Mech Commander

This was one of the best computer games ever made. The opening cinematic was awesome, and rivals some that you see today. Sure sure, the quality is much better now, but the story, acting, and outright coolness is just as good as any new games opening. Its really too bad that Microsoft decided to "streamline for a more mainstream audience" the next version of this game, and the next version of Mechwarrior. Basically they dumbed it down, because I guess they figured it was too complicated for gamers. Well the sequel pretty much sucked in my opinion, as did MW4. Sure it was pretty, but it just wasn't the same as the originals. Too many things you couldn't do. Hey guys, mainstream audiences don't play games with giant robots! Anyways, great game, great cinematic. I just reinstalled it on my new computer. Its 11 years old, how many games that old do you know that people still play?

Although Mech Commander was at the time a very advanced game with graphics that were impressive, it was underplayed in popularity and fell into the hands of mostly dedicated Battletech people or the computer-junkies who became obsessed to it. Although regular plays through MSN gaming reached 400 people battling it out hourly, the game as now has died now. Basically you traverse a map full of obstacles and different terrains with your "'mechs" which are robot machines which can be modified to fire different weapons like lasers and missiles. They're very much in the style of Japanese anime and all around "cool" looking. In this game you can command many of these mechs on the screen and move them around for different mission objectives like killing the enemy or capturing their base. There are lots of very interesting addons like air-strikes, sensor beacons and turrets. There is a lot of detail to this game including realistic representation of the terrain. For example you can stand on a big hill and see a lot farther than if you were on flat plains.

In the history of games like these, MC preempted the now full 3D ability rather than a constricted 2D map and 3D graphics. Mech Commander 2 is now the successor, bringing back the music of Duane Decker who now brings a full orchestra and techno soundtrack rather than the stale militaristic midi-recorded version in the first MC. Also MC2 will feature full 3D ability to pan around your mechs and zoom into to their 3D movements. This will hopefully launch a new obsession into the world of Mech Commander, having examples of games like Mech Warrior 3 and 4 to help solidify the Battletech gaming world.