You’ve been chosen to go to planet Helios to create confusion and destruction
to their defenses so we can take out the evil Word of Blake, who is currently
holding the planet under their rule. Welcome to the destruction filled world of
MechAssault, where you’ll take control of 10 unique terror fulfilling
BattleMechs to take down the enemy, and the environment around them. It’s an action
packed, intense battle through an epic storyline based on the BattleTech history,
and multiplayer gameplay that is unbelievable.Ready to blow some #$%&
up? Let’s go!


Being one of the titles to launch simultaneously with Xbox Live, MechAssault
has been highly touted for it’s multiplayer modes, mainly through Microsoft’s
Xbox Live service. The multiplayer is indeed impressive, and we’ll get to that
in a bit. First let’s discuss the single player mode, known as Campaign Mode.
In campaign mode you go through a series of missions as a BattleMech, a 30-100
ton mechanical destruction machine. Many Mech fans are quite familiar with Mech-styled
games and know that in the PC realm it has been a struggle to include just enough
simulation, and still make the game playable and enjoyable. More often than
not there has been too much simulation, making gameplay more of a chore than
anything. Well fans, it seems we have a winner! MechAssault offers an easy to
use control system that anyone who has played first person shooter games like
Halo will feel familiar with almost instantly. MechAssault is played in the
third person view however, giving you more peripheral vision and a better shot
at some of the gorgeous displays of death and total annihilation.

When
you start off the campaign mode you’ll get a quick briefing to bring you up
to speed with what’s happening. Basically, the Word of Blake has taken over
Helios, being a member of the elite Wolf Dragoon mercenaries, you are chosen
to go in ahead of the Dragoon Regimental Strike Force to take out their defenses.
In the first mission you’ll become familiar with the controls and you’ll be
an expert mech pilot in no time. Subsequent missions will have you taking out
specific targets, defending allied troops, and pretty much destroying everything
in sight. The mission objectives are clearly explained at the beginning of each
individual campaign through cinematics and voice-overs. No need to pay close
attention however since your on screen indicators will clearly indicate the
next target, as well as the increasing tension of the music and voice instructions
and warnings from your team. All of the missions are fairly clear-cut, go destroy
this and all is well, move on to next mission, and presented in a way that keeps
your interest in the game.

As
you complete certain levels your team will offer new BattleMechs that you can
use. There are about a dozen different mechs that you’ll acquire throughout
the campaign, each with their own weapons and key strengths. Mechs come in varying
size, ranging from a quick and flighty 30 tons, up to a huge and armor reinforced
100 tons. Choosing the right mech for the job can sometimes be the key to success.
Larger mechs can sustain more damage before going down, but smaller mechs are
faster and can get in and out quickly, choose wisely. All mechs have 3 on board
weapon types. Generally you’ll have a ballistic weapon, an energy weapon, and
a missile weapon. There are also defensive and elusive weapons. Some mechs can
become invisible for a short time, allowing them to sneak in and kill, some
have anti-targeting devices, and some have power jets that will allow the mech
to take to the air. Weapon levels can also be increased by finding salvage left
by destroyed mechs or buildings (the building are also quite an effective weapon,
as you can easily drop a building and take out a couple of smaller mechs). The
power ups increase your weapon’s power for a short amount of time. Another available
power up is the health power up, which will restore your health.

Campaign mode offers many different enemies for your killing pleasure. Infantry
troops courageously try to stop you, we recommend you just step on them! Tanks,
buses, trucks, cannons, and enemy mechs will try to stop you at every turn,
it’s a fast paced game, as fast as a 100 ton machine can be at least, and the
action rarely lets up. Getting back to the roots of Mech games, MechAssault
offers game physics and details that you would expect from a Mech based game,
in both campaign and multiplayer modes. Everything in the environment can be
destroyed in striking fashion. Buildings crumble, towers topple, and mechs explode
in gratifying fashion. Using your power jets or weapons too much will cause
your machine to overheat,causing your weapons to malfunction until you’ve reached
a more desirable temperature. Taking a quick dip in the river will expedite
the cooling process, walking on lava will have the reverse affect.


MechAssault
has a very impressive Campaign mode which will have you playing for quite some
time, and delivers the epic storyline in a fashion that will keep your interest
throughout the entire game. Multiplayer is where MechAssault shines, play split
screen, system link, or online with Xbox Live. Once you’ve played online, Campaign
mode will be left under the rubble of a skyscraper, it’s that addictive. Many
of the game types will be familiar to any true gamer. Destruction mode is an
all out battle, all modes are actually, where the mech with the most kills in
the given time period wins. Last man standing is self explanatory. ‘Not It’
is a bit different, where one player is chosen by the computer to be it, it’s
everyone’s job to destroy ‘It,’ whoever destroys the mech in question will become
‘It.’ It’s a viscous cycle, get the most kills to win. There are also team variations
of many of the above game types. Grinder is a battle to see how long you can
last against a never ending supply of enemies, and is played only via local
Xbox.

The Xbox Live gameplay is an absolute blast. Eight 40 foot tall mechs out to
kill each other, across the globe, real opponents, and voice communications.
In the team based games holding down the black button will allow you to talk
to members of your team only. The sense of teamwork to take out the other team
is incredible in these battles. Connecting to Xbox Live is a snap, just grab
a kit, choose a gamer tag, and pop in the disc. One drawback to MechAssault
is that once a game is over, you do not return to the game lobby, instead you
return to the Live section of MechAssault, where you’ll need to use the friends
feature to re-group your team for another match. The stats could have been tweaked
a bit as well to show more details, and offer friend only stats, but nothing
can take away from the online experience that MechAssault offers.

MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot
MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot MechAssault Screenshot

Graphically, MechAssault is one of the better Xbox titles, using
lighting and shadow effects extensively. Even online play did not drop the frame
rate, except in rare cases. The mechs are all highly detailed, and can easily
be distinguished from a distance. Weapon effects and explosions are all done
extremely well, and details like trees catching on fire as your energy weapon
fire passes through add to a truly complete feel to the game. Adding to the
realism of the game is the effects to the mechs when they are becoming close
to defeat. Mechs will spark, smoke, and then finally limp (on their last leg)
before exploding in a white flash that looks incredible. Weather effects, like
snow or rain are very convincing, even the dust trails the mechs leave on dry
ground is done well.


Listen to the mechs stomp, the buildings crumble, and the weapons fire
with incredibly realistic sounds. Synchronized this to the forced feedback of
the controller and the experience rocks! The soundtrack is decent, and the intensity
increases as the larger and fiercer enemies come near. MechAssault is delivered
in Dolby Digital sound and sounds just as good as it looks.


Having a solid Campaign mode and multiplayer options like split screen and system
link will keep those without Xbox Live entertained for a long time. Playing
the campaign mode on different difficulty setting increases the AI response,
and adds more of a challenge to the game. I don’t think we need to mention Xbox
Live here, if you have MechAssault you already know it’s hard to put down!


Overall Score: 9.5/10 [Not an Average] Highly
Recommended


 “I said it more than a month ago after playing MechAssault in Redmond.
. . ‘This game Rocks! Pre-order it now, this will be the best Xbox Live
launch title!’ . . . Without surprise, MechAssault is definitely the
best Xbox Live Launch title available, and if you have Live and $50, go get
it now!”- xbox

“Mech Assault is just one constant adrenaline rush! Multiplayer combat
feels evenly balanced between the heavy mechs and the lighter faster ones. Stand
there and take the punishment with your heavy armor, or run like a rabbit to
avoid enemy fire. Team based multiplayer games is where MA really excels, it’s
so fun to gang up on the opponents when there trapped by themselves, and call
in help from your team mates when in the same predicament. I highly recommend
this game to EVERYONE that has Xbox Live!” – Gronar

“Who said girl gamers can’t kick ass? I have never been into the whole Mech
styled games, but MechAssault has the ease of control and astonishing look and
play to make even a newcomer like myself fall in love with the game. Great graphics,
cool machinery, awesome destruction. What more could a girl want, world peace?”
– Christina

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