While the campaign is perhaps a little too easy to wade through, multiplayer really shines. Mechwarrior 4 contains just enough simulation-like aspects to make Mech-piloting an exercise in control. It's skill, not luck that carries the day. Up to 16 people can play with surprisingly little lag, even on a 56K connection. Several game types are offered, Attrition or Destruction and Team Attrition or Team Destruction, which fill in as the deathmatch options. Attrition awards points for damage done, that way if someone steals your kill you get points for the damage you inflicted,while Destruction awards points for straight-up kills only. Capture the Flag and King of the Hill are also offered, and are self-explanatory. All these modes can be played versus the AI with the Instant Action options as well.

In all, Mechwarrior 4: Vengeance is easily the strongest Mech game to come out since Mercenaries. Hard-core players may dislike the overly simplistic salvage rules and a few of the limitations on customization in the MechLab, but the game is a testament to how to use graphics improvements wisely. The game overwhelms your senses but not with shallow eye candy, it overwhelms you with fire, smoke and booming sound as the battle gets hot and heavy. Mechwarrior 4, with its balance between ease of use and deep simulation is the ultimate sci-fi action game, and one well worth the learning curve. In that way, it still towers over the competition and crushes it ruthlessly underfoot.

Andrew Bub
Contributing Editor & Beatdown Scribe