MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
| Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | FASA Studio / Studio MekTek Inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios / Studio MekTek Inc. |
| Engine | Mechwarrior 4 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | November 7, 2002 (US) November 15, 2002 (EU) April 30, 2010 (Free, on MekTek.net) |
| Genre(s) | Vehicle simulation game |
| Mode(s) | Single player and Multiplayer |
Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries is a vehicle simulation video game for the PC released in 2002 and received favorable reviews from critics. It is a standalone expansion of MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, based on the BattleTech MechWarrior game universe. It was announced on July 9, 2009 that Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries and the Clan and Inner Sphere expansions would be re-released for free. By April 22, 2010 Microsoft had cleared its free release and on April 30, 2010, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries was released to the general public by MekTek as a free download. However, due to the massive influx of 100,000 downloads and web site accesses, MekTek.net and related services crashed. MekTek recovered the MekMatch match making service on May 1, 2010 and the forum was restored on May 2, 2010.
In the following years, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries was no longer available for free. MekTek expressed their intent to move away from the BattleTech franchise, and a new group interested in maintaining free versions appeared but encountered difficulties securing permission to continue offering the game as a free download.
In the game, the player takes the role of Spectre, a mercenary BattleMech pilot travelling inside the fictional interstellar region of the BattleTech universe called the Inner Sphere during the FedCom Civil War (specifically during the time period from January 1, 3066 to late July 3067).
The player's mercenary company initially takes on localized threats in certain planets far from the civil war. As the player's team takes on more missions, the assignments get tougher; at one point, Spectre may challenge a Jade Falcon group led by Asia Falcon to a duel. The Colonel - Asia Falcon - will join the player's team as a bondsman if the Falcons are defeated in this mission. It is a beach-side battle that pits 8 of Spectre's best against 10 of hers. That mission can be substituted for a mission to attack the Falcon's in a sneak attack where the battle is just as difficult. This direction leads to the death of Asia instead of her joining the team.
Depending on how the player handled allegiance between House Steiner and House Davion, they would end up with one of two mission paths, with 3 different endings.
Davion Ending: Spectre and 3 lancemates must run a gauntlet of multiple mechs, turrets and aircraft before a final battle with Nondi Steiner. The final battle consists of a courtyard containing 3 Longbow, and 3 Awesome fighting Peter's Victor-mech forces. Spectre must aid Peter in defeating these mechs (up to 6 depending on how fast Spectre's lance arrives and how well Peter does) before fighting Nondi. She rides a low-key Hauptmann and has 4 potent Daishi bodyguards. Instead of fashioning his position as leader, Spectre becomes Peter's personal guard for years to come.
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Wikipedia