Developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Hasbro Interactive, 1999's MechWarrior 3 was a groundbreaking vehicle simulation game. It was the successor to 1995's mega-popular title MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, which was developed and published by Activision. However, MechWarrior 3 is not a direct sequel. Instead, it steps a few years forward in BattleTech's lore to explore an all-new conflict.
MechWarrior 3 continued the tradition set by earlier titles, featuring complex controls, advanced (for the time) 3-D graphics, a close connection to the franchise's lore and a robust online multiplayer option. Fans of the BattleTech universe were in for a few surprises when they first fired up MechWarrior 3, however.
Giant Stompy Scavengers
The MechWarrior game series is all about giant stompy robots -- and these are not benign guardians of peace and order in the Inner Sphere. These are weapons of war, and there is always a new battle to be fought. MechWarrior 3 treats players to the same deep and rewarding control scheme of MechWarrior 2, including the option to use a joystick rather than a mouse and keyboard.
The player can adjust the throttle, regroup their weapons for different firing patterns, monitor their heat and flush coolant to avoid roasting their own 'Mech, switch radar modes, give orders to AI teammates, use jump thrusters to fly around in short bursts and more. The humanity of the future has engineered the ultimate war machine in the BattleMech, but even these mighty robots might run out of parts or have their ammo bins run dry. At that point, it's time to start hunting for replacements and stock up.
Unlike MechWarrior 2, where players could access an infinite inventory of 'Mech chassis and weapons/equipment, MechWarrior 3 puts the player in a position far behind enemy lines. Here, convenient stockpiles of weapons and ammo are tough to come by. Being part of a small, isolated team deep in enemy territory means scavenging the smoking ruins of enemy war machines to gather new weapons, fresh ammunition, high-tech equipment and even a few new BattleMech chassis. It's a scavenger economy on a giant robot scale, and the player's initial BattleMech, a Bushwacker chassis, will soon pale in comparison to the mighty machines they can steal from the enemy.
Fortunately, the player character has three Mobile Field Bases (or MFBs), treaded buildings that can trundle around and set up an HQ and 'Mech bay just about anywhere. Once the MFBs combine to form a temporary base, the player can sort through their scavenged goods, pick and choose the best gear, and slap it all together to create a cobbled-together machine that can take on the forces of Clan Smoke Jaguar. These warriors are the best of the best and have fancy BattleMechs, but the player can steal their scrap and turn the Jaguars' best weapons against them first. This is the recurring game mechanic in MechWarrior 3 from start to finish.
Lore, Graphics & Multiplayer Mayhem
Like its predecessor, MechWarrior 3 set a high standard for graphics and game mechanics. The 3D terrain and 'Mech models feature some of the most highly detailed and high-res graphics of the time. Plus, all the diverse weapons in the game, from laser cannons to ballistic guns to missile launchers, have distinct and scary-sounding audio effects that fully immerse the player in what they are doing.
What is more, MechWarrior 3 didn't just carry over all the best parts of MechWarrior 2; it added a few more to make the giant robots feel more realistic than ever. In this game, a 'Mech might get knocked flat onto its back if it takes enough ballistic or missile fire in a short time frame, overloading the inner gyroscopes that keep these biped machines upright. Enemy and friendly 'Mechs alike might get knocked over this way, making them totally vulnerable until they get up again. And if a 'Mech's leg takes enough damage, the entire thing will start limping until an MFB can repair it.
Like in the previous game, the player can target an enemy 'Mech's arms or legs to deny them their weapons and mobility before finishing them off. With the possible exception of helicopters, no enemy dies in one shot; the player has to be careful about their shooting and outlast some very tough opponents.
As for the lore, this is a pivotal time in BattleTech history. The feuding nations of the Inner Sphere united to send a fleet to find and destroy the villainous Clan Smoke Jaguar in unknown space, and the player's squad is sent to the planet Tranquil to wipe out the Jaguars and prevent them from rallying. One of the DropShips was shot down, and the other landed off-target, with reinforcements being light-years away. As Operation Bulldog proceeds on schedule to destroy the Smoke Jaguars, the player must do their part with whatever they can scavenge on Tranquil. Help is far away.
This game features online multiplayer servers that, during their day, allowed players to form and join games to duke it out one giant robot versus another on maps of their choosing. And, like in the main game, the player can tinker with their machine's loadout to create the ultimate battle platform in multiplayer matches.