| | Weapons and Special Components
If you're new to MechAssault, you may not be familiar with some of the weapons and special components that old hands spent so much time comparing, debating, and drooling over. To bring you up to speed, here's a list of some of the items available for your 'Mechs, as well asother information you might find useful.
Weapons
There are three basic types of weapons: Energy, Ballistic, and Missile.
Energy
The rapid-firing Energy weapons cause significant damage, but they generate more heat than other weapons. Pulse Laser: A quick-loading, rapid-fire weapon that's effective against vehicles. Any accuracy depends on the user; this weapon does not track targets. Laser: The Laser strikes in a single, long beam. It is equipped with tracking ability and will continue to damage the target, even if it moves. PPC (Particle Projection Cannon): This weapon takes the form of a crackling ball of energy, with limited tracking ability.The longer you hold down the Right trigger, the more powerful this attack becomes.
Ballistic
Ballistic weapons can knock down opponents and fire multiple rounds, depending on the power-up level. Machine Gun:This is your rapid-fire, short-range, Ballistic weapon of choice. The damage it deals depends on the range. This weapon won't overheat. Autocannon:This is a high-velocity, non-tracking, Ballistic weapon. Damage is moderate to heavy, depending on the range, and heat generation is moderate.The Autocannon fires slowly and is fairly accurate. Gauss Rifle: This weapon uses powerful magnets to propel a very heavy projectile.The range of damage is moderate to very heavy.The Gauss Rifle is even capable of knocking an opposing'Mech off its feet.The reload time is extremely slow, but it generates little heat.
Missile
Missile weapons lock onto and track an enemy until they hit. Crossbow: These missiles are short-ranged, with some heat-seeking capability.Their tracking ability is only available after your 'Mech has locked on to a target. Hammer: These are medium-ranged, medium-speed missiles with no heat-seeking capabilityand a large splash radius. There are never more than two Hammers equipped on any 'Mech. Javelin: These are your long-range, heavy-impact missiles, with moderate splash radius. Once launched and locked-on, they speed forward and seek their target.There are never more than four Javelins equipped on any given 'Mech.
x2, x3, x4
This refers to the number of Lasers, Missiles, and Ballistics weapons mounted on each 'Mech.For example, the Atlas is equipped withfour Pulse Lasers,four Autocannons, andtwo Missiles.When the laser weapon is selected, you will fire all four Lasers at once, and so on … Ammo
For the standard weapons, ammo is unlimited. However, the level-twoandlevel-threepower-ups have limited ammo. Once yourlevel-three ammo is depleted, your weapon reverts back to level-two ammo. When the level-two ammo is exhausted, you have unlimited standard ammo. Special Components
Be forewarned: Special components can be used only for a limited time. They must be recycled before they can be used again. - Jump Jets allow you to fly over obstacles and use elevation for a tactical advantage. They are highly maneuverable, and you can change targets while in mid-air. In fact, skilled players can land on an enemy and damage him ("death from above").
- AMS is an Anti-Missile System (similar to chaff).Throw this on the ground, and enemy missiles will be attracted to it, rather than you.
- Nullsig is an advanced cloaking device that renders you invisible and off-radar when it is engaged. Firing weapons cause you to become partially visible, so use caution.
- Target Jamming stops enemies from locking on to you with their weapons. Tracking weapons become direct-fire weapons. You have to be a better shot to use them against a "jamming" opponent.
Heat
Weapons and Jump Jets generate heat. Extreme heat affects 'Mech by slowing the weapon fire or not allowing your 'Mech to fire at all. Cool off by waiting, or jump in a body of water. Now that you're up to speed, go drool over the 'Mechs available with Xbox Live! By Wolf Wilson |
