MechWarrior 4: Vengeance

Overview

MechWarrior 4: Vengeance is a computer game developed by FASA Interactive and published by Microsoft. It was released on November 24, 2000. This game is the fourth game in the MechWarrior series. It takes place in BattleTech universe where the pinnacle of all war machines are huge, heavily armed robots called BattleMechs. The player pilots one of these 'Mechs and uses a variety of available weapons to battle enemy 'Mechs, tanks and other vehicles. An expansion pack, MechWarrior 4: Black Knight, was released on October 31, 2001, and a subsequent stand-alone expansion, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries was released in November 7, 2002.

Free Release

To celebrate the BattleTech Universe's 25th anniversary, a free release of MechWarrior 4 was planned, but legal red tape held the release back by a year. Fortunately, the MechWarrior 4 Free Release saw the light of day and is available at MekTek.com. For more information, please consult the MekTek MechWarrior 4 Free Release page.

Plot

The game takes place on the Inner Sphere planet Kentares IV and its moon. The player takes control of Ian Dresari, son of famed Clan War hero Duke Eric Dresari and heir to the throne of Kentares.

A civil war erupts on the planet after William Dresari, a cousin of Ian, betrays the family and seizes the throne for himself under the banner of Katherine "Katrina" Steiner. A surprise attack by Steiner forces on the Dresari royal palace leaves the majority of the royal family dead. Ian meets up with his uncle Sir Peter Dresari on the moon orbiting Kentares to launch a guerrilla campaign to take back Kentares IV from Steiner. Ian fights alongside fellow resistance MechWarriors, Casey Nolan, Jen McQuarrie, and Jules Gonzales, and their commander Elise Rathburn in various missions. The resistance abandons its base on the moon and sets up camp for the first time in Kentares' arctic regions.

There are two possible endings to this game which depend on actions taken by the player throughout the game.

Game Modes

Campaign

The campaign contains 26 missions divided into 7 "ops", each with different environments. Each operation contains about 3-6 objectives, with the exception being Op 7. In the first few missions only a few smaller 'Mechs are available. As the game progresses, more 'Mechs and weapons become available. These come in the form of salvage from previous missions. Between missions the player can outfit 'Mechs with different weapons and also assign 'Mechs to one of your three Lancemate slots.

Instant Action

This mode lets you play with any of the 21 'Mechs in the game. You can play any of the campaign missions (even those which you cannot access in campaign yet) or wave missions in which you can select up to four other 'Mechs and fight them in a deathmatch.

There is also a master trial mode in which the computer randomly picks a stock 'Mech for you. It also randomly picks one map to play on and three stock 'Mechs as enemies. You have to successively destroy all three enemies in a one-on-one fight.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer has 9 game types and about 12 maps built in, with more user-made maps available for download.

Game types:

• Destruction - simple deathmatch
• Team Destruction - team deathmatch.
• Attrition - similar to deathmatch, but points are awarded for damage dealt.
• Team Attrition - Attrition, but in teams.
• Capture the Flag - points are awarded for bringing the flag from enemy base to yours.
• King of the Hill - points are awarded for staying in specific area of the map.
• Team King of the Hill - King of the hill, but in teams.
• Steal the Beacon - points are awarded for carrying the beacon.
• Escort - points are awarded for destroying enemy VIP (a small 'Mech).

The multiplayer is no longer hosted by Microsoft, and it isn't supported by MSN Zone. However, Gamespy Arcade still works.

The 'Mechs

'Mechs are classified into four weight categories. They are also either from Clans or Inner Sphere. Clan 'Mechs are generally superior to Inner Sphere 'Mechs of the same weight. Due to the simplification of this game's BattleMech construction rules, some of the 'Mechs differ from their incarnations in the older games and their official tabletop variants.

Inner Sphere ‘Mechs

Light ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Hellespont 'Mech Works Model: RVN-3L Class: Light Cost: 5,701,725 C-bills Mass: 35 tons Chassis: Hellespont Type R Armor: Hellespont Lite Ferro-Fibrous Engine: Hermes 210 XL Communications System: Ceres Metals Model 666 w/Guardian ECM Suit Speed: 100 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: NARC Beacon, Small Pulse Laser (2), Small Laser, LRM-15
	Manufacturer: Achernar BattleMechs[1] Model: OSR-3D Class: Light Cost: 5,243,550 C-bills Mass: 30 tons Chassis: FITES-O Endo Steel Armor: StarGuard Ferro-Fibrous Engine: Pharaoh 240 XL Communications System: Achernar Electronics HID-8.7 Speed: 130 km/h Jump Jets: Rawlings 61 Armament: SRM-6, Medium Laser (5), Machine Gun Array

Medium ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: TharHes Industries Introduced: 3053 Model: BSW-X2 Class: Medium Mass: 55 tons Chassis: Earthwerk GRF Armor: Kallon Unity Weave Ferro-Fibrous with CASE Engine: Hermes 275 XL Speed: 85 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: Medium Pulse Laser (2), LRM-5, LRM-10, AC/10
	Manufacturer: Brigadier Corporation, Independence Weaponry, Kressly Warworks (under license) Introduced: 3063 Model: CMA-1S Class: Medium Cost: 6,737,500 C-bills Mass: 40 tons Chassis: Chameleon Light Endo 2 Endo Steel Armor: StarGuard CCM Engine: GM 240 XL Communications System: Corean Transband-J12 Speed: 102 km/h Jump Jets: Rawlings 40 Armament: Large Laser, Medium Laser, MRM-20, Machine Gun Array
	Manufacturer: General Motors[1] Introduced: 3062 Model: HSN-7D Class: Medium Cost: 8,375,200 C-bills Mass: 45 tons Chassis: GM Fury-M Endo Steel Armor: StarGuard III Engine: GM 270 XL Communications System: Dalban SuperMicronics w/Guardian ECM Speed: 106 km/h Jump Jets: Rawlings 80 Armament: Medium Pulse Laser (3), LRM-10 (2)
	Manufacturer: Defiance Industries Model: UZL-2S Class: Medium Cost: 9,785,700 C-bills Mass: 50 tons Chassis: Foundation E50 Endo Steel Armor: Maximillian 100 Engine: GM 300 XL Speed: 97.2 km/h Jump Jets: Rawlings 50 Armament: SRM-6, PPC (2), Machine Gun Array (2)

Heavy ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Achernar BattleMechs, Robinson Standard BattleWorks Introduced: 3062 Model: AGS-3D Class: Heavy Cost: 11,978,400 C-bills Mass: 60 tons Chassis: 1A Type 12 Endo Steel Armor: StarGuard II with CASE Engine: GM 300 XL Engine Communications System: Achernar Electronics HID-8.7 Speed: 81 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: LRM-10, Machine Gun Array, Ultra AC/5 (2), Medium Laser (2)
	Manufacturer: Hollis Incorporated, Yori 'Mech Works Introduced: 2561 Model: CPLT-C4C Class: Heavy Cost: 5,790,125 C-bills Mass: 65 tons Chassis: Hollis Mark II Armor: Durallex Heavy Engine: Magna 260 Speed: 76 km/h Jump Jets: Anderson Propulsion 21 Armament: Small Pulse Laser, LRM-20 (2), Large Laser
	Manufacturer: StarCorps Industries Model: TNS-4T Class: Heavy Cost: 19,339,249 C-bills Mass: 75 tons Chassis: StarFrame Heavy Endo Steel Armor: Durallex Heavy Engine: PlasmaStar 375 XL Speed: 73 km/h Jump Jets: Audi-Fokker Mark IV Armament: LB-20X AC, Medium Pulse Laser (4), MRM-20, Guardian ECM

Assault ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Yori 'Mech Works, Defiance Industries, Independence Weaponry, Robinson Standard BattleWorks Introduced: 2755 Model: AS7-S3 Class: Assault Cost: 9,626,000 C-bills Mass: 100 tons Chassis: Foundation Type 10X Armor: Durallex Heavy Special Engine: Vlar 300 Communications System: Angst Discom Speed: 57.0 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: Small Laser (3), Medium Laser, Small Pulse Laser, AMS, PPC (2), LRM-10 (2), Gauss Rifle
	Manufacturer: Technicron Manufacturing, Irian BattleMechs Unlimited Introduced: 2665 Model: AWS-9M Class: Assault Cost: 6,598,170 C-bills Mass: 80 tons Chassis: Technicron Type G Armor: Durallex Heavy Engine: Pitban 240 Speed: 75 km/h Jump: Jets None Armament: PPC (3), Medium Laser (2), SRM-2 (2)
	Manufacturer: Luthien Armor Works Introduced: 3048 Model: MAL-2R Class: Assault Cost: 18,399,600 C-bills Mass: 90 tons Chassis: Alshain Class 101 Armor: New Samarkand Royal Ferro-Fibrous with CASE Engine: Hermes 270 XL Speed: 65 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: Medium Laser (4), Ultra AC/2 (4), LRM-10 (2)

Clan ‘Mechs

Light ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Ironhold Alpha Complex (Clan Jade Falcon) Introduced: 3058 Model: Prime Class: Light Cost: 6,065,438 C-bills Mass: 35 tons Chassis: JF 3 Light Endo Steel Armor: Compound JF Ferro-Fibrous Engine: 175 JF Extralight Speed: 97 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: ER Large Laser (2), LRM-10 (2), ER Small Laser, ER Medium Laser, Beagle Active Probe

Medium ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Barcella Beta Introduced: 3003 Model: Prime Class: Medium Cost: 11,785,510 C-bills Mass: 45 tons Chassis: Type 79-45 Endo Steel Armor: Compound H17 Ferro-Fibrous with CASE Engine: RFUM 270 XL Speed: 102 km/h Jump Jets: Model KY Boosters Armament: ER Large Laser, Medium Pulse Laser (3), ER Small Laser, Machine Gun Array (2), Streak SRM-6

Heavy ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Various Introduced: 2926 Model: Alt. Config F Class: Heavy Cost: 19,074,687 C-bills Mass: 65 tons Chassis: T-E H65 Standard Armor: Forging Omni-H24 Engine: Fusion 325 XL Communications System: CH2B Alpha-Com Speed: 83 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: Medium Pulse Laser (2), ER Medium Laser (2), LB-10X AC (2), Streak SRM-6
	Manufacturer: Wolf Clan Site #2, Wolf Clan Site #1 Introduced: 2945 Model: Prime Class: Heavy Cost: 24,233,124 C-bills Mass: 75 tons Chassis: Type W3 Endo-Steel Armor: Composite A-2 Ferro-Fibrous Engine: Starfire 375 XL Speed: 85 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: ER Large Laser (2), ER Medium Laser (2), LRM-20 (2), Medium Pulse Laser (2), Machine Gun Array (2)
	Manufacturer: Barcella Alpha, Irece Alpha Model: Prime Class: Heavy Cost: 17,672,917 C-bills Mass: 70 tons Chassis: Mynx Type Heavy Armor: Alpha Compound Plate Engine: Consolidated 280 XL Fusion Speed: 73 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: ER Large Laser (3), ER PPC (2), Small Pulse Laser
	Manufacturer: Eagle Craft Group, St. Louis MechWorks Introduced: 2872 Model: Alt. Config F Class: Heavy Cost: 21,320,834 C-bills Mass: 70 tons Chassis: JFS-703 Armor: J63-3E Ferro-Fibrous Engine: Redline 350 XL Speed: 85 km/h Jump Jets: JF Standard Armament: Ultra AC/5 (2), ER Medium Laser (4), Machine Gun Array, LRM-15
	Manufacturer: Various Introduced: 2963 Model: Prime Class: Heavy Cost: 15,292,000 C-bills Mass: 60 tons Chassis: Eden Mk 60-OM Armor: Compound SJ6CW Ferro-Fibrous Engine: 300 Type I XL Communications System: Build OSJ-41 Speed: 85 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: Medium Pulse Laser (2), LRM-20 (2), Large Pulse Laser (2)

Assault ‘Mechs

Name	Information
	Manufacturer: Wolf Clan Site #1 Introduced: 3010 Model: Prime Class: Assault Cost: 29,350,000 C-bills Mass: 100 tons Chassis: Titan HX Standard Armor: Compound 12B2 Standard Engine: Starfire 300 XL Speed: 51 km/h Jump Jets: None Armament: ER Large Laser (4), Medium Pulse Laser (4), Ultra AC/5 (2), Machine Gun Array (2), LRM-10
	Manufacturer: Manufacturing Plant DSF-94 Introduced: 3066 Class: Assault Cost: 24,036,900 C-bills Mass: 90 tons Chassis: DSAM Endo 4 Armor: Forging ZM15 Ferro-Fibrous Engine: Type 79 360 Fusion XL Speed: 68 km/h Jump Jets: Grandthrust Mk. 5 Armament: Gauss Rifle (2), LRM-10 (2), ER Medium Laser (4)

Gameplay

Mechwarrior 4 features vastly simplified gameplay compared to previous Mechwarrior entries. Players use their 'Mechs weaponry to attack other 'Mechs as well as tanks, aircraft and buildings. Like previous BattleTech games, weapons generate heat and players must manage their firing rates to prevent overheating.

In Mechwarrior 4, players no longer have to worry about cooking off their ammunition at high heat levels however. Destroying a 'Mech's legs is no longer instant death. Instead destroying a leg means the leg is merely "crippled" causing a severe speed drop as well as removing the ability to walk backwards. Players can no longer direct their jump jets and jump jets merely allow the 'Mech to jump into the air for a period of time.

Like previous games, the damage model is color coded ranging from Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, flashing Red and Black; Green is full or near full armor and Black is completely destroyed. Weapons destruction typically happens when the part is flashing Red. There is an odd property in the damage model where attacking a destroyed body part will not only transfer the damage to another body part but also bypass some of the armor on that part. The leg will transfer damage to the other leg and the left and right torsos will transfer damage to the center torso.

The 'Mech Lab has also been simplified. In previous entries, players must assign where they want to carry ammunition and heatsinks. This is no longer the case in Mechwarrior 4. Ammunition and heatsinks simply take up weight. Heatsinks cannot be destroyed and destroying the weapon will also destroy the ammunition assigned to that weapon. Players can no longer assign what type of engines they want and the types of equipment that a 'Mech can carry is preset. Jump jets can only be put on certain 'Mechs and players can no longer choose how many jump jets they want.

Weapon placements are now color coded: Red for energy, Green for missiles and Yellow for ballistics. Weapons take up slots, with more powerful weapons such as the PPC taking up three or even four slots. The 'Mechs have a certain amount of color coded slots on each hardpoint and only weapons that match the color can be placed there. Clan 'Mechs and some Inner Sphere designs have white colored "Omni slots" which allow any weapon to be placed there. Ammunition for missiles and ballistics can be added in one ton increments.

Players can assign the tonnage of armor to each part of the 'Mech in 0.1 ton increments, with minimum being 0.1 tons of armor on the part and the maximum predetermined based on the 'Mech. There are three types of armor. The standard Ferro Fibrous armor provides the base amount of protection. Reflective and Reactive armor types weight twice as much but halves the damage from energy and ballistics weapons respectively. Parts in Mechwarrior 4 require at least two hits to destroy regardless of armor. Therefore a 'Mech with only 0.1 tons of armor on the center torso can take a direct hit from a PPC but still operate. Because of this mechanic, players often remove all the armor from the head and rear torso; these parts are incredibly hard to hit and even if they are hit, they require at least two shots to be completely destroyed.

'Mech Packs

In August 2002 Microsoft released two add-ons to MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, the Clan 'Mech Pack and Inner Sphere 'Mech Pack. Each pack contains four new 'Mechs and a few other bonuses. Many players were disappointed by the fact that new 'Mechs can be used only in instant action or multiplayer, and not in campaign.

'Mechs from Clan 'Mech Pack:

• Arctic Wolf - Medium
• Cauldron-Born - Heavy
• Kodiak - Assault
• Masakari - Assault

'Mechs from Inner Sphere 'Mech Pack:

• Dragon -Heavy
• Highlander - Assault
• Hunchback - Medium
• Zeus - Assault

Soundtrack

The Mechwarrior 4: Vengeance soundtrack was composed by Duane Decker and released on CD in 2000.