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Multiplayer Map Tips:
Witch's Cauldron and New River City
By Ben Barker
MechAssault is back, and just like the first smash hit game
from Microsoft Game Studios and Day One, MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf
is sure to become an Xbox Live staple. But, new features
like 'Mech jacking, versatile BattleArmor, and an MMO-like
persistent online universe won't mean jack (so to speak) if you
don't know the terrain.
Unlike the first MechAssault, you'll have a limited choice
of 'Mechs available, depending on the map, and not every map is
available for every game type. As you become a Lone Wolf Xbox
Live vet, you'll learn which maps and 'Mech selections are
your favorites. We're willing to bet at least a couple of them will
be the following …
The cauldron: Red starts down left,
blue up right.
Witch's Cauldron
The Cauldron is a long, craggy valley filled with dead trees, big
rocks, and some great strategic options for big team games. You
won't be able to play "smaller" games like normal destruction or
Last Man Standing, but if you're up for a big assault 'Mech
blowout, this is your map. Use the Vertical Take-off Landing craft
(VTOL) to traverse the lengthy expanse quickly and steal enemy
rides.
Choose your 'Mech wisely—the
Cauldron gets hot.
Available Game Types and
'Mechs
-
Grinder:
BattleArmor, Uller, Vulture, Atlas, Wendigo, and Corvus.
-
Team Destruction:
BattleArmor, Thor, Prometheus, VTOL, Nova Cat, Uziel, and
Tank.
-
Team Last Man
Standing: BattleArmor, Loki, Blood Asp, Atlas, Timber
Wolf, Ymir, and Bowman.
-
Capture the Flag:
BattleArmor, Tank, Mad Dog, Prometheus, VTOL, Raven, and
Raptor.
-
Check It!:
BattleArmor, Thor, Prometheus, VTOL, Nova Cat, Uziel, and
Tank.
New River City, same opportunity for
mayhem.
New River City
Everyone's favorite mega-destruction map is back and looks
fantastic. The terrain and layout are much the same, but with all
the new vehicle and 'Mech options at your disposal, you'll want to
take advantage of some cool new tricks.
Good ol' "Sniper's Hill" is back and in the same place, but now it
won't just be popular with Catapults and Bowmansthe quick,
maneuverable Tank also comes with NullSig and, of course, a zoom
mode. Can you say invisible sniper? The hill is also a great place
to drop a team of BattleArmored allied with the VTOL and watch them
shellac the opposing team with mortars before taking cover.
For team games, Red starts in the valley to the south, and blue
starts at the freeway tunnel at the end of the road out of town, in
the Northeast.
Assume the
Positions
Unlike many other maps, certain game types played in River City
will force you to hit the streets to find yourself something bigger
than a suit of BattleArmor. Though the 'Mechs sitting there
sometimes change from game to game, if you plan on playing
Destruction, Not It!, or Last Man Standing in New River City, get
familiar with the following locations, which we've conveniently
numbered from 1 to 6. Start with 1 and go counterclockwise around
the map. You'll end up at 6.
Run for Position 1.
Position 1, to the northwest of the
map, is roughly between a road out of town and the small "suburb"
that sits on the other side of the river, attached to the main
metropolis by a pair of bridges. Head toward the 'burb, and you'll
get to …
The view from Position
2.
Position 2 is on the city-center-side
of the suburb, between the two bridges. Look for a 'Mech facing the
bigger part of New River City. Now, head across the water to the
right of the right-most bridge, and you'll run headlong into …
A Thor for thee at Position
3.
Position 3 is the riverbank opposite
the 'burb, on the right of the bridge. You probably won't see the
next 'Mech in the circle from here; you'll have to maneuver around
some buildings ahead to get to …
Close the door on Position
4.
Position 4 is a small, treeless
courtyard that's tucked into the southeast corner of the map. Pick
up one of the new, target-blocking-enabled Mad Dogs (or whatever
suits your fancy) and hit the road out of the city to find …
Overdrive to Position
5.
Position 5 is one of the easiest to
find, and you'll often spawn right by the Loki sitting there.
(Don't ask me why, but other 'Mechs change from game to game, while
the Loki is always sittin' right here for the taking.) Your journey
is almost complete. It's time to head for "Sniper's Hill" and …
Time for new tricks at Position
6.
Position 6 is tucked near the top of
the map and is the closest to the deadly perch I've arbitrarily and
unoriginally dubbed Sniper's Hill. Be careful heading for that
Catapult, now.
Available Game Types &
'Mechs
-
Destruction:
BattleArmor, Raptor (Position 1), Uziel (Position 2), Thor
(position 3), Mad Dog (Position 4), Loki (Position 5), Catapult
(Position 6) .
-
Team Destruction:
BattleArmor, Tank, Mad Cat, Vulture, VTOL, Atlas, and Raptor.
-
Last Man Standing:
BattleArmor, BattleArmor, Kit Fox (Position 1), Atlas (Position 2),
Raptor (Position 3), Raven (Position 4), Loki (Position 5), and
Hackman (Position 6).
-
Team Last Man
Standing: BattleArmor, Catapult, Mad Cat, Atlas, Nova Cat,
Ymir, and Mad Dog.
-
Not It!:
BattleArmor, Raptor (Position 1), Uziel (Position 2), Thor
(Position 3), Mad Dog (Position 4), Loki (Position 5), and Catapult
(Position 6).
-
Capture the Flag:
BattleArmor, Raptor, Atlas, VTOL, Hackman, Mad Cat, and Tank.
MechAssault 2 raises the
boom!
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