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The original MechCommander was but one of many games set in the Battletech universe. It had a good storyline and some cool graphics for its time and I enjoyed commanding the various mechs as they battled across the battered landscape of Port Arthur. It was followed up by the release of MechCommander Gold which included an expansion campaign as well as new options and new mechs. Now we are on the verge of getting MechCommander 2, and it looks very promising indeed.

This time, the story takes place on the planet Carver V, which is located in the region of space aptly known as the Chaos March. Over the course of the game, you and your mercenary unit will work for the various Successor State Houses that maintain a presence on Carver V. Not to be forgotten, it appears that the Clans will probably make an appearance as well… As in last year’s Mechwarrior 4, the story and mission briefings will be told with the aid of live-action cutscenes. While some may argue that this may be a bit “cheesy” I found it quite fitting considering the over the top “feel” I get from the Battletech universe.

Like in the original MechCommander, you will be responsible for outfitting your unit as well as commanding them in the battlefield. To this end, you will have over 29 mechs at your disposal along with the usual array of weapons ranging from autocannons to energy weapons like ER Lasers and PPCs. In an effort to streamline the customization process in MC2, the way you customize your mechs has changed to a system that appears to be based mainly on how much space is available on your mech as opposed to how much weight is available on your mech. This method also completely eliminates the location/slot based placement system of other Battletech games. Thus, customization is basically achieved by dragging the desired component into any space large enough to accommodate it while keeping in mind the total heat output of the weapons mounted on your mech.

Once you’ve finished outfitting your mechs, the action begins when your team drops into the mission area. The first thing that you’ll notice is that the terrain is now in 3D and I have to admit it looks pretty good for an RTS. In addition to aesthetic value, the 3D engine also provides terrain combat bonuses. An often used example is the fact that if you attack enemy mechs from a higher elevation, you have a better chance of getting headshots and hitting as well. The camera controls are pretty intuitive as well so it shouldn’t take too long to get the hang of looking around at the landscape. However, I’ve noticed that the game takes a big hit in framerates when you’re using the camera. Hopefully this will be fixed in the final product after some optimization is done. Everything else in the game looks pretty damn good as well especially the mechs – just picture a collection of highly detailed Battletech table top wargame miniatures coming to life.

Speaking of details, the pilots have been given some more depth in the game instead of just being a name with a skill level attached to it. As your pilots gain experience and move up in skill, they now given the ability to specialize in certain aspects of mech combat and piloting making no two mech pilots alike. For example, a pilot with a high level of sensors specialization will be able to identify sensor contacts with ease, even up to the point of determining the exact type of mech chassis the contact is. Other improvements incorporated into MC2 include the much welcomed abilities to perform battlefield repairs and salvages. At the cost of resource points, players can call down a repair truck that you can use to fix battle damage or a chopper that will magically salvage a downed mech and stick one of your available pilots into it.

With all these new features, MC2 should be something many gamers will look forward to once it comes out on the shelves July 19. After fooling around with the preview copy for awhile I have to say this is something definitely worth looking into and is certainly a strong contender in the RTS field this year.

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