MechAssault

Mech games have been around for a very long time, and they’ve always been more akin to a simulation game than just pure action, and that is what makes MechAssaualt so revolutionary. MechAssault mainly shares its kinship with the well-known MechCommander games for the PC, and the first-person MechWarrior games, but still, MechAssault stands out from both. When Microsoft acquired the license to make MechAssault, they knew that they had to both satisfy the gamers who like non-stop action, and still keep the fans of the other ‘Mech games interested. A very difficult task. I’ll show you how Microsoft did on this venture.

Features-

-Massive destruction on a whole new level
-A powerful array of devastating walking ‘Mechs -Online, system-link and split-screen multiplay
-Mid-mission ‘Mech upgrades
-Amazing special effects
-Free Downloadable Content

Gameplay

Your role in MechAssault is that of a “Mech Warrior”, in the employ of Wolf’s Dragoons; one of the oldest, seasoned, and most highly respected group of soldiers in the inner sphere. Your task is to disable the orbital guns before the enemy, known as the Word of Blake, can use them as the precursor to their invasion of a small planet called Helios. While landing, your drop ship takes heavy fire, leaving you, a recently repaired mech, and a small command staff to stop the Word of Blake.

The defending forces of the Word of Blake are absolute fanatics. They follow the teachings of their former leader, and, for the most part they seem absolutely nuts as they send ineffective infantry units in to stop your mech; but when you get further into the game, you will see that they are no dummies, and have some of the most advanced technology around. Although you don’t know what their interest in the planet Helios is, you must nonetheless try to find out as part of your investigation.

You’ll soon find yourself going toe-to-toe with some of the craziest lunatics around, and you will eventually find that you will need some heavy firepower to defeat them. At first you will not have much fire power, as you start off with just a measly 30 ton mech. Luckily, the opposition’s forces are generally light at the beginning, so you won’t have much trouble, and as you progress, you will get more powerful mechs, which can be obtained in many different ways.

The first mission is basically an introduction. It helps warm you up, and for new comers to mech games, shows you how powerful these machines are. As you crush the enemy infantry under foot and take tanks out in one or two shots, you will see you’ve not only got some pretty powerful fire power at your side, but also some heavy armor to keep you safe.

The early missions will also help familiarize you with the controls, which are much more easy to access than the PC versions. Taking a nod from the control scheme in Halo, the left thumbstick in MechAssault controls movement, while the right controls aiming. Mapping the game’s controls in the mold of Halo was a good move, because most everyone will likely be acquainted with this control scheme. The right trigger will fire your weapon, while the left trigger cycles through your weapons, and these weapons pack a mighty punch. A lot of the mechs also have Jump Jets which allow you to catapult your mech into the air. This will make you harder to hit, and you will be able to use hills and other parts of the land to your advantage.

Here’s where MechAssault gets set apart from the other Mech games. You can’t launch full scale alpha attacks or use chain firing patterns, so there isn’t as much strategy, right? Actually.no, there’s still a lot of strategy. You can use what’s known as ” ammo banks in sequence.” For example: While your Gauss Rifle is re-charging, you can switch to missiles, then switch to machine guns to take out the tanks. The one bad thing about this is that you cannot go into your mech lab and decide which mech gets what weapons. This is one downside to MechAssault.

When you are blowing your enemy to bits, it is very important to watch what weapons you are using, because you can overheat if you’re not careful. For example, using your PPC’s or Gauss Rifle over and over will make you overheat faster than you can blink. If you do overheat, you will slow down, and your mech will eventually shut off to avoid blowing the reactor. Luckily, on your HUD you have a bar next to health that shows how hot you are. So, if you remember to keep an eye on that, you’ll be safe.


Through the campaign you will find yourself placed in a variety of scenarios. In one mission you may be hijacking an enemy mech from under enemy noses, or another could be more simplistic and require that you destroy anything that moves until the ship is safe. You will never know what you will be faced with next.

Also, during missions you will get upgrades for your weapons. These upgrades take place in the form of salvage from the wreckage of other mechs, or just randomly placed pickups. When using standard (as in not upgraded) you have infinite ammo; mainly because the developers assume you packed enough along for the trip. However, your upgraded weapons are only temporary. So, you have to be sure not to waste them blowing up a bridge, because it is much more satisfying to use them to demolish your enemy.

Using your environment is also a key factor to your survival. You can use trees to stop missiles coming in. If you are behind the controls of a smaller mech you can play a little cat and mouse and try to lose your enemy, and eventually come up behind him and rain destruction upon the already weak armor on the back of the mech. There are many others types of mech, each requiring their own approaches to mech combat, and you must use all your cunning if you want to survive.

Graphics

Even through all the action in MechAssault you still can’t help but admire the visuals. In one corner of your screen you see a missile plow in to the side of the building; shattering the windows, leaving a huge, gaping hole. Then a stray PPC blast blows out the foundation and the building topples over creating dust and a smoking crater where it used to stand. This is just an example of what can happen.

The mechs themselves are beautiful. When thy overheat you can see them fizzling angrily, threatening to blow. What’s more, amazingly, there is no framerate slow-down, even when you find yoursef under heavy fire. It’s almost impossible to find a fault in the graphics.

Replay Value

Although the single player is really fun, truly the best part of MechAssault is the multiplayer. System Link, two-player split screen, and, the most fun of all, Xbox Live, are all supported. In multiplayer you can play a variety of modes:

Destruction– Your standard “destroy everything that moves” mode. This is also available in all game modes and supports teams.

Last Man Standing– Single-spawn deathmatch is probably the best way to describe this. Once you’re gone, you’re gone. It is available in all multiplayer modes.

Tag– One player is “it”. This player becomes “it” by killing the person that’s “it”. The only way to score points is to be “it” and kill the other guys. It, too, is supported by all game modes.

Grinder– This is only available in split-screen. You and your partner must destroy all the other computer controlled mechs that appear from set respawn points on the map.

Sound

This category is perhaps MechAssault‘s only real shortcoming. What is there in terms of sound effects is great. Voice acting is right on the beat, and the sound effects sound great, but other than that it’s just typical ambient techno. There are decent moments when the music speeds up when an ambush is imminent, but other than that it’s not really anything special. Overall, my only complaint is the music. But other than that it is rock- solid.

Overall

MechAssault is truly an amazing game. The gameplay is rock solid, multiplayer is great, and it has gorgeous graphics and some pretty decent sound to boot. It may seem iffy at first, but it’s incredibly easy to pick up and learn, and it does a great job of smoothly introducing the uninitiated to the world of mechs. Other than the music, there really isn’t much wrong with the game. I would recommend it to anybody and definitely to anyone with Xbox Live.

Nick Rasmussen