MechWarrior
Description official description
You are Gideon Braver Vandenburg, heir to the planet. While you were away, unknown attackers destroyed your home, killed your entire family, and stole the Chalice that you need to win the throne. When you are implicated in your own family's death, you are forced into exile. With a help of an old friend who contributed an old Jenner and some credits, you must become a mercenary. Within five years, you must travel the Inner Sphere in search of clues to who set you up, and eventually avenge your family and recover the Chalice.
MechWarrior is the first 3D BattleTech game. The player travels to planets, searching for "fixers" who will set up some contracts with the local authorities. The terms are a flat payment and some salvage payments. Some houses may be very stingy but provide important information. Others pay well but may not be as helpful. It is possible to buy, sell, and repair 'Mechs, hire or fire pilots, and decide which planet to move to while trying to maintain decent relationships with all five houses of the Inner Sphere and uncover clues about the next destination. Each mission in the game is randomly generated.
Spellings
- 机甲战士 - Chinese spelling (simplified)
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (DOS version)
31 People (30 developers, 1 thanks) · View all
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 80% (based on 7 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 30 ratings with 4 reviews)
The Good
Having played the BattleTech board game, I loved the chance to jump in a 'Mech and slug it out. The graphics of the game really good, and the ability to fly around the universe to get contracts was very cool.
The Bad
I hated the game balance, since it was not faithful to the boardgame (i.e. in the board game, you cannot just aim for the head, which of course is the fastest way to victory in this game). Also, I REALLY hated the idiotic "negotiation" routines, where you would just stay at the high number until the other side came closer to what you wanted. Finally, I found the interface needlessly difficult (i.e. no way to cycle backwards a step in radar, so you have to cycle up 3-4 steps to wrap around) and forget giving your lancemates any decent orders.
The Bottom Line
Obviously, I had higher standards then others back then, since everyone else in the world loved this game. However, I liked the later versions better.
DOS · by Tony Van (2797) · 2000
The Good
Hey, I didn't notice this one in the database before! No matter. I've spent many an hour years ago playing this game. It rocks!
The 3D engine is amazing for the time, the gameplay is (though a bit cluttered) very extensive and the "business" part of the game really rocks.
The Bad
Well, I really couldn't get it to run on anything over a 486, and it really gets annoying after a while.
But it kicks ass none-the-less :-)
The Bottom Line
A really good game, one of the original 3D games and very worthwhile.
DOS · by Tomer Gabel (4538) · 1999
An all time classic -- a game that was ahead of its time.
The Good
This game was great. For its time, the 3D graphics were the best around and the gameplay was cruely addictive. If I can point out a single reason that I only lasted a year in college, it would be this game. I ran Mechwarrior on my 286, and the frame rate was great. Between levels I could upgrage my mechs and salvage equipment from my weak opponents that I obliterated, only to build a bigger better mech to destroy all who dared to challange me.
The Bad
There's not a lot to dislike about this game. The sound effects were a bit weak and could have been better. Then again, there weren't many options for digitized sound in 1989.
The Bottom Line
This game is a classic. It's the 31st century, and you start off as an inexperienced pilot with a weak 'mech. Accumulate wealth, improve your machine, travel to other systems and get contracts which pay top dollar. Once you get going and can afford to do so, recruit a crew to help you out.
DOS · by Brian Hirt (10409) · 1999
Discussion
| Subject | By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| A split, perhaps | St. Martyne (3648) | Aug 11, 2009 |
Trivia
Music
MechWarrior has music in it, but is only played when you are at the bar or transporting to another location.
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Related Sites +
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Mechwarrior I @ links.net
Screenshots weaved into a description of the game, and links placing the game in context with other titles. -
The Local Ditch presents Mechwarrior
General game info, story, and downloads for the original Mechwarrior
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Brian Hirt.
PC-98, Sharp X68000 added by Infernos.
Additional contributors: Justin Hall, Kasey Chang, Unicorn Lynx, S H, Patrick Bregger, Infernos.
Game added May 3, 1999. Last modified January 21, 2024.