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The Plot: "Mech Assault" is one a few "XBox Live"-enabled games where, thankfully, the single-player experience doesn't seem like a second thought. Both have been developed with care and, as a result, the game will likely entertain those who play solo or want to blast other mech players from around the world. The game's plot is fairly simple: players hop into a stories-tall Mech to face off against enemy forces from the Word of Blake group (probably could have come up with a better name), which include everything from tiny soldiers (to step on), tanks or trucks (to kick, blast or crunch) or even other Mechs. "Mech Assault" is, unlike most games of the Mech genre (most of which seem to be first-person), a third-person shooter where you pilot your Mech across different terrain, meeting up with various enemies. Throughout the game, players are able to choose different Mechs with different strengths and weaknesses. The environments are also well-designed, with hills, buildings and plenty to see and destroy. While I personally prefer the first-person experience while piloting a Mech (as I did when there was a local arcade devoted completely to a remarkable Mech simulation game), "Mech Assault" still offered enough to see and battles that were generally cleanly presented, although there were the occasional off-screen attacks that irritated somewhat. "Mech Assault" offers single players 20 missions to do and while the game's difficulty is only moderate, these missions should certainly provide more than a few day's solid worth of action. Those with XBOX Live (although I don't have Live, so I can't comment on it) will not only be able to play multi-player, but will also be able to download other content, such as Mechs and Maps. For those who don't have XBOX Live and want to play multi-player, system link and split-screen use is available. The weapons (missles, cannons, energy blasts) available to the different Mechs are generally effective and fun to use, but I didn't find too many of them to be too much better than the others (additional weapons or power-ups can be found within the rubble of buildings). While there is a story here, it's the kind of thread of a tale that, for those who need motivation to continually blast enemies, will pull most along. Those who play the single player levels, however, will likely be annoyed at having to start over from the beginning of the mission if they don't make it - this certainly lead to some frustration at times. Overall, I enjoyed "Mech Assault". There are some faults (the fact that a player must start over at the beginning of the level if they don't make it through, the game gets a little repetitive after a while) and areas where the game could have been more detailed (more customization), but the action is intense and portrayed marvelously by the game's stellar graphics. Rating: 8.5/10 The DVD Graphics: "Mech Assault" offers solid graphics that take advantage of the XBOX's potential. The Mech models are beautifully rendered, and detailed down to the sparks that fly out of the joints when one has taken on too much damage. Buildings fall apart with incredible detail when they've taken too many hits from being around a Mech fight (just about any building in the game can be demolished). Terrain is also crisply and cleanly displayed; the trees even catch fire when they're fired upon. Weapon effects are crisply shown and visually cool, while the explosion when a Mech is destroyed is also impressive. While there is a bit of slowdown during the most intense moments, it doesn't affect gameplay that terribly. Rating: 9/10 Sound: "Mech Assault" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The game's surround sound presentation is above-average, but not up to the kind of immersive presentation that a game like "Halo" offers. As is, the game does offer quite a few instances of surround use as weapons fly by, but maybe if this game was in first-person it would have more opportunities for surround use. This game's audio is certainly more about the bass aspect, as the walking Mechs often put out a lot of deep low bass. As for the sound work, the music is fairly enjoyable, although there are some patches of metal throughout the game that some may find slightly cheesy. The voice acting is also only fair, but neither the musical choices or the occasional dialogue will likely cause too much concern. Rating: 8.6/10 Gameplay: While the controls of Mech Assault aren't difficult, they do take a few moments to get used to. In other words, while anyone can pick up the game and play right away, it might take a few moments to perfect the Mech's movement. There were no serious camera issues and although gameplay took a bit of time to perfect, control was easy and the Mechs thankfully moved faster than their weight would indicate (they also have jets, but can only go fairly short distances on them) Rating Issues: "Mech Assault" is rated "T" (Teen), because of action and occasionally some graphic moments (stepping on soldiers, smashing buildings). Final Thoughts: As with the other XBOX Live games, the most entertainment value from "Mech Assault" can likely be found online. Still, it's nice to see that attention was obviously paid to creating an enjoyable single-player experience, as the 20 missions offer a lot of game to discover. Recommended especially for those with XBOX Live, although those without should still consider a look as a rental or at a sale price. |