PC Gaming News

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat stomped onto the PC gaming scene in the mid-nineties, bringing complex first-person combat that was as much about deftly piloting the series' multi-ton walking tanks called mechs as it was about reflexes. Location-based damage and operational controls that let players rotate their mechs' torsos independently of their legs were just a couple of attributes that set MechWarrior apart from other combat sims. The game also saw several versions that helped bridge the gap between DOS and 3D accelerated video cards, including some versions made and bundled specifically for certain video cards by a variety of their manufacturers. It also eventually made its way onto the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Mac.

Today we add 1995's classic first-person combat simulation, MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, to our growing list of video game classics, presented by MobyGames.com.

For many gamers, MechWarrior 2 was the first in the series to really capture the imagination. MobyGames reviewer Paul Budd enthusiastically describes how the game made him a MechWarrior convert. "I was never a big fan of the original Mechwarrior game. That said, I really tried to go into this game with a clear head," he states. "This was one of the best gaming investments I ever made! This game is full of action, cool music and sounds--and you get to pilot enormous Mechs! The broad array of terrain-types and combat scenarios will give you many hours of slammin'-jammin' gaming goodness."

MobyGames Reviewer Ashley Pomeroy touts the game's presentational attributes, which continued to evolve with each subsequent expansion and sequel. "The impression of moving about in a giant robot was extremely well conveyed," Pomeroy states. "Your robot strode around the landscape exactly as if it was a hundred feet tall and made of iron. The sound design was effective as well, with a good range of clanks and robot noises that added greatly to the experience."

She also touches on MechWarrior 2's RPG-like customization options. "One of the best features was the way that you could customize your robot, indeed you could choose several different robot bodies. Each could store a certain weight of weapons and equipment in a certain set of locations, and if you overloaded your robot it moved slower, heated up quicker, and couldn't jump as far," she explains.

Tell Us Your Stories! We want to hear about your experiences with MechWarrior 2. Tell us your stories. Why did you love it? What drove you crazy? Remember it fondly with us in the comments below. We'll select some of your thoughts and memories and add it to a Weekend Update to this feature.

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat on MobyGames.com

You are the genetically engineered Clan Mechwarrior. The Clans are invading the Inner Sphere. Join either the Wolf Clan or the Jade Falcon Clan as they pursue their own agenda against the Inner Sphere and other Clans. Take your advanced Omnimechs into battle against all comers. Win high warrior ratings (by using less mechs or smaller mechs than needed, completing secondary objectives, etc.) and you'll get chance at a promotion trial where you face superior odds in an arena. If you win, you advance in rank. If you are very successfully, you can make it all the way up to Khan, leader of the Clan!

Mechwarrior II was developed in-house by Activision as the successor to their original Mechwarrior. While this time there are no dynamic campaign and mercenary actions, the Clan culture is integrated into the two campaigns. Different clans have different mechs and different rules, even different weapons. You can customize your mechs in order to use less than the "par" force in order to get a higher rating. The full 3D environment wasn't pretty, as this was before the 3D accelerators made their debut, but it's still better than anything that came before. The addition of NetMech allowed users to fight each other online. When 3D cards came along, special versions were created to take advantage of 3D texturing. While not QUITE as replayable as Mechwarrior, it's nonetheless a classic.

MobyGames Classic is our chance to look back at the games that helped shape the video game industry with the help of our sister site MobyGames.com. It combines a short history lesson on the title and anecdotes from the Shacknews community.

BioWare has ceremoniously unboxed a retail box copy of Mass Effect 3 for Xbox 360. While these are rarely noteworthy (especially for non-collector's edition versions), the regular retail edition includes a special bonus that certain fans will definitely appreciate.

All retail copies of the game, regardless of platform, will include a reversible cover feature the default female version of Shepard, donned "FemShep" by the community.

As is standard for online-enabled games published by Electronic Arts, the game also includes a one-time use Online Pass, which will be used for Mass Effect 3's new co-op multiplayer mode. (Unlike Mass Effect 2, there is no "Cerberus Network," which entitles players to additional free DLC post-launch.) The Xbox 360 version will also include a code for a two day Xbox Live Gold trial, required to play multiplayer games on that platform.

So what's not included in the box? A manual on how to play the game. It appears that game manuals have gone the way of the dodo.

Vita owners in Japan who've upgraded from a PSP can slap down a few bucks to get downloadable versions of their UMD games onto their Vita, but sadly Sony hasn't brought the UMD Passport scheme to the Western market. This, SCE worldwide studios president Shuhei Yoshida has explained, is down to two main reasons: the PSP market is much more active in Japan, and games are cheaper in the US.

"I'm sorry we are not doing it in the States," told Yoshida Wired, saying that there's simply less demand for such a scheme over here.

"When you look at the release schedule of new titles there are still lots of PSP games being released in Japan and being announced for release. Lots of people who are interested in trying Vita are also interested in playing PSP games that they might purchase before Vita comes out, and will not necessarily choose the digital version."

Tying into this, according to Yoshida, is the fact that games are cheaper in the US and Europe, so presumably players are less bothered about tossing their UMDs and buying digital Vita copies.

"... PSP games in Japan are sold at a much higher price, so people see the value in spending the $5 to $10 to get the digital copy," he said. "But when the games are already sold at a lower price in the U.S. we see less value in introducing that kind of system."

While there may be less demand for the UMD Passport plan in the US and Europe, by Sony's logic, there is still very much a reasonable interest in having it here too. It'd certainly be a welcome gesture to the PSP owners Sony surely hopes will upgrade to a Vita.

Evolution Studios' diminutive take on the popular MotorStorm racing series has finally received a North American release date. MotorStorm RC--which, as the title suggests, features vehicles of the remote-controlled variety--will roll onto both the PS Vita and PlayStation 3 on March 6.

One $9.99 purchase on the PlayStation Network will unlock both versions of the game.

MotorStorm RC

"Eight classic MotorStorm vehicle types," and "a full festival championship with dozens of events and medals to earn," are promised by the announcement on the PlayStation Blog. All of this racing will be done on tracks from locations featured in previous MotorStorm games such as Monument Valley, Pacific Ridge, Arctic Edge, and a city besieged by the 'Apocalypse.'

But what about other game modes? MotorStorm RC brings Drift (all about power-sliding), Pursuit (move from last to first place quickly), and Hot Lap (race against the clock). These game-types all supplement the game's Festival racing mode, which naturally includes straight-up races as well. Time Attack and Free Play modes are also included outside of the core Festival races.

Though the PlayStation 3 version of MotorStorm RC includes the ability to play competitive split-screen for up to four players, competing against other humans is mostly a leaderboard-based affair. You'll be able to easily find and chase your friends' best times, regardless of platform, but real-time competitive racing is PS3-only and couch-based. It'll be interesting to see whether PS3 or Vita players clock the best times overall.

Check out the trailer below to see some of MotorStorm RC in action.

Let's be honest, Wipeout 2048 likely isn't a game early PS Vita adopters are anxiously lining up for. Still, as someone who's played the series since doing so meant being tethered to a PlayStation, I was excited to see how the anti-gravity racer and Sony's new portable complemented each other. This umpteenth entry in the franchise doesn't do much to evolve the formula it was founded on but judging by the trigger-induced callous on my index finger the series still possesses the ability to satiate my need for speed.

Wipeout 2048 screens

When I first fired up Wipeout 2048, it was the graphics splashed all over that big, beautiful OLED screen that immediately grabbed my attention. It's not quite up to Uncharted: Golden Abyss' console-rivaling quality, but the visuals--complemented by vibrant colors and drenched-in-detail backdrops--are an obvious leap over any PSP offering. It doesn't hurt that one of the few things separating the game from its predecessors is its fresh setting; a prequel to previous entries, Wipeout 2048 trades the heavy sci-fi vibe that's defined the franchise in favor of a more relatable not-so-distant future New York City. It's pretty damn cool zipping over an old suspension bridge that's been partially updated with TRON-esque architecture, or exiting a neon tunnel to discover a contemporary cityscape stretching skyward before you.

Of course, thanks to Wipeout 2048's breakneck sense of speed, there's little time for sightseeing. The action never hits 60 FPS, but its lightning-quick pacing never lets on. Visual tricks, like trains traveling in the opposite direction of the tracks, heighten the effect. As testament to its lead-foot feel, a physical transformation overtook me during races; while completely calm at the starting lines, I'd often spend final laps with my fingers unconsciously clutching the Vita in a vice grip, my face just a nose-length from the screen. Toss in a generous amount of boost pads and the occasional mini-Bruckheimer moment--racing through an opponents' pavement-buckling "quake" attack is a highlight--and Wipeout 2048 rarely left me wanting for adrenaline-spiking thrills.

Sadly, its lengthy load screens might prove to be the next cure for insomnia. Pre-race load times, done no favors by a creeping percentage counter, can range from 30-60 seconds. That doesn't sound so bad, but with "40%" staring at me--after I'd already killed time catching up on Twitter--it's a little painful. Equally unbearable are the requisite touch controls. You can steer by tilting the device, accelerate by pressing the rear pad, and fire weapons and absorb energy by tapping the display. It's fun for a few seconds, if only to test the tech, but lacks the precision necessary to navigate a racer moving at these speeds. This is a minor gripe, as the more standard button-based controls will feel familiar to anyone who's ever held a DualShock. Additionally, utilizing the mandatory touch controls in menus is a frustration-free affair.

A beefy single-player campaign, complete with varied challenges (races, combat, time trials, speed laps etc.), un-lockable ships, and an addictive progression system effectively kept me playing until I reached "just one more rank." There's also some branching along the critical path which allows for a little level grinding; not my thing, but it's there. On top of a several-hour solo mode, Wipeout 2048 supports ad-hoc, infrastructure, and cross-platform play. With the Vita in limited release at press time, I couldn't dig deep into these options, but my brief time online was noticeably lag-free and generally mirrored the quality my offline experience.

For those who've enjoyed previous Wipeout titles, this one will feel like an old friend. Its modest tweaks of a few new features and a fresh coat of paint thanks to Vita, though, probably aren't going to sell many systems. That said, if you've already played through Uncharted and are craving a quality racer, this one's worth taking for a spin.

[This WipEout 2048 review is based on the retail PS Vita version of the game, provided by publisher Sony.]

This story contains the vaguest of Mass Effect 3 spoilers. If that bothers you, skip everything before the first image to go straight to the bit where we tell you how to get free content...

Of course Mass Effect 3 will have day-one single player DLC. The "bonus character and mission" included with the special edition of the game will be available for all to purchase. Given the significance of the content, it seems like hardcore Mass Effect fans will be unable to resist buying the add-on.

Kotaku first uncovered the DLC via a leaked Xbox Live Marketplace listing. The add-on, called "From Ashes," will allow players to "uncover lost secrets from the past." BioWare later confirmed on its forums that From Ashes will be available "at launch for all platforms."

Mass Effect 3 will be available on March 6th. Here: the extended CG trailer for the game, to distract you from the spoilers that are at the bottom of the post.

Spoiler Alert: From Ashes will allow players to "recruit the Prothean squad member in Mass Effect 3." Voice files for the character were discovered in the audio files from the PC demo. You can listen to the character here.

After a vague tease earlier this month, Frictional Games has taken the wraps off of the follow-up to Amnesia: The Dark Descent. But unlike the original, Frictional is only publishing the game. Development duties are being given to Dear Esther developer thechineseroom.

Joystiq reports that the sequel is titled Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. The game is set for PC like its predecessor, and the studios are hoping to release it before Halloween.

The plot involves Oswald Mandus, a rich industrialist who just came home from a trip to Mexico. His foray south of the border "ended in tragedy," and Mandus has been struck with a terrible fever that renders him unconscious. In his state, he dreams of an evil machine. When he wakes up, several months have passed, and the machine actually exists and has started running. Creepy, no?

Dan Pinchbeck, the writer of Dear Esther, notes that this isn't a direct sequel, since it doesn't involve the same characters or continue the same story. Instead, he says it's another story set in the same alternate-history universe.

You there! Quick! Do you want to play in the Guild Wars 2 beta? Well then, stop your lollygagging, pull your breeches up, and march yourself to the enlistment office sharpish, as signups are open for a 48-hour window.

The beta signup site will direct you to download a tool to scan your PC's hardware, to see if you match what developer ArenaNet's looking for, so you'll want to do this on your gaming mega-spiffo-ultra-rig rather than your grinding work PC.

While there's no indication of when signing up may get you into the beta, or any guarantee that you will at all, ArenaNet previously said that it planned to "aggressively ramp up" testing in March and April.

Guild Wars 2's beta signups will close on Friday, so get your form in while you can. The subscription-free MMORPG is set to launch some time this year.

The beta for Tribes Ascend is finally opening up to the public. Also, it's free. We've been playing the closed beta quite extensively for some time, and we think its awesome. And starting this Friday you too can partake in the awesomeness...

ArenaNet's opened up the beta signup page for Guild Wars 2, giving you until 6pm Friday to secure a spot in one of the game's upcoming test events. Long story short, that's not such a bad idea...

EA has pulled its iOS game Battlefield 3: Aftershock due to quality concerns. The free game received poor reviews upon hitting the App Store, and EA's mobile division apparently paid attention to players' concerns.

IGN received a statement on the company, which is fairly blunt about its reasons. "EA Mobile is committed to delivering mobile entertainment experiences that are on par with the content and quality users have come to expect from their favorite EA gaming brands," the statement read. "To this end, we have decided to remove Battlefield 3: Aftershock from the App Store and are currently re-evaluating the app in response to the consumer feedback we've received. We thank all the fans who have downloaded the game to date."

Thanking gamers for suffering through a poorly-made game seems an odd response for the publisher. Given another Battlefield game is set to arrive on the App Store later this year, we can only hope that those that purchased Aftershock will be better treated next time around.

Nintendo detailed the Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer modes at today's Nintendo Direct presentation. The modes include an all-out battle royale, and a multiplayer mode more similar to VIP modes in various shooters.

"Light vs Dark" is a team-based battle and VIP mode, in which each team drains the other team's health meter. The last defeated team member when the bar is drained becomes an angel, and whichever team defeats the opposing angel wins. The game also has a "Free-for-All" mode, in which six players combat each other directly -- akin to a standard Deathmatch mode. The six players can include CPU opponents, so you can still play if you don't have five friends. Both modes are available to play through local wireless or online.

You'll also be able to use weapons that you've unlocked in the single-player mode in multiplayer. You can customize your own character with weapon and power combos to fit your play style, and you can fuse weapons at the Arms Altar. The StreetPass functionality comes into play by sharing "Weapon Gems." These represent the weapons of players you've encountered, and you can purchase them for yourself by paying with hearts. You can also fuse Weapon Gems together.

Kid Icarus: Uprising is set to hit March 23 for $39.99.

It didn't take long for Twisted Metal to tug on my nostalgic heartstrings. Developer Eat Sleep Play's reboot manages to invoke memories of the original PlayStation classic--a game that carried me through a chunk of my adolescence. Despite hitting some speed bumps down memory lane, Twisted Metal on the PS3 feels like a worthwhile update to a classic series.

Like many, I wondered if the multiplayer magic was still there. Would playing online click the way it did when I played split-screen with friends all those years ago? I immediately ventured online to find out. I was ecstatic to find that the basic essence of Twisted Metal multiplayer remained intact. Power-ups littered the field and players blazed through the course trying to make roadkill out of one another with homing missiles, shotguns, and remote bombs. It was Twisted Metal, just as I remembered it.

But this Twisted Metal includes a few updates that help it feel more modern. Namely, the environment is now destructible. I watched in awe as some errant missiles missed their target and instead wound up tearing down a nearby structure. Whether I was playing a classic deathmatch or a new game mode like Nuke, the extra carnage helped cement Twisted Metal's status as a fiendish demolition derby.

Online multiplayer was like a roller coaster ride, in the sense that it was a load of fun that could end at any time. I ran into a multitude of connectivity issues throughout my time with the game and often found myself getting tossed back into the lobby in the middle of a firefight. Finding a stable session turned out to be more challenging than I had hoped. This is a major issue that I sincerely hope Eat Sleep Play will stay on top of, because simply trying to get into a game soon became a test of patience.

As much fun as the online component of Twisted Metal was, I can't say that I had the same kind of fun with the game's single-player mode. The presentation of the story mode in itself was a head-scratcher. Rather than allow me to choose between characters and then play out the storyline from their point of view, Eat Sleep Play has opted for a more linear approach. I had my pick of any available vehicle, but Calypso's tournament now encompasses a single story. While I liked the live-action grindhouse cinema-style cutscenes that accompanied it, the narrow plot doesn't leave much incentive to replay the story mode.

Worse than its structure is the single-player's punishing difficulty level. Whereas multiplayer sees a dozen or so vehicles in an every-man-for-himself scenario, the single-player mode painted a giant bull's-eye on my car. The AI opponents all have a nasty tendency to attack in groups, one after another, with near-pinpoint accuracy. Often times, they knocked me across the map with insane pinball-like physics. It's frustrating, to say the least, and the crushing difficulty is certain to rub newer players and some Twisted Metal vets the wrong way. Individual levels contain a good variety of objectives, but they all boil down to one human versus everybody else. At the end of the day, it isn't a lot of fun.

To its credit, Twisted Metal rewards surviving these waves of run-of-the-mill opponents with interesting boss battles. One example had me facing off against a demented duo of racers, each driving a giant monster truck. Not only did I have to destroy them, but I had to do so in multiple phases. For as interesting as these fights were, however, the problem of outrageous difficulty persisted. The bosses were utterly merciless, and may only turn-off those already weary of the game.

So after a frustrating single-player experience, it's safe to say that I'll take the nearest off-ramp back to online multiplayer. After all these years, Twisted Metal remains at its best when there are fellow humans to compete with. This game feels like a vintage Camaro--a classic to be shared with others, right before they smoke the tires and lose control doing burnouts in the parking lot. As long as the networking and connectivity issues are sorted out, Twisted Metal is worth taking out for a multiplayer joyride, just stay off the single-player road.

[This Twisted Metal review is based on the retail PlayStation 3 version of the game, provided by publisher Sony.]

The Starhawk beta is now open for all PlayStation 3 owners, as the game prepares for its May launch. The team promises that within the next few weeks, they'll be adding a new map, vehicles, weapons, and 32-player matches.

This is a beta, of course, so Lightbox is soliciting feedback from players on the Starhawk Beta forum. The developers have noted a few tips for beginners on the PlayStation Blog. They advise you to build new structures rather than repeat them, use mics, and plan your Skills to complement your play style.

The beta has gone through several iterations of exclusivity, from a code in copies of Uncharted 3 to a private beta to a PlayStation Plus beta. The game is finally available for everyone, giving it a few months to test before it releases on May 8.

A new Brain Age game is in the works for the 3DS. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said it will focus on concentration and memory exercises. Sometimes the two will combine for harder challenges, and the floating head Dr. Kawashima will get devil-horns (seen above).

Iwata said during the presentation that the game will keep players from repeating exercises, since that makes players tired of them. The focus on memory and concentration exercises is to combat "information addiction," according to Iwata's account of Dr. Kawashima's vision. "We now have access to information wherever and whenever we want," Iwata said. "Since we now rely so much on these devices we might have stopped using our brains so much, lost our restraint, our ability to control ourselves and be patient."

Meanwhile, North American gamers will have to control ourselves and be patient. It's set for launch in Japan this summer, but no North American release plans have been announced.

After a few months of closed beta testing, Hi-Rez Studios is ready to share Tribes: Ascend with the hoi polloi. Its free-to-play take on the much-loved jetpacking PC shooter series will enter open beta on Friday.

All and sundry will be able to download the client without a beta key from 5pm on Friday on the official site. Characters from the closed beta will carry over, with players' progress and unlocks intact.

Ahead of the launch, Hi-Rez is rolling out a hefty patch with new modes, maps, items, and more.

"The Tribes: Ascend Closed Beta has exceeded our expectations," Hi-Rez COO Todd Harris said in today's announcement. "Over 300,000 players participated in the closed beta and the game has improved greatly based on community feedback. We are now excited to launch Open Beta this Friday. We have expanded capacity in North America, Europe, and Australia and added new local servers to support growing communities in Brazil and Asia."

Tribes: Ascend is slated to officially launch some time this year. As one would expect from a free-to-play shooter, you'll be able to slap down cash money for instant loadout unlocks, experience gain boosts, and other gubbins.

The previously-teased Mario Tennis game for 3DS now has a title and a date. Mario Tennis Open will be available on May 20th. The latest iteration of the long-running sports franchise is being developed (once again) by Camelot, the team responsible for the original Mario Tennis on N64.

The 3DS version includes gyroscopic support, so you can "look" around the court by moving the system. There's also touch screen controls for gamers that are new to the franchise, or can't be bothered to press the system's face buttons:

The bottom screen shows all the possible moves

In addition to local multiplayer support, Mario Tennis Open is the first in the franchise to offer online multiplayer for up to four players. You'll be able to play safely with friends, or venture out into open matches. Nintendo promises to offer some form of matchmaking, so that you will play against similarly skilled players.

Last summer, Nintendo fans banded together to form "Operation Rainfall," an effort to convince Nintendo to localize Wii-exclusive titles from Japan. The movement's first victory was Xenoblade Chronicles, a JRPG that will be arriving Stateside on April 6th. Today, Nintendo revealed a second game for localization--The Last Story.

The Last Story is an action RPG developed by Mistwalker, helmed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series.

Unlike in Japan and Europe, however, The Last Story will not be localized by Nintendo. Instead, XSEED has picked up the rights to bring the game Stateside. Here's what the NOE-translated version looks like:

The game will be available in North America later this year--although a more specific date has yet to be announced. Given this year's launch of the Wii U, The Last Story could be one of the last big-budget games to hit the platform.

Hideo Kojima just can't quit Metal Gear. While "Metal Gear Solid 5" has yet to be officially announced, Kojima Productions has announced it is seeking developers for the "next" Metal Gear Solid title.

The studio has announced it will be attending Game Developer's Conference next month "to search for skillful engineers, artists, and game creators." Excitingly, Kojima Productions has confirmed work on "the latest Metal Gear Solid targeted for high-end consoles and PC."

Kojima Productions is seeking help in both Japan and California, suggesting the next MGS will be an internationally-developed affair. In addition to engineers, job listings include a brand manager position, responsible for ensuring Metal Gear is a "global mega-hit franchise in all regions."

The site even includes concept art of what is likely to be the next game in the series.

Is this Metal Gear Solid 5?

"We were in a situation where we had to start planning for MGS5. So I started coming up with several ideas," Kojima previously said about a future game in the franchise. "I had several ideas for a game featuring The Boss and the Cobra Unit during the invasion of Normandy."