MechAssault
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| MechAssault | |
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| Developer(s) | Day 1 Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Designer(s) | Tom Dowd |
| Platform(s) | Xbox |
| Release date(s) | USA November 11, 2002 [1] PAL November 22, 2002 JPN June 12, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Action / Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Media | DVD |
MechAssault was the first Mech video game published for the Xbox. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by Microsoft, MechAssault was initiated when Denny Thorley of Day 1 Studios approached Jon Kimmich of Microsoft about developing an original BattleTech game build from the ground up to support console play.[1] "MechAssault" was released in November of 2002. A sequel, MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, was released on December 28, 2004. Both games are set in the BattleTech universe and are a part of the MechWarrior family of computer games.
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[edit] Plot
Taking place within the Inner Sphere of the Mech Warrior saga, the story concerns the recent struggle of the people on the terrestrial planet Helios. A militant/fanatical religious sect called The Word of Blake is busily dominating the other inhabitants on the planet, thus a mercenary squadron of Mech Warriors called the Wolf Dragoons are called into action. Led by a Major Natalia and operated by Lieutenant Foster aboard the Icarus, the player controls the best Mech Warrior among them on various missions to finish the Word of Blake and assassinate its leader, Commander Strader.
[edit] Multiplayer
MechAssault can be played on Xbox Live. The fastest way to find an online session of MechAssault is 'Quick Match', which allows the player to search for a session quickly, specifying minimal criteria. For players who want to join a specific type of online session of MechAssault hosted by another player, 'Optimatch' allows the player to specify the criteria for the session they want to join. The player can also create and host an online session of MechAssault. Once the player defines all the characteristics of a game, they can even invite other players from their friends list or leave slots open for any online player to join the battle.
In Grinder mode (local play only), the player tries to survive as more and more 'Mechs are spawned into the battle. This mode can played with one or two players. In Destruction mode, the player can choose a 'Mech and fight to the death in deathmatch or team deathmatch. The player or team with the most kills wins. Last Man Standing is a free-for-all with no respawning as a mech. Once a player dies, they respawn as an unarmed infantryman. Gameplay can be either deathmatch or team deathmatch. Capture the flag is a team based game where the opposeing team spawn on opposite ends of the map and try to 'Capture' the enemy flag without giving up their own.
[edit] Critical Reception
The game was very well received by the console gaming community, earning a 9.2 from IGN. Fans of the original Mechwarrior and Battletech series however, have criticised the game for playing too much like an arcade game with health bars and power ups and not enough like the traditional simulation games. There is no 'in cockpit' first-person view, for example. Jeff Gertsmann of Gamespot gave the game a rating of 9.0, indicating that "If you're going to buy one game with your Xbox Live starter kit, MechAssault is the one to get."
[edit] External links
- Microsoft's official MechAssault site
- MechAssault at MobyGames
- TeamXbox.com Interview re: Day 1 and FASA games including MechAssault
[edit] References
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