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Day 1
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Microsoft
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Action
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1-8
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11.14.02
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MechAssault
Mech Assault, developed by Day 1 Studios and published by Microsoft, may
very well be the sleeper hit of the year. No, it likely will win no 'Game of
the Year' awards, nor will it get nearly the acclaim it deserves, but this
is one good ass game, and certainly Xbox Live's shining star, yet most
people probably don't even know it. Read on to find out why...
Let's start with the story, which frankly, is just here to move along the
action. Don't expect any furthering of the BattleTech legacy, despite the
game taking place in it's universe. Anyway, the game's premise puts you in
the role of a Mech Warrior of the mercenary group called the Wolf's
Dragoons. Contracted by the planet Helios, you've been assigned to liberate
the planet of radicalists called The Word of Blake, who have mysteriously
taken over for unknown reasons. The game unfolds as your command center is
entering Helios' orbit, when suddenly your ship is attacked and has to make
an emergency crash landing. This is where everything starts, as the only
pilot with a functional mech after the crash, you're thrusted out to do the
dirty work of the Wolf's Dragoons all by yourself, destroying, crushing, and
utterly obliterating your way through the game's 20 missions.
Gameplay
That's when the real fun starts -the action. That's what this game is all
about, thumb blistering, edge-of-your-seat action, and Mech Assault packs it
in spades. Before each mission, you're given some basic goals and objectives
(which basically correlates to 'destroy point A, kick mech B's ass, stomp on
some dudes at point C'), and then you're let loose to bring all of your
perverse giant robot dreams to life.
And thanks to some completely insane attention to detail (or attention to
destruction, your choice) the limits of havoc you can wreak in this game are
almost boundless, as one of the game's most impressive features lies
squarely in it's environments, which can be destroyed almost in their
entirety. Each laser or missile you fire punctures a hole individual to the
area you shot on a building, fires break out of the windows and entire
columns of windows shatter instantly, and after some good beating, the grand
structure dives into the ground in an extremely impressive display.
It's not all eye candy, however, as the environment actually forces some
strategy into things. A tall building often makes perfect fodder to put
between yourself and those incoming missiles on your back, and if you time
it correctly, you can actually use a building as the ultimate offensive;
destroy it with an enemy mech next to it or on top of it, and it'll almost
always take the mech out instantly, as the huge pillar crashes down under
(or above) it.
Now, given Mech Assault's perfect playground for the walking behemoth mechs,
what fun would things be without variety (as it is the spice of life, of
course)? None, that's what. Luckily, Mech Assault packs a roster of over 20
mechs, ranging all kinds of sizes, shapes, speeds, and firepower, from the
mammoth Atlas, to the tiny Elemental. Each mech is pre-equipped with one to
three (depending on size) standard weapons, and despite the wide variety of
weaponry, combined with the range of mechs at your disposal, it's a miracle
that Mech Assault keeps everything very balanced --which it does
wonderfully.
Whether it's the large Summoner's slow speed, the small Owens' lack of
powerful weapons, or the medium Mad Cat's tendency to overheat quickly,
every mech has it's share of advantages and disadvantages, making for equal
turf whether you play the aggressor or the vulture on the battle field. Also
adding to the strategy, are defensive abilities that most mechs are given,
which range from jump jets that let you hover above enemies to radar jamming
to pulling a disappearing act, turning transparent. Like I stated earlier,
the heat of your mech also comes into play, as most weapons give off certain
amounts of heat per shot, and if you overheat, your weapons become useless
for a limited time. This forces you to think ahead and decide which weapons
to use when, and look at the situation before heading into it.
Xbox Live
Obviously now, with Mech Assault being one of the premiere titles available
at Xbox Live launch, a lot of attention is drawn to the online aspect of
Mech Assault, and appropriately so, considering just how much fun it is! Now
let's get things straight first and foremost; Mech Assault is probably the
worst Xbox Live title so far in terms of functionality, as in dealing with
lobbies, finding friends online, and generally navigating yourself through
the system. Player drop offs before a match are not uncommon at all, and you
can't tell exactly who's talking when, and most annoying; you're booted out
to the main Xbox Live menu after each battle.
But on the other hand, however --the technical side-- is where Mech Assault
is leaps and bounds above every other Xbox Live game this year. Despite all
of the insanity of the action taking place all around you, buildings
crashing down, mechs imploding in all of their glory, and up to eight mechs
running around on screen at once, the game has never lagged on me.
Not once. That alone is absolutely phenomenal in itself, though the game
does slow down, if ever so slightly, when mass hysteria is taking place on
the screen.
The online gameplay really shines in MA as well, with five modes currently
available, from your standard deathmatch and team deathmatch, to last man
standing and a proverbial game of tag (with giant mechs, that is). Each mode
easily offers dozens upon dozens of hours of entertainment (well, maybe not
tag :p), and just the chaotic nature of this game, along with the surprising
level of balance through out, make for an ideal online experience, perfect
for starting out your Xbox Live enjoyment.
I must make mention though of what will definitely become integral parts of
the online play latter on; Microsoft is promising downloadable content for
Mech Assault starting early January of next year, which will purportedly not
only alleviate many of the problems I mentioned about the functionality, but
also add a lot to the experience, included many new mechs and maps, and even
new gameplay modes. So while I hold some small gripes about the experience
now, it may very well remedy those gripes, and get even better than it
currently is as a whole!
Graphics
Now of course, the initial reaction of many will likely be not of the
impressive gameplay, but just how amazing MA's graphics are, and not
surprisingly, because frankly they are just that --amazing. From the huge,
extremely well animated and detailed mechs, that lumber through the
environments like the towering monsters that they are, to the little
soldiers being crushed beneath their feet, everything just looks really
impressive. There are plenty of more subtle touches as well, such as huge
mech foot prints left in the ground as you move about, water and dirt being
kicked up from your legs depending what you're walking on.
Then there's the environment itself, which looks just as good. Well-textured
landscapes and lively towns and cities, and of course the incredible
buildings, or more specifically, the incredible way they fall. Practically
everything in the game is completely destructable as well, with many
different textures for varying levels of destruction on any given area of a
building or structure, and entire pieces of buildings crumbling off of their
rest. Everything works well together to paint a really impressive picture,
making for one of the best showcases of the Xbox hardware yet.
Sound
The sound department, sadly, doesn't fair nearly as well. Though the weapons
sounds are all generally well done, the music in the game is more often than
not your average, bland, almost glam-rock styled music. Yes, the cheese is
in full effect here. The game does feature a sizable amount of voice work
though, which for the most part is pretty exceptional, and even worth a
laugh once or twice.
Bottom Line:
In the end, Mech Assault may not have been on your radar, but it has
certainly turned out to be one hell of a game, and deserves some quick
re-evaluation if you're looking for the Xbox Live title to get. Using
old school, pure arcade-style action to the fullest effect, yet keeping
strategy intact, combined with a very solid graphical package, and you've
got yourself a winner in Mech Assault. This is truly the stand-out title of
Xbox Live for this year. You'll be hooked.
-Andy Wilson
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