Strap yourself in and hold on tight.
User Rating: 9.3 | MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat PC
Mechwarrior 2 is the very pinnacle of cool. While it's only a very small window into the Battletech universe and messes around with some of the names a bit, it still remains remarkably true to the popular gaming franchise. And even if you're not into that sort of thing, taken by itself, Mechwarrior 2 is a satisfying experience. It manages to do the unthinkable--providing elements that satisfy hard core fans of simulation games without seeming too dry and clinical, as many other sim games tend to get. The game successfully gives you the feeling that you're controlling a giant battle machine. The graphics and sound combine to give your mech a sense of weight. Options like infrared vision, wireframe vision, satellite linkup, the ability to eject your ammo, and different firing sequences give the game a sense of realism. You have to control your teammates and watch your heat levels. There are a wide variety of weapons, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. You even get control over what mech you want for the missions and what kind of loadout it gets. It's this kind of attention to detail that makes Mechwarrior 2 stand among the best of sim games. But despite being a sim game, it never fails to provide an exciting, visceral experience. The missions are all clever and well thought out, and the firefights resemble duels between titanic monsters. There are very few things in the gaming world more satisfying than waiting patiently for a lock tone and unleashing a barrage of missiles on your opponent. And working behind the scenes is a story of clans and politics and the feeling that you're part of something much bigger. The clans have an honor system based on strength, and you gain respect by your performance in battle and in duels for rank. But even without all this, Mechwarrior 2 would still be a satisfying sim game. It has the right amount of cool, accessibility, pop culture, and hard core sim power. It has very little dippy voice acting, no unnecessary narrative gumming up the works, and no arcade feeling. Other games with giant machines have tried to imitate this game's success, and there have even been other entries in the Mech series, but in my opinion, Mechwarrior 2 remains the king.
