MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat Overview
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat is a simulation of piloting large combat robots, or 'Mechs, within a science fiction conflict. The setting involves a war where the advanced Clans invade a region known as the Inner Sphere. Players assume the role of a Clan warrior and must choose to serve either the Wolf or Jade Falcon faction, each with its own unique technology and military doctrines.
Progression is tied to performance in missions. Achieving a high rating, which can involve completing optional objectives or deploying a lighter force than recommended, unlocks special promotion trials. These trials present challenging arena battles against superior opponents; victory allows the pilot to rise in rank, potentially to the leadership position of Khan. The game was developed by Activision as a follow-up to their earlier title, moving from a dynamic mercenary campaign to a structured narrative integrated with Clan culture.
Gameplay involves customizing advanced Omnimechs for combat in fully three-dimensional environments. Later adaptations for emerging 3D graphics hardware utilized enhanced texturing. A notable feature for its time was the inclusion of NetMech, which enabled competitive online play between users.
Console versions of the game were altered significantly, shifting the focus toward faster-paced action. These changes included smaller maps that force more frequent engagements, increased numbers of weaker enemies, and the removal of the customization interface. The core mechanics were sped up, and power-ups were added to the maps, alongside sixteen new missions not found in the original release.
