MechAssault - MechWarrior Retrospective Part 10
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ธ.ค. 2017
- I'm often asked to make a video dumping on MechAssault, and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf.
Nah.
These games are good. They're not sims, they're not high art, but they're still good.
#Battletech #MechAssault
EEGG: What a let down, huh? You wait almost 4 months for something and then it's badly written and kind of kludged together. Why is the interlacing inconsistent in this video? Why is the game audio so peaky and clipped? Why is the script so incoherent? - เกม
![ความรักของยักษ์เขียว (ทศกัณฐ์) - เดี่ยว ไออุ่น [OFFICIAL MUSICVIDEO 4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yCCy-QVHqK8/mqdefault.jpg)
Mech Assault 2 isn't perfect, but holy cow, the way mechs explode in this game is just about the most satisfying thing I've ever seen. Especially when the splash damage kills another, or sets off a chain reaction of three. Just glorious.
And the sound...
BEEEOOOOOWOOOOWOOWOO BOOOOM
What the hell is with the new games and they just tip over? Common lol
I enjoy it
Yeah I mean while the graphics and textures are more crisp in the newer games (MWO, MW5) not all of the action is there that was present in the older games.
I never really understood all the hate Mechassault got until I got into Battltech. For me Mechassault was my introduction to Battletech, not the other way around and so I will always look back on this game with a shroud of nostalgia.
I'm the same. Personally I think Mechassault could come back right now with improved graphics and story and it would get more people into Battletech/Mechwarrior. Lone Wolf had a dedicated LIVE community...so why not give it another shot?
This is why I like your retrospectives, you praise both the good sides and bad sides of these titles and you seem pretty fair with them. I expected a lot of downer on this but I can see why MechAssault is a fun game if you're not nit-picky about BattleTech rules.
Kind of like how AngryJoe (I can't remember the name) reviewed Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, he got the negatives out of the way but then went on to praise the aspect of how he feels confined with the tank cab perspective like being on a submarine or how your named, memorable crew members can die permanently FE-style.
"It would've been weird if they let you into a 'Mech while still wearing the BattleSuit but that could've been an opportunity for more interesting gameplay."
[cough] Living Legends [cough]
Funny I bring up Living Legends when it's steadily been nerfing BA in terms of ejection. All dedicated BA weapons and SRMs are actually removed when you enter a 'Mech, or any non-APC asset and ejecting from a 'Mech, VTOL, ATF, or bailing from a vehicle leaves you with just an SMG as if you were just a pilot, albeit a pilot equipped with JumpJets.
I personally approved of the balance change from the community devs because it makes BA into their own dedicated way to play rather than just the ability to annoy your enemy by being able to eject from a 'Mech and then use an MP-PPC to snipe them out of their 'Mech, G-Nome style.
Over 4 years have passed since a new entry in this retrospective was made. Is the MechWarrior retrospective dead or on indefinite hiatus? I can't wait to hear your in-depth thoughts on MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries.
Agreed!!!
He mainly focuses on his firearm channel now, he does a lot of work for TFBtv and so guns take up a lot of his time.
The sound design in MA 1 and 2 is fucking amazing, I love how all the weapons sound, and the crazy noise of a mech's reactor overloading is fucking badass. The music is also incredible, it really fits the tone of heavy metal combat.
It took glorious advantage of the Xbox's capabilities at the time. It looked better than Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries which came out the same time this did. Less attention to detail but it looks great for an console Mechwarrior game.
There is no piece of music more memorable to me related to Mechwarrior/Battletech than, ironically, 'Getting away with murder'. Because absolutely nothing prepared me for that sudden tonal shift and a giant spider mech racing out of the fog to kill me. Nothing encapsulates how utterly out of place the WoB Jihad's nonsense truly was in the setting better than that. It's not intended at all, but it worked so well it stuck in my head. (To the point I dropped an 'ancient battle golem' into a D&D game as a boss once and forewarned my players via mentioning the OST for the upcoming boss fight. It wasn't the spider mech, I had far too much fun describing a Centurion without giving away what I was using.)
@@Sorain1At the time I wanted to know what a completed version if the "crawling mech" final boss would have looked like so I waited for years for a third sequal to the game. It never happened but I did just recently come across someone who made a mod in MW5 that added legs to the mech and made it usable in battle. He calls it, the "Uber Mech". Maybe there are somethings that were exclusive only to MechAssault and I don't know how much of the campaign story is actually canon. But I did like the different unexpected twists the game would throw at you vs in a normal MW game.
This is the only correct take when it comes to the Mech Assault games. They're good, stupid fun that's made for consoles with an interesting enough setting to draw in the masses. They're not bad games, and can't stand up to their Board/PC counterparts in terms of what true Battletech is - but nobody should really care about that.
Siiboxic Ok boomer
It's Mechwarrior lite. But people can't really complain since Mechwarrior 4 mercenaries came out around the same time if people wanted the full experience.
@@stahl1624 cope
Wow, I just finish re-watching the whole retrospective, and another video shows up as I finish off the last one! The part with Korn and Papa Roach just might be the most horrifically 2000's thing I've experienced since that time I played Halo 2 while listening to Linkin Park after watching Titan AE. Amazing.
I just found Mechwarrior 5 on game pass today and thought it looked very familiar since I grew up playing Mechassult with friends. I ended up here after searching up what the differences between the two series were and needless to say, this was a very well put together video that answered every question I had. Great work!
Still waiting on the other retrospectives, hope you're doing well five yeras on.
I loved these games on the Xbox. That giant skull you had to fight in the second game was just too stupid! LOL
My childhood was mechassault and mechassault 2 lone wolf, we need a remake or remastered game in xbox one series x, Microsoft has forgotten the IP Batlemech 😓
Generally I don't try to mix my seventy-ton war machines and 2000's Nu-Metal but Mechassault 2 just up and decided it was a good idea. Great review.
And it was.
@@chuckingreaper8654 It wasn't
I think my ultimate problem with MechAssault was my fear that this was the style of gameplay that would catch on over the more tactical "mechsim" gameplay of the PC games. Xbox was basically the next Nintendo during the early 2000s, and even as a young teen I could see the popularity of it taking over something that I really loved and cared about. Ultimately the franchise was just fuckin' dead after this so it didn't matter, but I appreciate your take on it. It's made me go back and re-evaluate why I truly did not like MechAssault at the time.
I played the shit out of Mech Assault 2 as a kid. The nostalgia still holds up too. Went back and replayed it and had a ton of fun still.
Word of Blake was around long before the Jihad plotline but honestly IMO that was a huge shift in their MO. Other then taking Terra, which involved as much sneakiness as raw strength (They replaced a mercenary unit hired to reinforce Terra's defenses with their troops then launched a sneak attack during a training exercise to cripple and disorient the Comguard garrison forces while the invasion army approached) they were more secret deals and covert ops then out and out warfare until the early 2000s IRL. All of the sudden they are launching massive attack fleets across the Inner Sphere and unleashing all the WMDs everyone had agreed not to use for centuries.
I remember these games, first time I was even exposed to Battletech. The hate for these was real, they were dismissed by Mechwarrior (3) fanboys at every turn and often held up as the reason the series declined.
Yet here I am, a huge battletech fan today who went back and played the older ones, and it all started with these arcadey Xbox games.
It killed the series for a _very_ long time. Battletech declined into abandonware because Microsoft decided to push the Xbox games, while the PC games (despite selling better than Mechassault) were left in the garbage bin. The games have only just started to recently recover...almost 20 years later.
It's awesome that it brought you to the series, but unfortunately the Xbox games did more harm than good.
The wait between each of your introspective videos is well worth it.
I've watched the entire retrospective series. It has been great! But I would really appreciate it if you make new videos to share your thoughts about Battletech (2018) and MW5: Mercernary.
Fr im surprised no mw5:m in here
Another great Mech retrospective. Thanks. I only played the Mechwarrior games which I absolutely loved, but never read the books or played tabletop so your insight into the history is fascinating. Hope it's not long for the next video!
I think PPC's in the fluff worked by hitting the target first with an Ion Charged, low energy, invisible laser... tacion burst or some nonsense. The "Man made lightning" would then do what lightning does and travel along the most conductive route... which is now the laser pulse you have emitted. The "tracking" of PPC's would happen if the target mech had moved significantly after getting tagged with the ions. Lighting being lightning it will happily track to the part of you mech that is not effectively a giant lightning rod. In the books they are always VERY CAREFULL not to describe to much how PPC's actual look or work. So I am not sure if it is an actual bolt of lightning or ifs its more like you see MW4 or WMO.
When are you gonna yell at us about MechWarrior online
I remember MechAssault having crazy sales figures, but that was due to the fact that it was one of two (IIRC) games that could be used for softmodding the Xbox.
I liked the song "Right Now" by Korn at the end of Mech Assault 2. I did not notice Papa Roach.
You didn’t notice “getting away with Murder” while fighting the giant spider mech?
@@MattSipka that's how I was feeling
I wish they'd do a MechAssault sequel with a campaign that has the customization of the MechWarrior games but the mission system of MGS Peace Walker / The Phantom Pain. With a lengthy main story and a plethora of side missions with a variety of objectives
although tbh I'd also be happy with MW:5 Mercs (since the mercs series already have a similar line of game play) being on console (but only under the pre-tense of it not being dumbed down)
I'm going through all of the MechWarrior games on my channel too. Your video just makes me excited to eventually get to these spin-offs.
Thanks man been waiting for this since I found your channel back in the agoony booth.
Mechassault is how I got into the series. I remember playing 2 a LOT back when I was little. They're still my favorite mech games ever.
The mech assault games were a bug part of my childhood. It Introduced me to battletech and mechassault 2 is still one of my most favorite games.
I love these man, keep up the great work.
You're doing this so well, it's amazing. Thank you very much for the entertainment.
Every time you make a vid I pause my life to watch it, you were way more positive on this than I expected!
I'm pretty good at defying expectations! :D
you're back! so we can wait another 4 or 5 months for another video lol
The multiplayer for lone wolf was so fucking good. I remember glitching outside the lobby room was a big thing.
MechAssault was the first game set in this universe that I ever played. Only tried MechWarrior 4 briefly at a friend's house; it seemed alright though a little imposing to get into. Now I'm playing BattleTech and loving it.
Seeing as how I recently became obsessed with MW5:Mercs, I'd love to see you do a video on the BTS of that game, and what your opinion of it is, compared to older mech games. Personally I really enjoy the way MW5:Mercs plays, and the modding community has helped it a lot.
It's been so long I'd forgotten how much I missed not having these. Man, I cannot wait to hear you take on PGI, and I haven't even PLAYED MWO.
Absolutely love your videos about the Mechwarrior/Battletech series. I can’t wait for your take on Mechwarrior Online although I’m almost positive it will differ from my own.
Mechassaults 1 and 2 knew exactly what they wanted to be and excelled at it. Awesome games for the console.
You show Spider Bot but not GIANT ROBOT SKELETON THINGIE? I was in my late 20s and it embarrassed the hell out of me.
I hate spiders...
Yeah, the ending of MA 2 way painful. Especially to the ears.
I always just referred to that thing as the super Atlas.
I love your outtakes at the end
I can tell you're a connoisseur of 'tude since I can tell you're still in the eighth grade. That being said, loving the videos. Totally gunna check the rest of your content, great series!
Thanks, I think?
Wait ..... huh..... what ?
I had to refresh the page 3 times before I realized.
Yes you indeed DID release a new video.
Let me bust out the champagne.
MA2 was basically my childhood, seeing as I didn't really give two shits about the story, and I just loved going around murdering the shit outta people in a big stompy robot. It also had to be the most satisfying to look at and most satisfying sounding mech game I have EVER played, and yeah, I played a lot of grinder as a kid. I also love the sound effects and visuals of the game, as they spared no expense going into detail. Looking back on it, the story REALLY has that early 2000s thing to it. I'd go so far to say that it's by far the only real bad thing about it.
PPCs can only charge up to deal more damage if you have a PPC Capacitor, which is an optional upgrade for PPCs that increase damage at the expense of rate of fire and heat, however PPCs do not home in on a target. Directed energy weapons by their very nature are dumb fire because it is impossible to put a computer chip into a ray of light, projection of plasma, or stream of ions which is what a PPC is, a neutron gun or artificial lightning cannon.
This was my intro to mechwarrior when I was a kid. I bought it based off the box, and I gotta say in my opinion it still plays well.
MechAssault 2's power armor just makes you Grayson Carlyle's plot armored Shadow Hawk!
To me, Lone Wolf (alongside Halo 2, Mario Sunshine, Pokemon Emerald, BN3, and a few others) IS the early 2000s. I would love to see a remake/remaster of both games, as I think they could bridge the gap between non fans (including younger players) + those who liked the original games with those who have been uhh satisfied with Battletech/Mechwarrior 5. Get more people into the universe first.
Loved both of these games. I like your videos, have a sub!
In case anyone is interested, there is a Mechassault Fangame in Development. wolvesgame.com
Thought I would drop this in here because every time Mechassault comes up somewhere you see at least a few people saying things like, "Man, Mechassault was my childhood! Where is Mech 3?" The fangame is being built for those people.
Great video BTW. I honestly thought you were gonna shit on this game but I'm happy to be wrong!
You should do a armored core retrospective
Salokin actually did a great series on Armored Core. His channel is on my recommended list on the channel page.
I used to play MechAssault when it came back.
"Johnny Oldschool" there's a name I didn't expect to just randomly pop up in a video. I could swear half the time I'm the only person who even remembers the guy ever existed.
Man I've been waiting for this!
"Because I'm not Layne fucking Staley." Brutal. 🤣
Mechassault was my favourite game on Xbox the First. I spent hundred of hours in River City with friends doing the endless grinder.
I don’t get how Fans who played the tabletop version or the pc version of the battle tech universe, would have a biased hate on a game because it’s not meant for them.
I am a huge fan of Titanfall but I don’t get mad at people who play Apex legends. I don’t like Apex but I’m glad it exists. It’s set in the Titanfall universe and got gamers into Titanfall and if a side game brings more attention to a series I love, I don’t mind.
It’s because they don’t like how it altered or outright changed some canon in the battle tech lore. Personally, I don’t see how the game has ruined an already thin canon enough to warrant hate. It could always take place hundreds and hundreds of years past the canon that was made initially, especially with elementals being in the game. The complaints about it being an arcade shooter are such bullshit considering these same idiots will praise MechWarrior as if it doesn’t use the same mechanics/play style.
Yo I don't know what you're up to these days but I'd kill to see you come back and do a MWO/MW5 set of videos. It just feels wrong not having a complete set. I know they're not really... the same... but still. Anyway, always loved your videos man. Hope you're well
I always loved the sound of the mechs blowing up in this game.
This is a great series, thank you for doing this. I've just binged it in one sitting and you've inspired me to replay both Mercenaries titles.
Would you ever do a video on the Piranha titles? Maybe together as a single vid - specifically on the checkered history of how it came about.
IMO the games are.....mixed, but hugely important in the development and resurgence of the ]franchise as a whole with the updated art style especially finding it's way back into the TT game and finding a new audience. The much better HBS game probably doesn't happen without the Piranha games.
Wasted life in gaming is back with another ep
I enjoyed the MechAssaults, heck they were my introduction to this great franchise, and my only negative memory towards it was ever thinking Papa Roach made good music. God i cringe so hard every time i hear that song now, I don't even touch that level in replaythroughs.
Also MW4M and MA1 are tied for favorite menu track.
Honestly, the way these mechs are described in the books in terms of maneuverability is what I see in MechAssault minus the rolls, dives, and melee. I'm a fan of the mech sims, but people forget this started as a board game conversion of anime mechs.
The Layne Staley (R.I.P.) reference makes this one of my favorite channels
Replayed both games in 2019, and i quite enjoy both still. Worth a play for anyone who is curious.
Hey your back
"Didn't rape my childhood."
Awkwardly fitting praise. I might use that sometime.
Mech assault and mech commander got me into battletech
I know that the hardcore fans hate this game, but this was my gateway to the Battletech franchise. I mean my dad had MechWarrior 2 on PC, but like I was 5 or 6 when I tried to play it and I had no idea what I was doing. I've been wanting to dive into the actual franchise and this entire series is convincing enough!
You have probably been asked this many times, but have you played Future Cop LAPD? Reminds me of this game with some gameplay elements. Like improved weapon but with limited ammo.
And Skycaptain.
For all their flaws, I will always appreciate these games for inspiring my life long love of mechs!
One of my favorite games to play on X link Kai. Great review.
I've played both games and I forgot the change in style and even how the characters change. I really love the series and I feel like it's in the era of games when they were good and not just full of pay to get new things to make the game better.
Great stuff man can't wait for the next one have a sub!
Glad I got both. These games introduced me to the mech world as a kid. Never got die hard into but just started playing hawken, that shit is FUN
LOL! Great Video! I loved your commentary.
the sound effect of coring a mech in this game hasn't left my mind for 20 years now, it's absolutely perfect. the soundtrack as well had some rather moody tracks, leaving my xbox on at 3 in the morning with Mechassault running in the background made for some eerie memories
Good video I really want a new MechAssault
When will you continue this series? I'm really anxious for another one of these videos, they're really well made!
I loved this game so much, it was a lot of fun!
The first mech assault actually didn’t kind of had a hard point system for damage you could shoot off the arms of mech but it was very difficult to do since your weapons always auto aimed to the center it was cool and pretty satisfying when it happened to an enemy mech love these videos btw hope you do one on mw5 soon
This series is absolutely great! So, this year with all the revival of the universe going on we can expect a bunch of new videos, right? ;)
I was always disappointed that so many die-hards in the community never gave it a chance. It's dumb fun (even if it sets off all of my lore alarms), and I like it. There's plenty of room in my heart for the tabletop, Mechwarrior, Mechcommander, and Mechassault (and hopefully the new Battletech PC game if I can get a better computer).
Also, the Word of Blake are totally rip-offs of the Adeptus Mechanicus from Warhammer 40,000.
He's back! Sempai is back, everybody! And thank God too, I almost started doing my homework or losing my virginity.
Also, we, the kids of TH-cam, finally got Roland to call something cringe!
Whew, I guess I posted just in time.
looking forward to the new vids
having just gotten into the franchise via the new Battletech pc game, this sereies was quite informative of the franchises history on pc and console
Even as a kid, it was all about the Online Multiplayer...most fun I ever had on the original Xbox.
Day 1 Studios was working on a spiritual successor to MechAssault, Reign of Thunder....hopefully it's not 100% dead.
When is Mechwarrior 5 video comming out man?! These videos are great!!! I binge watch them all clap clap.
Hop, you should do more of these videos man. I love OG XBOX stuff.
2 years later...
Great! TH-camrs tend to focus on fifth gen consoles/90s PC games for retrospectives mostly, so that Papa Roach/Korn era rarely gets attention. Good that you decided to do that video.
How's the G-Nome review anyway?
It'll happen! Someday...
"We'll talk about that debacle next time"
B-but...
I kinda loved the shamelessly edgy soundtrack of lone wolf, mech assault got me interested in mech warrior, it wasnt ment to be classy, it was meant to be fun.
I never had the chance to play MA1 or 2, I didn't have the money for an XBOX at the time. Got it for a friend who never let me play it, jerk. I kind of want to go back just to see what it is like... Although that torso twisting, damnnnn gurl those 360° hips, ridonkulous.
P.S. Can't wait for your video on what would have been MW5 turned MWO turned back to MW5 and also the release of BattleTech. Awesome videos, well done sir I'm recommending your channel to my friends.
With today's tech a slightly more serious Mechassault 3 with more combined arms stuff would be pretty good.
Mechassult and the sequel were just, so early 2000’s in all the best and worst ways, I wouldn’t change anything about them, and yeah, co op grinder was just the greatest game mode of all time, MA2 handles scale a bit better, if you look closely the first game had like 8 lane roads in every city just so mechs would fit.
Can we get a mech 5 review? I've played the game and I just... I have mixed feelings. I like the persistent economy, but the missions somehow feel brutally samey, and their difficulty ranges from "a well balanced fight where I'm desperately managing my own mech and my lancemates in order to make sure everyone makes it off world," to , "Holyy shit, they're dropping another lance on us? Are you kidding me? How is a bunch of farmers can afford 2 lances of mediums, and a lance of heavies? Why didn't my intel warn me about this?" I also hate the main mission sequence with a burning passion, as it forces me down a route of playing hero against some random other merc company that I couldn't give a shit about. The Kestrel Lancer's DLC absolutely kicks ass though, which shows that at least Piranha Games has, eventually, figured out what the fans want.
Anyways, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the game.
really hope you get around to MW5 eventually to complete the set. your videos are great.
Would be cool to see a video on MW5 now that it's been fleshed out into a pretty damn good Mechwarrior game.
It had a rocky start, but as it is now its probably my second favorite in the series after MW2+mercs.
Really enjoyed watching all of this series. You mentioned MWO very briefly once or twice, seemingly viewing it negatively... I'm curious why you feel that way.
Another great video!