MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf

Conquest Mode

There is one other online multiplayer mode in MechAssault 2, and it is one of the coolest things I have come across in quite a while. Conquest mode is a gigantic ongoing competition where you align yourself with one of the noble houses of the game and then fight for control of the galaxy. There are a ton of planets and each planet has its own map with different rules, so you'll get to play through all of the different game types. It takes several matches in order to take over a planet and you can only attack planets along the frontline of the conflict, so it is interesting to watch the power struggle shift through the galaxy each day when you log on and look at the conquest map to see what has happened. This is a huge conflict that can have thousands of people involved and is constantly going even if you aren't online playing. This mode makes online play even more fun and exciting because you are fighting a bigger war against thousands of people and it really feels like you are accomplishing something when you take a planet. The whole concept of this mode is awesome and it has been put together really well.

Made for Multiplayer

Multiplayer as a whole works so incredibly well in MechAssault 2 because it is so interesting and unpredictable. The whole key to why it is so fun is the fact that you can hop out of your mech and switch to another one or even drive a tank or fly a plane or man a turret. No two matches will ever be the same simply because there are so many different ways to play. The first MechAssault was fun, but MA2 blows it out of the water by giving you so many options and allowing you to play however you want. Simply put, this is one of the best games on Xbox Live.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, MechAssault 2 is a nice looking game that is a definite improvement over the original. The mechs are incredibly detailed and the special effects for weapons and explosions are very nice looking. The only negative aspect of the graphics is that the environments are somewhat plain, but they get the job done. When you shoot buildings, glass will break and pieces will fall off and they will eventually crumble completely and it is all very impressive.

The sound is also very well done. Sound effects for all of the weapons are good and pretty much what you would expect. Your mech makes a satisfying thud sound as you walk around, which is nice and lets you know this is a huge object weighing several tons and not some hot rod Lincoln you are driving around in. There is also a lot of voice acting for the single player campaign, and while it isn't all oscar worthy, it is good enough. The music in MechAssault 2 features licensed tracks from Papa Roach and Korn along with some original stuff, and it is a good mix provided you like heavy guitar rock.

Bottom Line

Overall, MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf is a definite improvement over the original MechAssault. What more can you really ask from a sequel? Everything is more polished and the gameplay is way more fun, so MA2 is easy to recommend if you are a MechAssault fan. Online play is a blast and the conquest mode gives the online experience a bigger, cooler, more epic feel because you are part of a huge conflict that is about more than just score on a leaderboard. It is about helping your chosen faction towards galactic domination, and that is awesome. The single player game has also been tweaked and tuned and now it feels like its own game and not just a weak training mode for online play. MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf is an excellent game that is highly recommended.