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MechWarrior Online (Early Open Beta Impressions)

MechWarrior Online is the popular new online shooter title from developer Piranha Games and Infinite Games Publishing. The new title places players in control of massive battle mechs that fight over control of important natural resources and a place in the world's government. The game allows 16 players (recently this number has increased to 24) to battle it out at a single time with 8 players on each team. Both first-person and third-person views are available in the game to suit players who prefer any type of shooter, and the recently revamped MechLab ensures players have the battle tools and machine that fits their unique personality and play style. MechWarrior Online does have some good ideas, but these ideas often come unraveled at the seams. Still, MechWarrior Online is a game worth checking out if you're a fan of blasting anything in your path with a giant, mechanical battle station.

The game takes players to the futuristic world of 3050, though there are some glaring similarities to our own world as well. The game's world recently left an era that saw the end to many of the world's advanced technologies, and numerous factions are attempting to rebuild civilization to its former glory, while a new era is about to be born. The Clan Invasion will occur over the next eleven years, and during the time, factions will fight for control of the world and of a powerful element known as Germanium. The rare substance is the primary fuel source for Jump Ships and a valuable and precious commodity for the planet. Most of the storyline in the game is told through menus or by visiting the game's website, and there is actually a decent story created for this type of multiplayer game, only it is not featured enough in the actual gameplay to help bolster the gameplay.

Starting up MechWarrior Online for the first time will be a good time to check out the intricacies of the game through the advanced tutorial the game offers. It's here where players learn the ins and outs of battling online in mechs, but MechWarrior Online is a complex game that can't be fully explained in the 5-10 minutes it takes to complete the game's tutorial. The steep learning curve is bad news for average gamers looking to pick up a fun shooter to play online for free, and the game will likely have trouble luring in fans of other popular PC shooters. There is a fun game to play here once players have mastered the complexity of the mech however, and plenty of maps, instructions and the in-game HUD help players along the way.

Finding your enemy on screen and firing away isn't the only important things to do in MechWarrior Online. Shooting is obviously a large portion of the game, but players must keep tabs on the condition of their mech whether looking over their armor capacity or checking heat levels on certain maps in the game. The weather on a particular map can greatly affect the performance of mechs, and there are various statistical measurements to consider with each mech in the game. Mechs also get numerous weapons instead of the one or two that players have become accustomed to in ordinary first-person shooters. All of the weapon selections and various menus are brought up with customizable buttons on the keyboard, and most, if not all, are necessary to utilize to become one of the best players in each game session. All of the ideas incorporated into combat in the game are good in theory, but the complexity of it all can easily become overwhelming for even experienced shooter fans.



MechWarrior Online is a good looking game. Weather effects in the different maps look nice and are a constant reminder for players to keep check on the various machines that make up their war machines. The mechs themselves look great and are very detailed with plenty of legends and mechanisms located inside the dashboard of the ride that work and give important details on battle conditions. The game features eight maps in total, and each one provides a different aesthetic for the environment and the mechs inside of the warzone. The important Conquest mode requires players to battle over vital objectives, but there are some other versus game modes and variants that give the game some decent replay value. The game's soundtrack is also satisfactory and provides some epic themes for the larger than life battles. Some in-game purchases do feel a bit overpowered though. This doesn't break the balance of the game, but it is something that many gamers won't be happy when they learn about it.

MechWarrior Online is an entertaining game that features difficult to master controls and ideas that may make it an avoidable game for gamers that value their time over their money. The game isn't perfect and seems to stumble to produce the best possible results from its ideas; the game's storyline is interesting but rarely referenced in the game, shooting is fun but hard to grasp and mech customization is cool but often leaves players with less time and money looking overmatched in game sessions. MechWarrior Online is definitely a game worth checking out if you're a fan of mech shooters, since there are few available on the market, but for fans looking for an addictive new shooter, you may want to look for a different way to spend your weekend.

MechWarrior Online is now available free-to-play exclusively on PC. For more information on the game, check out the official MechWarrior Online website.

Game Features:

  • Online Multiplayer 1-16
  • 50+ Mechs to Choose
  • 8 Unique Maps
  • Customize Rides in MechLab
  • In-Game Chat Channel


    • Game Information:
    Developer: Piranha Games
    Publisher: Infinite Game Publishing
    Available exclusively for PC
    Release Date: September 17, 2013

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