Platform: Xbox
Genre: Action
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Day 1 Studios
ETA: January 2005

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MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf

Not content with just releasing a rehashed follow-up to MechAssault, one of its more popular Xbox titles to date, Microsoft has definitely gone the extra mile for its gameplayers, especially the growing Xbox Live community, with MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (MA2). This outing, new types of 'Mechs have been added to the mix in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and firepower. There are vehicles that you can control, and by far the best feature is the 'Mech-stealing: jack onto a rival Mech and overtake him for your own fight-dominating benefit. Naturally, the online skirmishing that has made the first game such a huge hit returns, with a better variety of levels and environments to wage your battles.

Here’s the official game info, jacked from a Microsoft PR rep:

MA2 continues the massive destruction, intense combat, and addictive online play that gamers have been praising since MA first hit the Xbox. Continuing in the 31st century, MA2 allows gamers to encounter entirely new experiences in the epic BattleTech world. With 15 fully destructible environments, this third-person action-shooter takes immense destruction to another level.

Choose from a variety of weapons and vehicles — from the stealthy Raptor 'Mech to the Mech-jacking BattleArmor — all

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equipped with different weapon configurations and artillery.

Embark on the brand-new and intensive single-player campaign, or test your teamwork skills in the ultimate online multiplayer arena, strategizing and communicating with teammates via the Xbox Live Communicator headset.

Features:

Get out of that 'Mech: In MA2, you're the man, not the machine. So, for the first time ever, you'll now have the ability to get in and out of your ‘Mech to experience warfare up-close and personal. Attach to ally and enemy ‘Mechs, scale walls, or hitch a ride on a VTOL aircraft.

Protect yourself: With BattleArmor, you can hijack enemy ‘Mechs and use them to help your teammates rain down destruction on opponents.

Get a new sense of scale: MA2 uses the graphic superiority of the Xbox to introduce a new perspective that allows you to fully appreciate the size and power of your massive ‘Mechs. With action and graphics this realistic, you'll feel like you've been fully immersed into a world where 40-foot ‘Mechs reign supreme.

Enjoy a compelling, brand-new single-player experience: Delve into the deeply enhanced single-player campaign, filled with seamless storytelling that opens up the universe to a more compelling single-player experience.

Experience evolutionary Xbox Live gameplay: Battle for the Inner Sphere against opponents from around the globe via Xbox Live. Whether you live in the United States, Sweden, or anywhere in-between, you can strategize with teammates about the most effective way to search-and-destroy, while talking trash in real-time to opponents from Germany to Japan.

Bring on the destruction: MA2 pushes the graphical capabilities of Xbox. Experience more incredible explosions and devastating destruction. Witness intense, jaw-dropping weapon and damage effects. See lasers light up the sky, Raptors disappear, and Javelin LRM launchers fly though the air, wreaking havoc on the evil Hand of Blake.

This is one of the surest bets to be a top-selling Xbox title when it arrives early in 2005. In addition to the revamped ‘Mech classes, vehicles, and new levels and environments, the game is stunningly beautiful with an noticeably upgraded graphical presentation. With so much going for it, MA2 could be the second-best reason (behind Halo 2) to justify the price of a Xbox Live subscription in the next six months.

- Lee Cieniawa
lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(August 24, 2004)