MechAssault is an 2002 action game Day 1 Studios and FASA Studio and published by Microsoft exclusively on Xbox and a licensed product of the BattleTech franchise. It was one of the first Xbox titles to support the Xbox Live online service.

Story

The player character belongs to a mercenary group called Wolf's Dragoons. The mercenaries are sent to the planet Helios, with which contact has been lost for a long time. The mercenary group's drop-ship, the Icarus, is shot down upon entering the planet's atmosphere. As it turns out, a religious cult of technology worshipers, the Word of Blake, has conquered the planet. Their fanatical leader, Commander Strader, has established a harsh regime. The player's task is to liberate the planet from the cult's clutches.

Gameplay

The game is an action-oriented combat game. The player controls their mech and its weapon systems directly with the controller's analog sticks through the 3D game world, presented from a third-person perspective. The shoulder buttons are used to switch between and fire weapons. Throughout the game, the player controls various mech variants familiar from the rulebooks, ranging from small and medium-sized types to large combat classes. The specific model is predetermined by the program for each of the 20 missions. The objective varies and changes regularly during the mission, but the core objective is usually to eliminate all enemies in combat. Enemy types include infantry, tanks, and enemy mechs. Elevated positions provide the player with an advantage in combat, and buildings can be used for cover but can also be destroyed. Collectibles found throughout the levels allow the player to replenish armor and ammunition.

Multiplayer

MechAssault supported Xbox Live online component and offered extensive multiplayer options. Up to eight consoles with a maximum of 16 players could be connected locally via System Link. Online games were offered through Xbox Live, with split-screen allowing a second player per console to join the game. At launch, game modes included Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Last Man Standing, and a Hunter mode called "Not Me!".^[1] Microsoft expanded the multiplayer component through downloadable content, beginning with two additional mechs (Corvus, Raven) and two new online maps (Hell's Kitchen, Stone Cold) in February 2003.^[2] In May 2003, Capture the Flag was integrated as a new game mode, along with two maps designed specifically for it (Desert Storm, Midtown Mayhem) and two additional mechs (Loki, Hellbringer).^[3]

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[4]

Gallery

Best of Platinum Hits Cover

References