MechCommander 2 Preview

All technology will be available from the beginning of the game, but there will be a financial limitation. Yet another novelty is the lack of Battalion Supply, which you will have to compensate with your field performance. So, the better you are on the terrain, the more C-Bills you earn, and hence, more equipment you can buy. During the game, you can seize enemy factories and equipment manufacture objects. As was the case in the prequel, repairs, upgrades, and pilot medical treatment will be made available during the non-combat periods. The other interesting innovation is that the player can now buy several weapons, and use them/switch between them, during combat (unlike in the original, in which you could use only one per mission).

The number of units available for deployment in the field, and airdrop of new pilots will depend on the amount of allocation points (C-Bills). Airdrop will allow the players to receive necessary equipment, and help them create their specific strategic plans. Damaged enemy Mechs can be collected, repaired, and used for future missions. The enemy base will function in a similar way as in the original --- special objects are located within the military base, protected by turrets and walls. If an object is captured, the player will assume the control over it. Thanks to the AI improvements made over the original, not even Mechs equipped with jump-jets will be able to hop over the walls, since your smart turrets will shoot them down in mid-air. Don't forget to cripple an enemy Mech when possible, so that you can capture, and repair it later.

The game still features "death from above" - except, it used to be called Artillery Strikes; now, it's better known as Air Strikes. The effects are the same, except the visuals are much better now. The aircraft descends pouring bombs, and afterburners back up as the target explodes in flames. Naturally, it is impossible to bomb an object accurately, without marking it by a nearby Mech first. When it comes to sensors and their quality, they are much more efficient, and even useful. This means that the Long-range sensor is true to its name, just like the short range one sticks to its title. This can only be put to full use with a decently modeled 3D terrain and good AI. The potential targets (Mechs, vehicles) will remain nameless until the Mech identifies them with its sensors. The game will pay special heed to the matter of weapon range: the units with short-range weapons won't stand a chance against those with long-range weapons, but they will be far better in close combat.

The MC2 graphics are positively brimming with eye candy! (True, had a chance to play the game @ E3, and it's gorgeous! - Ed.) From what I've seen, the in-game dynamic lights and shadows look stunning, especially because of the vibrant lasers (beam lasers are making their debut) and impressive explosions... The game still uses some parts of the old engine, but it mostly relies on the power of the brand-spanking-new 3D engine, used specifically for rendering the 3D terrain, and units (as well as their animations). As I've mentioned earlier, the terrain is entirely 3D. The view can be rotated and zoomed in order to get better assessment of the battlefield.

MechCommander 2 supports up to nine players in multiplayer, or nine teams, over the Internet... Fans of the series can expect to get it on in classic deathmatches, as well as team play, with the added option of setting all the parameters and conditions in regard to terrain...

The only thing that can impede the popularity of this strategic Mech game is MechWarrior 4. As for the answer to the question how will both games fare on the market, and how much will the players appreciate them, I guess we'll know the answer to that question, come Q1 2001...