User Reviews (1 - 11 of 49)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

The Original was MUCH better

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 31
Date: July 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Having been played the original MechCommander for several years, I was eagerly anticipating the release of MC2. However, after playing the beta version of MC2, I would much rather stick to playing the first release.

MC2 uses a new 3D engine, very similar to that of Force Commander. (I beleive all the mouse controls are the same) I am somewhat of a traditionist and I really don't like 3D Strategy games. The best Strategy genre games have always been 2D (Command and Conquor, Age of Empires, etc) and the new 3D interface really does nothing special but slow down framerates. Because it's a strat game, you only really need the camera angle in one place. I could care less if I can spin the camera around my mech. The final result is a pretty much useless feature, slow framerates, and graphics that look worse than the original MechCommander.

Gameplay also seems to have taken a hit. I found I didn't have the type of control I had with my mechs that I did with MC1. It felt like I was controlling 8 tanks in Command and Conquor and once they were gone, that was it. There is also a lot more emphasis placed on arial support vehicals than mech fighting. Airstrikes, salvaging, and artillery peices seemed to be the nessicary means of fighting rather than the mechs themselves. Gameplay I found really unexciting, and I didn't really want to play much after just a few days.

The one sad thing about these newer mech games is the lack of the old familiar mechs. For starters there is only 6 or 7 clan mechs (2 or 3 of which are "new creations") and the rest are all IS mechs (several of which are also new). My favorite mechs, the loki and the awesome, are both missing in the new version.

The between game videos, interfaces, and graphics are improved over MC1, however it seems as if they spent more time on that aspect of the game, then the actual game itself. The between game mech lab takes quite a number of screens to get through and is somewhat tedious as well. One nice feature of this game is that you can save your weapons configurations, and load them up later, even in multiplayer.

In a nutshell, this game feels like a combination of MechWarrior 4 and Force Commander, both of which were not exactly adored by the public. You will probably find yourself loving this game for the first few days you play. This is only the excitement of finally seeing this long awaited title. After the initial nastalgia wears off, you will quickly realize how uneventful this game is and go back to playing the original.

Ignore the review above

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: July 14, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The 3D engine in MC2 works fine. The review above was probably playing the preview version, which was a beta. Before the two patches- incidently things that were NOT promised to us at all when we won the preview- the game was quite choppy and suffered from numerous bugs. After, it runs quite well.

MC1 had a problem with the camera. Namely, you were either too far in or too far out. MC2 fixes that problem. As well, sometimes it is to your advantage to tilt the camera to get a better view, but it by no means required.

The camera control is simple. Mouse wheel zooms in/out, right click tilts. If for some reason you manage to get disoriented, there is a key to restore the view to default. The terrain also adds true line of sight- no more seeing where you've been, you must have a unit there- and advantages to holding the high ground, namely headshots.

You have the same amount of control as before. More, actually, since the aimed-shot feature actually works, unlike MC1.

The mechlab is fine and isn't any more of a problem to handle than MC1s. Since you don't have to track pilot health, number of weapons available, or pay for mech repairs, it's more streamlined.

The pilots have new "specialty skills", which means that you no longer just slap the best pilots in the biggest mechs. Some have skills like Sensors or Scouting, which extends to the view range, or Light mech specialty. All these mean you have to place the right pilot in the right mech.

There are 8 Clan mechs, some of which only appear in multiplayer. Most people probably don't care about this detail, but since the game is set in the Inner Sphere (IS) it doesn't really make sense to have a large amount of Clan mechs. None of the Clan mechs are new for MC2, FYI.

The actual gameplay is fine. I played through the campaign and never called in much of anything except a repair truck or salvage craft. Someone else might have done it differently. Unlike MC1, there are ussually several ways to complete each mission. The friendly an enemy AI is good, with a few minor pathfinding issues. The mechs automatticly move to the correct range for their weapons, cutting down on the micromanagement present in the first game. The addition of line of sight and sensors allows mission designers to put more surprises in the mission, ambushes where they would not work in MC1.

More, the mission design is better. One mission, for example, has just one objective: get out in 10 minutes or less. On the way, though, you have options of completing secondary objectives for more cash, better weapons, and salvage. This sort of thing was unfortunately rare in MC1.

The game has some issues, a small amount of lame acting, but is very good overall.

Mc2 is a great step forward

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 14, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Well after reading the above review, I thought I would post my own OPINION of the game. First of all, the Mc2 design team has taken many steps in the right direction with their new game. The future of gameplay does not lie within the 2d world. The future of gameplay lies within a 3d world (remember, wider is better = Commercials never lie!). Second of all: this last person had a "beta" of a game. This game has not even been released yet. I also had a "beta" of the game. The key word here is "BETA". I dont know if this person had the newest release of the beta, but I know I did. The bugs and framerates that the above reviewer mentioned are almost if not already eliminated throughout the game. The final build (the gold of the game) will show that many of the previous issues with the game have been eliminated or fixed. This game is awesome. It is an awesome step forward from MC1 and MCG. There are HUGE improvements in gameplay, strategy, and the diversity of factions (IE there are 4 factions within multiplayer and 3 factions that are represented in Single player). No longer will multiplayer just be a huge battles between mechs, where the luck of the shot is a huge matter. This feature is no longer supported. What IS supported are in-game features that allow a GOOD mechcommander to utilize needed support within a battle. I would suggest trying the game out for yourself, instead of relying on the reviews of a person who does NOT have the final version of the game.

I'm writing my own Beta Review...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: July 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

[....]

Bassically [...] points were as follows:

a) It doesn't include his favourite 'Mechs and he thinks the Clan Mechs are made up. b) It's a 3D engine, and "all 3D strategy games [stink], 2D is much better" c) You can bring in reinforcements by air d) "It's a mix between MW4 and Force Commander"

I'll go through each one first:

A). The Mechs in are very good. Each of them has a distinctive purpose and feel. There aren't many Clan Mechs 'cause the game takes place in the Inner Sphere and all the Clan Mechs are real, not made up. I don't know where that guy was coming from.

B). It's a very good 3D system incorporating true LOS and very nice looking terrain and buildings. The camera system is as good as that from Homeworlds. 3D RTS's do not [stink]. Homeworld, Earth 2150 and Ground Control are all far superior games to most 2D games. Mechcommander 2 can join those ranks as the 3D system truly works well.

C). The reinforcements are very useful and add an element to the game. There were sensor probes, camera drones and artillery in the old game, so I don't really know what the other reviewer was on when they made that comment. The addition of Karnov Salvage Craft and the drop in repair truck makes the game more fun and gives you greater tactical flexibility.

D). The game is NOT a mix between FC and MC. While I was happy (not extatic) about FC, it did have some major flaws (not being able to scroll diagonally was one of them). FC [stinks] big time compared to MC. MC is nothing like it.

What else...The acting is good. Much better than Mechwarrior 4 (not that that'd be hard). They help the story move along and you blieve who they are (ie. overbearing people are meant to be over bearing, outspoken people do get outspoken).

Also, the game addresses many of the things mission from the first game. You can save and load missions whilst IN a mission. There is no black shroud, instead true LOS and many other improvements.

The graphics are amazing and altough the Mechs are a little blocky (to cut down on poly count) the game still looks great. Sound effects are beefy, with Autocannons and PPCs sounding brillient.

My only gripe is that Fixed Arty pieces have too shorter range and I cannot find a use for them except in base defence.

It's a great game, and I can't wait to get something more "stable" than the beta. The game truly captures the "BattleTech" feel and holds you in right until the very end.

BYE

Great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: July 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

My friend got 2 Mech Commander 2s and gave 1 to me. I LOVE it. It's action packed, challenging (but not too challenging), better than any other game. If like Mech Warrior, Quake 3, Unreal Tournament, or Mech Warrior 2, you'll L L O O V V E E this. Trust me. If you like any of these games, its a MUST BUY. If you don't like these games, you'll still enjoy it... just not AS much.

Wonderful Game! Everybody Must Buy It!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Mech Commander 2 is one of the best Mech games to come out yet. The sound effects and graphics are great.

A better Force Commander!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: July 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First off, if you liked Force Commander, MechCommander, or any MechWarrior, just go out and buy this game. If not, read this review. This game is very fun and easy to play. The teaching levels teach you the basics and the manual fills in the rest.The campaign is very engrossing and the missions are fun and a good difficult. You even get upset if you lose a good pilot. You can't compare this game to Age of Empires since in the genre it is like comparing apples and oranges. So if you like what you hear, buy this game.

A better Force Commander!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: July 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First off, if you liked Force Commander, MechCommander, or any MechWarrior, just go out and buy this game. If not, read this review. This game is very fun and easy to play. The teaching levels teach you the basics and the manual fills in the rest.The campaign is very engrossing and the missions are fun and a good difficult. You even get upset if you lose a good pilot. You can't compare this game to Age of Empires since in the genre it is like comparing apples and oranges. So if you like what you hear, by this game.

100 tons of pure destructive joy!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 19
Date: July 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Since the original "MechWarrior" came out in the late-80s, I've loved each and every installment of the computerized-Battletech universe, including this one. MechCommander 2 puts you in strategic command of a "squad" of mechs (officially referred to as a Lance.) It's the difference between tactical (MechWarrior) versus strategic control (MechCommander), action (MW) versus strategy (MC)... but it all comes down to huge robots spewing destruction and mayhem.

Pros: Good atmosphere, solid graphics, fantastic battle sound effects, an easy to use interface for customizing mechs, faithful to the original, adjustable difficulty.

Cons: Too few missions, frustrating limits on deployment tonnage

All in all, this is a fantastically enjoyable game. The acting and mission-briefings give a nice feel for the direction of the game and let you feel like you're a mercenary with a soul, but the plot is linear and there aren't any really surprising twists. As a whole, the gameplay is superb, enabling you to go right into the missions with minimal "training", and the camera is very well designed, letting you maintain an optimum view of the fight.

The graphics are very good... not quite excellent, but they certainly didn't skimp here. It would have been nice to zoom even closer to the Mechs and see battle damage, but to be fair it's a useless feature if you're really trying to wage war and would have taken too much processing power on slower systems. The sound is also well done, but left me wanting more. I miss the rumble and stomp of listening to hundreds of tons of metal stomp across the landscape. You get to hear all the sounds of the battle (weapons firing, explosions, etc) and those are very well done, but the game would have been much more immersive if you could hear your Mechs tromping the fauna.

The weapons were very nicely developed, with a good balance between the different systems (missles, energy, ballistic, etc.) You definitely have to strategize here and plan the outfitting of your Mechs carefully. If you have a bunch of 100-ton mechs, all with long-range weaponry, it'll only take a few 30-ton mechs with decent short-range weaponry to get in close and whittle your armor away like snapping, ankle-biting poodles. Planning is the key, and the interface for customizing your Mechs is well layed out for the experience and novice MechCommander alike.

Finally (and this is my only major gripe) the original Mech Commander was billed as Company-level combat: meaning you commanded forces of up to 16 Mechs, ranging from 30-100 tons each. In this installment, the number of mechs you can field is limited by the maximum tonnage you can deploy. The largest this ever reaches is the final mission, at 450 tons. In case you're counting, that means four 100 ton Mechs and a 50 tonner. Frankly, that's a huge waste of potential, especially when I had about 10 assault Mechs (each weighing 80-100 tons) ready and waiting for deployment by the last mission.

But that's my only real complaint. As a whole, this is a supremely enjoyable game, and I'll be playing it through again very shortly.

Short but to the point

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 7
Date: July 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game with great graphics etc.

The only bad thing about this game is that it runs !!**EXTREMELY**!! SLOW !!**EXTREMELY**!! on all but the fastest of computers (you need about a 1.7 GHz 1GB of ram computer, and a 64 MB graphics card to run this without it being slow) Also 50-75% of the time when you click a button it does not register the clicks (i'm talking the menu buttons, not the in-mission buttons)

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Next 

Actions