present in the initial release. One issue that has been corrected is the unbalanced impact certain weapons had on the flow of the game. The adjustments now make it more difficult for 'Mechs to fall after taking leg damage. Another problem solved is the needed increase in movement of torso twist when using the mouse as the controller.
Other features of the patch include fixes of sound problems (crackling and popping noises eliminated), tightening of environmental locations so players will no longer jump jet through ceilings or fall through the terrain and certain 'Mech movement problems. In multi-player mode, latency has been improved, an option for up to eight players in Team Play is now supported at the MSN Gaming Zone, leg armor has been improved and the chat glitch that appeared after saving your 'Mech configuration has been fixed. Full details of all patch issues are included in the patch "readme" file and at the various gaming sites.
MechWarrior 3 is the type of game that caused many of us to start gaming in the first place. It is nearly a perfect blend of action and strategy, dedicated battle planning and seat-of-the-pants improvisation on the battlefield, adrenaline pumping fury and cool resolve. Miss this one and you miss one of the best and most satisfying gaming experiences available.
~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
It's tough but even when you get your butt kicked, you'll be having fun.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
If you've got the power to play it, it will knock your socks off. Incredible attention to detail.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
Good and evocative but the music doesn't always seem to fit.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
The multi-player opportunities and quick action missions give it some life after you complete the campaign.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Excellent, especially the added technical reference that gives readouts of all of the 'Mechs in the game.~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
Production Credits
Executive Producer: Rob sears; Producer: Machael Mancuso; Assistant Producer: Mike Bilodeau; Game Design: Grahan Kays- Zipper interactive, Michael Mancuso- Hasbro Interactive, Erol Otus- Hasbro Interactive, Rob Sears- Hasbro Interactive, George Sinfeld- Zipper Interactive, Brian Soderberg- Zipper Interactive; STORY DEVELOPMENT STORYLINE Writer/Consultant: Loren Coleman; Microsoft: Tom Dowd, Jordan Weisman; Hasbro Interactive: Michael Mancuso; SCRIPT WRITING Writer/Consultant: Loren Coleman; ADDITIONAL SCRIPT WRITING Hasbro Interactive: Mike Bilodeau, Scott Crisostomo, Michael Mancuso, Rob Sears; Writer/Consultant: Deborah McIntyre; GAME DEVELOPMENT ZIPPER INTERACTIVE Project Management: Brian Soderberg, Jim Bosler; Design Lead: George Sinfield; Art Director: Daniel Dociu; Software: Michael Gutmann, Carl Christofferson, Rick Jarvis, Bob Guttmann, Mark Heinen, Gary Hinger, Brian Soderberg; Support Software: David Blevin, Mike Horn, Blevins Enterprises; 3D Artists: Scott Luse, Dan Henley, Doug Wilcox, Tom Sternberg; Additional Art: David Kern, Jay Banchero, Russ Phillips, Victor VonBeck, Brad Molsen; Design Support: Graham Kays; Business Management: Jim Bosler; CG MOVIE DEVELOPMENT MONDO MEDIA Art Direction: Mark Giambruno; Cinematic Direction: Eric Chadwick; Art Direction, Interstitials: Peter Herrmann; Producer: Philo Northrup; Line Producer: Liz Stuart; Artists: Marco Bertoldi, Aubrey Ankrum, Cody Chancellor, Jim Ellis, Johannes Huber, Nat Hunter, Robert Jeffery, Michael Jones, Kelly Kleider, Katherine Liu, Stephen Marshal, Andy Murdock, Sean Murphy, Leila Noorani, Eric Ronay, Ethan Summers, Katherine Wiemelt, Ryan Yoshimoto, Zenimation; Sound Designer: Jim Lively; Production Assistant: Jonathan Smith; AUDIO DEVELOPMENT HASBRO INTERACTIVE Project Management: Paul Mogg; Lead Sound Designer: J. White; Primary Sound Design, Effects & Dialogue: Paul Mogg, J. White; Additional Sound Design and Effects: Darren Lambourne, Mark Cromer; Game Music: Duane Decker- Microsoft, Paul Mogg- Hasbro Interactive; Opening Movie Music: John Broomhall; RECORDING CAST Epona Rhi: Renee Hewitt; Allen Matilla: Paul Mogg; Dominic Paine: Terry McGovern; Intelligence Officer: Michael Mancuso; Additional Voice Actors: Kay Bales, Tom Benkert, Jamie Berger, Kurt Bodden, Jeffrey Brown, Alan Chreist, Wally Fields, Mark Insko, Tom Jermain, Conor Kellicut, Peter Kepler, Fred Martin, Caitlin McLure, David McNeise, Patrice Michaels, Nancy Stone, Kimberley Mohne, Sean O'kane, Andrew Rosenbach, Lara Wheless; Recording Studios: Pajama Sutios, Oakland, CA ; Opening Movie Mix Engineer: J. Gardiner; Coordinator:Paula Telander; Engineer: Kelly Peiko; Music Annex, San Francisco (Opening Movie Mix):; Manager: Greg Byrne; Engineer: Patrick Fitzgerald; TALENT AGENCIES Tonry Talent: Carrie Myers; Stars - The Agency: Mitch Miles; QUALITY ASSURANCE HASBRO INTERACTIVE QA Directors: Michael Craighead, Leon Horne; Test Lead: Scott Crisostomo; Assistant Test Lead: Nels Nelson; Primary QA- Hasbro Interactive, Almeda: Colin Munson, Anthony Johnson, Steve Cohrs, Shawn Stone, Bill Schmidt, Robert Swain, Rob Ivey; Additional Hasbro Interactive QA Support: Matt Bittman, Kurt Boutin, Ellie Crawley, Michael Davidson, Mark Gutknecht, Jason Lego, Jake Hopkins, Mark Huggins, Joe Lease, Randy Lee, Andy Mazurek, Dan McJilton, Sal Saccheri; Technical Support/ Buildmaster: Henry Wu; PUBLISHING HASBRO INTERACTIVE Director of Marketing: Tom Nichols; Product Marketing Manager: Peter Matiss; PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION Writer/Consultant:Tom Dowd; Manager/Editor: Marisa Ong; Layout: Louis Saekow Design; Product Localization: Samantha Baker, Claude Esmein, Karen Ffinch, Viktorya Hollings, Vansouk Lianemany, Birgit Neuwold-Morton, Andrew Thomas; Internet Marketing Manager: Craig Bloem; MARKETING SERVICES Manager of Creative services: Kathryn Lynch; Operations and Special Projects Manager: Tracy Kureta; Director of Creative Services: Steve Webster; Public Relations: Dana Henry; Account Associate, Agnew, Carter & McCarthy: Matt Nowak; Licensor: Microsoft:Jordan Weisman, Dave McCoy, Denny Thorley, Jon Kimmich, Duane Molitor, Heinz Schuller, Lex Story, Tom Burlington, Kevin Loza, Duane Decker, Dave Berger, Jerry Edsall, JM Albertson, Andy Glaister, Jim Reichert, Tom Dowd, Thomas Zuccotti, James Mayo, Earnest Yuen, Paul Gradwohl, with special thanks to Mort Weisman, Bryan Nystul and the entire staff of FASA Corporation; Special Thanks from the Project Team: Tom Dusenberry,Eugene Evans, Gilman Louie, Tony Parks, Sarah Perry, Denny Thorley, Jordan Weisman, Kelly Zmak... and to all the wives, husbands, children and significant others who have helped sustain us through this enterprise with thier support and patience- it could not have been done woth out you.; Based on Battletech created by: FASA Corporation
~ Steve Honeywell, All Game Guide
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MechWarrior 3
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| MechWarrior 3 | |
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| Developer(s) | Zipper Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Microprose |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Shooter, Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | RSAC: V1: Damage to Realistic Objects |
| Media/distribution | CD-ROM |
| System requirements
Min System: Windows 95/98 Pentium 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 2X CD-ROM drive, Graphics 640x480x16 color - 2 MB Video RAM, Hard drive 240 MB free, Sound card Direct-X compatible |
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MechWarrior 3 is an entry in the MechWarrior series. It featured a new 3D accelerated graphics engine at the time of its release. The game contains over 20 missions, with access to 18 different mechs.
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Contents
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Plot
The story opens with a short briefing of the Inner Sphere's Operation: Bulldog, a daring plan to eliminate the most hostile and vicious clan in the Inner Sphere: Clan Smoke Jaguar, led by Anastasius Focht and Victor Steiner-Davion. Operation Bulldog and Task Force Serpent have already completed their objectives, but there is one last operation left—the one with which the player is tasked—a final clean-up of the Smoke Jaguar forces remaining in the Inner Sphere, and the elimination of the last ranking Jaguar officer. This mission (codename: Damocles) is to destroy key Smoke Jaguar installations on the planet Tranquil, including a mech factory, a starport, a geothermal power plant, and finally to eliminate the Smoke Jaguar forces and leadership on the planet.
Two dropships are deployed to release the BattleMech force to destroy these installations. However, while in orbit above Tranquil, a dropship is attacked by massive naval laser fire. The Blackhammer is shot down and the remaining dropship, the Eclipse, retreats to safety. The player was already deployed from the dropship, which had been slightly off target before it was destroyed. The Mobile Field Bases (MFB), which were deployed at the same time as the player, land on target. The player's first mission is to rendezvous with the MFBs and secure the area from hostile forces.
Less than half of the total Mechs are deployed, with the rest either shot down during the drop or still onboard the Eclipse. Despite this setback, the player must continue with his objectives and hope to link up with the forces that survived, and eventually secure a landing zone so the dropship can return to evacuate them.
Gameplay
Mechwarrior 3 is first-person mecha simulation game, with the player piloting a Mech in each mission. Mechs are armored and fitted with various projectile and energy weapons, and engage in combat with other Mechs as well as traditional military vehicles such as tanks and helicopters, and occasional weapon emplacements. During combat, a Mech's weapons and critical components can be damaged, and it is even possible for entire limbs to be blown off a Mech.
Mech customization is a major aspect of gameplay. The player has near total control over the configuration of each of his or her Mechs, from the type and amount of armor used to various internal components, and all of the Mech's weaponry and ammunition. In the campaign, additional parts, weapons, and ammunition are acquired through the missions, from captured supplies and salvaged enemy Mechs.
In the campaign, the player controls up to three squadmates, with the ability to issue basic orders such as attack, move, and return to the Mobile Field Bases (MFBs) for repairs.
The Mobile Field Bases are a unique feature not seen in any other Mechwarrior game. The player starts the game with three MFBs, although these can be destroyed. The MFBs travel with the player throughout the missions, advancing when ordered to by the player. They carry all the player's supplies (which means there is a weight limit to the amount of supplies the player can keep). The MFBs can provide field repair and resupply, provided they are carrying suffient armor and ammunition. As Mechs do not have shields and are only protected by armor which is damaged in combat, the MFBs can become crucial in enabling the player to complete a mission.
Pirate's Moon (expansion pack)
MechWarrior 3: Pirate's Moon is the only expansion pack for MechWarrior 3, with an all new storyline and 20 new missions, plus six new mech, brand new terrains, and a number of weapons. The player can select either Campaign Missions or Pirate Missions which contain respective stories.
Campaign
The Lance Leader from MechWarrior 3 is now given an official name known as 'Lieutenant Connor Sinclair' and returns as main protagonist of the campaign missions. Sinclair is assigned to protect the Federated Suns' control over the planet Vale and its resources against New Belt Pirates led by Susie Ryan. During the confrontation, Sinclair and his lancemates encounter overwhelming pirate forces unexpectedly and explore for the further plot to be unveiled.
Pirate Missions
The player controls 'Scourge', the New Belt Pirate working for Susie Ryan as the forces attempt to attack the Federated Suns' defense and claim control over the resources on Vale.
References
External links
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