View source for Software:MechCommander

'''''MechCommander''''' is a [[Software:Real-time tactics|real-time tactics]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] based on FASA's ''BattleTech''/''MechWarrior'' franchise, developed by FASA Interactive and distributed by [[Company:MicroProse|MicroProse]] in 1998. An [[Software:Expansion pack|expansion pack]], ''Desperate Measures'', was released in 1999. A sequel, ''[[Software:MechCommander 2|MechCommander 2]]'', was released in 2001.

==Gameplay==
Players assume the role of the commander of Zulu company from the Federated Commonwealth's First Davion Guards, a member of the Inner Sphere (IS).<ref>{{cite web |last=House |first=Michael L. |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12046 |title=MechCommander - Overview |website=[[Software:AllGame|AllGame]] |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114160803/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12046 |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The planet Port Arthur must be taken back from the Clan Smoke Jaguar.<ref name="publicopinion">{{cite news |last=Easley |first=Joel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24833055/mechcommander-puts-you-in-control-of/ |title=MechCommander puts you in control of universe |newspaper=Public Opinion |publisher=[[Company:Gannett Company|Gannett Company]] |issue=5 |date=July 25, 1998 |page=1C |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref> The game's campaign progresses through 30 different missions broken into 5 operations with 6 missions apiece.<ref name="tampatribune">{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Jim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24833009/mechs-go-real-time-by-jim-reed/ |title=Mechs go real-time |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |publisher=Tampa Media Group, Inc. |issue=194 |date=August 14, 1998 |page=38 |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref> Each mission consists of a number of objectives which may include destroying enemy units, capturing or defending enemy units, protecting friendly units, and capturing and defending bases. Some missions must be completed within a certain time limit.<ref name="sydneymorning">{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Stuart |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24832470/battle-stations-by-stuart-clarke/ |title=Battle Stations |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |issue=50201 |date=July 25, 1998 |page=14 |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:MechCommander screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|Battle scene]]
In each mission, players controls a limited number of units which are either mechs or support vehicles.<ref name="cgsp-review"/> This control is through a simulated aerial viewscreen above the battlefield.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Alderman |first=John |date=July 21, 1998 |url=https://www.wired.com/1998/07/mechcommander-on-the-move/ |title=MechCommander on the Move |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref> Each mission restricts both the combined tonnage and the number of units allowed. Briefings are supplied prior to the start of the mission which lists the objectives and other relevant information. A wide range of strategies and tactics may be used on any given mission, and players can customize their forces for each one.<ref name="sydneymorning"/>

In between missions players can repair and refit mechs, assign mechwarriors to each mech and purchase mechs, vehicles, mechwarriors, and components.<ref name="tampatribune"/> These items are purchased with Resource Points which are awarded for completing previous mission objectives.<ref name="cgw-review"/> Few mechs, vehicles, mech pilots, and components can be purchased at the beginning of the campaign, but more become available as the game progresses. However, only IS technology can be purchased. Clan technology such as weaponry and new mechs must be salvaged from the battlefield.<ref name="gamerev-review"/> Salvaging equipment is an important feature of the game.<ref name="publicopinion"/>

Each mech is piloted by a mechwarrior. Pilots increase in skill as they use them during missions.<ref name="sydneymorning"/> The more missions and kills a particular pilot has, the more experienced and valuable he or she becomes.<ref name="gamerev-review"/> If a pilot gains enough experience, he or she will increase in rank. The four ranks from least to greatest are "green", "regular", "veteran", and "elite". Rank determines how effective a pilot is in a certain class of mechs (light, medium, heavy, or assault).<ref name="gamespot-review"/>

==''MechCommander: Desperate Measures''==
''MechCommander: Desperate Measures'' is an [[Software:Expansion pack|expansion pack]] that was released in 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tringham |first=Neal Roger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0o5qBAAAQBAJ |title=Science Fiction Video Games |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4822-0388-2 |date=September 10, 2014 |page=334 |access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref> Set immediately after the liberation of Port Arthur, the player once again assumes command of Zulu company in a campaign to liberate the desolate planet Cermak in the Periphery, taken by a renegade Smoke Jaguar, Star Colonel Marcus Kotare (a character that was featured briefly in ''[[Software:MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries]]''), for an unknown reason that is revealed later in game.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bell |first=Joe Grant |editor=Susan De Cicco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dEQIAAAACAAJ |title=Mechcommander Gold |publisher=Prima Games |isbn=978-0-7615-2227-0 |date=August 25, 1999 |access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref> Once again, the player starts with inferior Inner Sphere mechs (pilots and mechs from original campaign cannot be exported into expansion), though both mechs and pilots are better than in the start of the original campaign. The expansion features a total of three campaigns. Aside from the missions, the expansion also includes a new soundtrack, new landscapes along with redesigned and new buildings, new weapons, three new mechs for each side—Stiletto, Bushwacker, and Mauler for IS and Shadow Cat, Nova Cat and Turkina for the Clan, and new vehicles including Alacorn, Pilum and Regulator tanks, as well as ammo trucks that also doubled as mobile bombs and Centipede scout vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/mechcommander-gold/3030-34364/ |title=MechCommander Gold (Game) |website=Giant Bomb |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref> ''Desperate Measures'' also acted as testbed for the concept of custom NPC mechs that had their own names (like ''Kotare's Turkina''), weapon configurations and overall superiority to the standard modifications. This idea was carried on to, and greatly improved in, ''[[Software:MechCommander 2|MechCommander 2]]''. A compilation called ''MechCommander Gold'' was released in 1999 that includes the base game and the expansion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |date=October 19, 1999 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-gold-review/1900-2542506/ |title=MechCommander Gold Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 80%<ref name="gamerankings">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/43368-mechcommander/index.html |title=MechCommander for PC |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604052815/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/43368-mechcommander/index.html |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CNG = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Cirulis |first=Martin E. |date=July 16, 1998 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1946,00.html |title=MechCommander |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816100205/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1946,00.html |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CGSP = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="cgsp-review">{{cite web |last=Mayer |first=Robert |date=July 14, 1998 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/054/mech_commander_review.html |title=MechCommander |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207110525/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/054/mech_commander_review.html |archivedate=February 7, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CGW = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="cgw-review">{{cite magazine |last=Loyd |first=Case |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_171.pdf |title=One Small Step for MechKind (''MechCommander'' Review) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=171 |date=October 1998 |pages=267–68 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418100641/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_171.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GI = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bergren |first=Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_066_October_1998/page/n65/mode/2up |title=MechCommander |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=66 |date=October 1998 |page=64 |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
| GameRev = B+<ref name="gamerev-review">{{cite web |last=Ferris |first=Colin |date=July 1998 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33255-honey-whered-you-put-the-keys-to-the-battlemech-review |title=Mechcommander [sic] |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040416204903/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/pc/strategy/mechcommander.htm |archive-date=April 16, 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.3/10<ref name="gamespot-review">{{cite web |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |date=July 8, 1998 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-review/1900-2542502/ |title=MechCommander Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301044436/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-review/1900-2542502/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| IGN = 7.8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Ward |first=Trent C. |date=August 18, 1998 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/19/mechcommander |title=MechCommander |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025225611/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/19/mechcommander |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="ngen">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration46Oct1998/page/n123 |title=MechCommander |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=46 |date=October 1998 |page=120 |access-date=October 26, 2018}}</ref>
| PCA = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Olafson |first=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL01Sep1998/page/n87/mode/2up |title=MechCommander |magazine=PC Accelerator |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=1 |date=September 1998 |page=88 |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 79%<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Poole |first=Stephen |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/102.html |title=MechCommander |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=5 |issue=9 |date=September 1998 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000309050933/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/102.html |archive-date=March 9, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.<ref name="gamerankings"/> ''Next Generation'' called it "a good first effort, and FASA is to be commended for trying something different in the overcrowded field of RTS games. Unfortunately, it lacks polish, and the repetition of each mission drags down the fun factor."<ref name="ngen"/>

The [[Organization:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated the game for "PC Strategy Game of the Year" at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, although it ultimately lost to ''[[Software:Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer |website=[[Organization:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |archivedate=November 4, 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was a runner-up for ''Computer Games Strategy Plus''{{'}} 1998 "Real-Time Strategy Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to ''[[Software:StarCraft (video game)|StarCraft]]''. The staff called the former game "great", but argued that "only ''StarCraft'' was stellar".<ref>{{cite web |author=CGSP staff |date=February 11, 1999 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/rts_of_year.html |title=The Best of 1998: Real-time Strategy Game of the Year |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210171025/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/rts_of_year.html |archivedate=February 10, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 30, 2020}}</ref>

Due to its science fiction setting, ''MechCommander'' received an overt recommendation from The Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy), to the point of Sci-Fi's logo being present on the box art. Along with ''[[Software:Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy]]'', it was one of the few games to ever be officially recommended by Sci-Fi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/334/mech-commander/cover/group-22385/cover-616917/ |title=MechCommander Back Cover |website=[[Social:MobyGames|MobyGames]] |access-date=February 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/2564/nightlong-union-city-conspiracy/cover/group-68373/cover-184647/ |title=Nightlong Front Cover |website=[[Social:MobyGames|MobyGames]] |access-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204053259/https://www.mobygames.com/game/2564/nightlong-union-city-conspiracy/cover/group-68373/cover-184647/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Reviews==
*''The Duelist'' #34<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/the-duelist-34/page/n91/mode/2up | title=The Duelist # 34 | date=February 1999 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/windows/mech-commander}}

{{MechWarrior series}}

[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer online games]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]
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{{Sourceattribution|MechCommander}}