While MechAssault® 2: Lone Wolf features a solid single-player mode, the key to the game's longevity will no doubt be its rich multiplayer experience. With no less than ten game types and fifteen maps, MechAssault 2 will have plenty to keep even the most discerning gamer busy—and that's without even getting into the Conquest metagame!
Making a Connection Xbox Live™ support is taken to new and dizzying heights in MechAssault 2, but even non-subscribers will find a lot to like, as the game supports split screen and System Link multiplayer, too.
Now let's talk multiplayer game types.
Base War In a Base War, two teams try to destroy the generator in their enemy's base before the time limit expires. If time runs out, the team who has done more damage to the enemy's generator wins the round.
Check It! Each map has five control points. The first team to control all five wins the round. If neither team can take over all five at once, the round will be decided on points when the time limit is reached.
A Blue Team pilot claims a control point.
Destruction The goal of Destruction is simple—kill or be killed—, but it takes a smart pilot to excel at this fundamental game type. The player with the highest score at the end of the time limit wins the round.
Team Destruction As in Destruction, score is key, but this time a team wins, not an individual player.
Grinder This mode pits allied players against endless waves of enemies.
The Grinder claims another victim!
Last Man Standing This time, you are going for survival, not a score, and if you get slagged you do not respawn. The last player in the game is the winner.
Team Last Man Standing Like non-team LMS, if you are killed you do not respawn. The first team to be eliminated is the loser.
Not It! A random player is designated as "It." Only "It" can score. If you kill "It" you become "It." Got it?
Snatch It! An odd number of Data Cores are placed on the map. Each team tries to pick them up and return them to their base. The first team to snatch all the Data Cores wins. Be careful though—the enemy can raid your base and steal Data Cores that you already claimed!
Blue Team returns a Data Core to their base.
Capture the Flag A multiplayer classic—grab the flag from the enemy base and return it to your own base, while preventing them from doing the same to you. The team with the most captures at the end of the time limit wins.
Conquest MA2's take-over-the-galaxy metagame, Conquest, adds a whole new dimension for those who play on Xbox Live. Though it is a topic well worthy of its own article, here we present a brief Conquest primer for aspiring interstellar generals.
The Conquest universe is made up of approximately 40 star systems, divided among the five Great Houses of BattleTech Lore. These houses—Kurita, Liao, Steiner, Davion, and Marik—naturally want to take over the entire known galaxy, and they'll need your help to do it. Players who have sworn fealty to one of the Houses may choose a system to attack by viewing a star map; valid targets are those which are bordered by at least two of your House's systems. You can also choose to defend a planet that is currently under attack by an enemy.
Each system has a specific map and game type associated with it. For example, on the initially Kurita-owned system Barnard's Star, Conquest matches are Team Destruction on the map titled "No Man's Land." The team that is victorious will earn points towards the successful conquest or defense of the system in question.
There is a lot more to Conquest, which we will explore in future articles. To get in shape, practice your teamwork in the original MechAssault®—it will pay off come December 28, 2004!
