Balance

How do we play?

As with the other MechWarrior games, in the interest of game balance, MC2 won't let you throw all your 'Mechs and pilots into a mission. Each mission has a certain maximum tonnage allowed to it, and you must decide how to allocate your 'Mechs. If your dropship will only take 320 tons of 'Mech into battle, will you take two Atlases, a Zeus and an Uller or spread things around somewhat, with a larger number of lighter 'Mechs? If you're in trouble, you can use some of your C-Bills (credits) to call in various reinforcements such as repair trucks, artillery, air strikes, a scout helicopter or others. Don't waste this money though, since it is the same cash that buys you salvage rights, weapons and new 'Mechs.

The difficulty problem in the original MechCommander has been taken care of with a suitable array of difficulty levels. Easy is easy and hard is about on par with the original. As with any other game, finding the difficulty level most appropriate to you is important, since Easy is clearly unsatisfying for the typical hardcore gamer.

Blue weapons? Blue colored lighting!

Select an air strike target

Incoming!

Final thoughts?

Microsoft and development team have addressed the interface and scale of difficulty, which were the two main problems with the original. The graphics and sound effects have been updated, and the campaign looks to be about 25 missions long if not more. With slightly kooky-but-serious videos in the vein of MechWarrior 4 used as briefings, debriefings and cut-scenes, the multimedia element is covered as well. Again, as with MW4, the campaign is going for a real-world nitty-gritty feel. The element of continuity with not only MechCommander 1, but other games from the same license is a nice touch.

Watch the rubble

That's one helluva sight

Admit it, the tree shadows get you too

With a primary goal of fixing what was wrong with the original and a few new features, MechCommander 2 looks to be a worthy sequel - true to its predecessors spirit, but updated for modern times. It is scheduled to be released sometime this summer.