MechAssault® 2: Lone Wolf features a deeper single-player campaign than ever before. During the Swamp Rock mission, after you help the Kuritans on Thestria beat back the mysterious invaders, you need to clear the way for your ship Icarus to land. It's not as easy as it sounds, though—particularly because you begin with nothing but a suit of BattleArmor …
Incoming!
You start the mission without solid intel and without heavy weaponry. As your oh-so-helpful tech, Foster, points out, you need to acquire something that can take and do more damage than your BattleArmor. He's right, but you won't even get the chance if you can't fight off the first wave of tanks and VTOLs that greet your arrival in the swamp.
The planes are fragile and can be destroyed with a few laser rounds, but they're also fast, numerous, and accurate with their weapons. When you see fire coming in from above, drop everything and focus on the planes. They can really do a number on you if you ignore them.
The tanks are a little tougher because they have similar speed with better armor. One well-placed mortar will take out a tank, so you'll have to master the art of the lob. Don't trade too many mortar shots with the tanks, though. There are more of them than there are of you, and eventually, they'll come out on top. If you're having trouble getting a bead on the enemy, switch to your lasers and start blasting. It takes longer to kill a tank this way, but it's a lot more direct.
After the first wave of tanks and planes, head for the large hill in the center of the map. You'll meet up with more resistance on the way, and you can either fight or run because there are jack-able 'Mechs just on the other side of the hill.
Limber up your neurohacking skills and jet towards the Thor that is firing at you from a distance. Wait for his shield to drop and then clamp on and take over his ride. Now, you're piloting something that can really mix it up with the bad guys.
Move over, dummy, I'm driving.
Clean up the hill and collect all the salvage before you follow your HUD radar to the next nav point. You need to destroy all the banks of anti-aircraft missiles so the Icarus can land. The nav points are scattered across the map and each is defended by small squads of tanks and Thor 'Mechs, backed by an almost-endless series of planes.
Always focus on the enemy 'Mech first, but don't be afraid to switch from your primary target to the tanks and planes in the middle of a fight. Upgraded weapons can destroy these smaller enemies with a single shot, so take any opportunity to thin out the enemy as you wear down the heavy 'Mechs.
After each encounter, collect whatever salvage and power-ups you can before moving on to the next nav point. Once you destroy all the missile batteries, the Icarus lands with a special surprise.
Fight your way to the landing site and make a choice: Do you want to keep your jacked Thor or swap it for the maxed-out Mad Dog that your comrades have thoughtfully provided.
There's no wrong choice, but I prefer the Mad Dog because its autocannons have that sweet knock-down capability, and it has twice as many Crossbow missiles as the larger Thor. Of course, the Thor has Jump Jets that make an alternate route through this level possible, but since you're going to have to defeat all of the enemies eventually anyway, you might as well take them head-on.
Your new objective is to take the enemy base, and no matter which 'Mech you choose, you're going to have to work for it.
Trouble on the hillside.
Move around the hill to encounter another group of tanks and Thor 'Mechs. Your upgraded weapons should have no trouble, if you keep moving, and you can use the close quarters to your advantage. An exploding Thor does a real number on any Tanks nearby.
Follow your nav points through the swamp, doing battle and collecting salvage as you go. When you come to a narrow canyon with high walls, stop and look closely at the ridge above you to your right. There are several stationary turrets and Tanks waiting to snipe you, so get a missile lock and take them out before they start blasting you.
Soon, you'll come to the enemy base and the biggest firefight of the mission. Many, many planes will strafe you from the air, as multiple tanks and a few Thors pound you on the ground in a desperate effort to keep you away from their base.
By now, you should have the rhythm down—keep moving, blast the 'Mechs first, and take down Tanks and planes whenever you get the chance. Once all of the enemies are dead, turn your guns on the broad double doors of the base. Blow them wide open to end the mission.
