Neue Rezensionen von Faceless

First things first - I have played BattleTech since it was a table-top / board game so I have the advantage of knowing in advance some of the basics.

- That there are four categories of Mech: Light, Medium, Heavy and Assault.
- That each Mech has two arms, two legs, three front torso and three rear torso locations (and a head).
- That destroying the head, center torso (front or rear) or both legs is the only way to destroy a Mech.
- That there are three categories of weapon - Energy, Ballistic and Missile.
- That weapons generate heat (energy most of all, but require no ammo).
- That Jump jets are damn useful.

And the list goes on! So the learning curve for a fan of the original is much shallower than for the average player, most of whom will never see let alone play the original game. That said, I am also a fan of this genre of turn-based strategy game, having played many through their evolution, and this is definitely one of the best.

The learning curve will be a bit frustrating at first, but I would highly recommend pushing through. As with so many games that take time to get in to, the richness and depth of the experience is rewarding and worth the wait. The tutorial (which is essentially the campaign) is definitely the best way to learn how the game works. I enjoyed the story line very much, but I can see from the comments that some people found it less so. I think most of those were able to look past it and enjoy the sandbox experience outside the main story missions.

I highly recommend this game and its three expansions (on sale of course) to anyone interested in trying it out. Its a great game, and the rewards of blowing up all the enemy Mechs and slowly acquiring heavier and more powerful Mechs of your own is deeply satisfying.

One final point - its a good game for casual use (i.e. where you get interrupted every 5 minutes by your parents/child) as you can duck in and out even mid mission thanks to the fact it is turn based :)

Enjoy!

Mechwarrior Online is an excellent addition to the Mechwarrior series.

The game is by no means perfect, so it is not entirely surprising to see so many negative reviews, but it is sad when many are ill considered rants rather than objective assessments. My favourite was someone who played over 500 hours, saying only 'worst game ever'. Completely useless review, and clearly a lie too! Gave me a good chuckle.

In all seriousness it is not a game that everyone will get in to and there are some important issues to be aware of before you start.

1) Configuring a Mech is complicated. I know Battletech well, but for my friends it was daunting and can be quite a put off. My advice is to persevere, the complexity keeps the game fresh for a long time to come.

2) There are only a handful of maps to play on. This can definitely be frustrating given that some maps are biased towards particular weapons loadouts. Skill still plays a huge role though, and games are short so you don't suffer long if your loadout is completely inappropriate!

3) Spend as much time as you can stand with trial Mechs before spending any C-Bills. You get money rapidly per game over the first few days, then it dwindles to a trickle. You'll find your first and second Mechs really have to last you a long time so choose wisely. My advice is a Clan Heavy OmniMech such as the TimberWolf-S. OmniMechs have the most configurability, and this is essential when buying a brand new Mech costs a small fortune!

4) Although definitely not Pay-to-win, as skill and teamwork always trump any minor advantages of an individual Mech, spending money is very tempting as it can really ease the grind to get new Mechs. I don't begrudge the developer wanting to make money. Every Free-to-play game does, so don't pretend they don't.

Overall I have enjoyed my Mechwarrior Online experience. The ability to customise Mechs with a range of weapons, and the small advantages and disadvantages of each Mech really help to maintain interest. The gameplay is surprisingly well balanced with skillful individuals and team maneuvering being vital to winning most of the time.

I'll admit to frustration at the expense of Mechs and the push to spend money. However it truly is not necessary in order to advance through the game steadily. Matches are short and frequent enough to keep your bank account growing, and there is nothing more satisfying than saving up for a new Mech. Spend money only if you really enjoy it and want to support the developer. Games don't get made for free!

P.S. I thought I should add that this is one of the least toxic games I've played. After playing Dota 2 for so long, and putting up with swearing and childish tantrums, it's been a breath of fresh air to have a game where 99% of the time people talking are positive and helpful!