Nostalgia trip: Mechcommander 2
Mechcommander 2 was abandoned by its publisher (Microsoft) who helpfully released the source code.
Some clever people then got the gameup and running again, minus video cut scenes of course.
This game was a favourite of mine back in the day, and I was sorry to lose access to it when my last Windows XP computer died some years back. The game sees you as the commander in charge of groups of mechs on the battlefield, telling them whre to move, directing thier fire, and so on.
For me it had the right mix of action and strategy. I was happy to realise the game is quite easy to set up and run on a Windows 10 machine. This was a throwaway comment in a podcast I was listening to, but I paused that and immediately went and got the game up and running (okay, after a couple of tries).
The game was a little shaky but I was able to play it through to completion. Now I get to play through again, but challenge myself each time, e.g. only taking light mechs to the battlefield.
As with all classic games it’s difficult to recommend this to anyone. I enjoy it now because I enjoyed it before and while the graphics aren’t there, the gameplay definitely is.
However if you like Mechs and you like strategy games, this is your most recent option in terms of computer games. I can’t believe it either.
Scent of a Gamer 
I played some MechWarrior game back in the 90’s, but it was a cheapo one “on sale” with no instruction book or anything. I could barely figure out how to play so after my mech overheated for about the umpteenth time and crapped out on me, I just gave up.
I like the “idea” of a mech computer game though. It really appeals to me…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This game dialled back the fiddly heat management side of the game. As far as I can tell, heat just limits how many weapons you can stick on an individual mech.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you haven’t yet, I definitely suggest you give the new Battletech game a try! I’ve put some 60 hours into it and it’s very entertaining, I’m sure you’d like it as it’s very much in the vein of Mechcommander 2. http://battletechgame.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the tip Mikko, I had not seen that game. Better yet it’s 66% off for the next 10 days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No time like the present then! Glad the tip was useful, for that price it’s definitely a bargain. I went in for the Kickstarter, and would gladly pay even the full price for the game.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent stuff! Some of us can remember the original Mechcommander coming out – I just loved that game and the opening video sequence. I think I even still have the boardgame stashed in the loft, although I’ve never played it! I think I’m quite jealous! š
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking of the original Mechcommander intro sequence as I played the second, it’s still on of my favourite game intros.
LikeLike