Publisher: Microsoft
Ages: Teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Violent tank attacks and destruction
The original MechAssault was an entertaining and popular title that was among the first to make great use of Xbox Live. The follow-up, Microsoft's MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, brings more intense combat, massive environment destruction and fantastic online play. It's a great game for those who love a good third-person shooter.
As before, players get to pilot powerful 40-foot tall walking tanks called BattleMechs. Taking place in the thirty-first century, the title offers 15 fully destructible environments and lots of vehicles, all equipped with various weapon configurations and artillery.
An innovation, players become soldiers and not machines. So for the first time, players can get in and out of mechs. And with a special mech, the BattleArmor, which is smaller than conventional mechs, players can hijack enemy's mechs and use them, which offers a fun new twist.
Players get to take on a brand-new single-player campaign, which is fun, or test their skills in the multi-player arena. The superb mult-player modes support system link, split-screen, or up to 12 players via Xbox Live. The amazing Xbox Live modes offer offers lots of gaming options, lets players freely communicate with teammates via an Xbox Live communicator headset, talk trash and search and destroy.
The graphics are excellent and depict realistic explosions and destruction in the game's environments. As you would expect, the title is a violent one that is all about taking out enemy mechs. In every way, MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf delivers a worthy sequel. There's lots here for fans of the original game and those who have never before experienced the joy of piloting lumbering, monstrous tanks.
2/16/05 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
