Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries : Web Wombat: Games

While you do get to pick and choose missions, your nuetral stance will be jeopardized if you consistently pick missions from the same side, but then, perhaps this is your ultimate goal, hmm?

The story-line is pretty convoluted, so let's just say that the lands of the Inner Sphere have been peaceful, and the role of the Mercenary is now almost obsolete. But when one of the biggest groups, The Federated Commonwealth, splits in half, all hell breaks loose and guess what? There's now heaps of work for you.

Like any other mechwarrior you have to battle in and complete missions, though these are your own choosing.

Heat from weapons' fire dissipates quicker in water

But what's better about this Mechwarrior over traditional titles is that you can buy, sell, modify and even hire and fire people.

While not totally non-linear, it's the closest thing to a Mech-based Freelancer or Wing Commander: Privateer 2.

You start off in a training facility on a small island (if you're decide to train, that is) you have a guide that will tell you where to go and what to do.

It's all pretty predictable stuff: In some circumstances you will have to fire at another mech or you will walk somwhere or shoot a non-living item such as a fuel tank etc.

When you finish your training course you go one step further into campaign.

In the campaign mode you are now open to a whole array of other weapons - arguably the best part - and can perform other actions, such as hiring pilots in to go in your mechs.

You can also go off and create your own individual mech which will serve you in missions.

Once you've got your mech, it's off to the market where you can now load it up with a menargerie of lasers, rocket launchers (long and short distance) and ballistic weapons, like machine guns.

"Holy turd-burgers, 'Mech Man, I'm under fire!!"

You can choose your level of ammo, but don't put it to high or else you might not be able to put on another gun, because every time you put up the ammo for a gun you lose a gun point.

Every weapon has a limit of gun points. For example, say the gun that you want needs 11 gun poins, but you don't have 11 gun points, then you will either need to take another gun off or put down your level of ammo.

Now that you have an armed mech, you need a responsible, hard working pilot. Pilots are really expensive -- the lowest you will pay for a pilot is 158,000, but it's worth it to have the extra backup and firepower.

There are three different ending in Mercenaries, and while there is some freedom in the way you pick missions, this isn't Freelancer with Mechs.

Still, there's plenty of missions to play through, and with Mechwarrior 4's already solid game engine, it's a lot of fun.

Tactics play a big part because some of the fights you come across will be quite daunting. You'll need to use not only your lance mates (wing men) wisely, but also the environment.

It's no use trying to attack a heavily armed troupe of Cobra's, all armed with gauss cannons, at close range - you'll be torn apart before you even get close.

What you do get is to experience a whole load of action and the chance to command others; it's just like being in the army. Well, a future army with robots, I guess.

This is a way cool game for people with a good imagination and for people that like big guns and high tech weapons. The graphics are pretty good, the sound's very interactive and it should be keep gamers happy for quite a long time, particularly those who get online and play.

Game: Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries
System: PC
Players: 1-multi
Online: Yes
Developer: CyberLore
Distributor: Microsoft Games

Rating: 90%

(Ratings Key/Explantion)

Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries is on the shelves now.

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