Introduction

Published by: Activision
HG2 official page: http://www.activision.com/games/heavygearii
Release Date: June 16, 1999

Heavier Gear

Fans of the mecha genre (think giant humanoid robots with big guns) likely remember Heavy Gear, launched by Activision when they lost the MechWarrior license. The game featured "gears," similar to mechs but smaller. The sequel, cleverly named "Heavy Gear 2," was just released, and we here at Firing Squad are gonna give you the full scoop.

The drop ship's outtahere

Swimmin' in the rain

In Heavy Gear 2, choice is the name of the game. You can choose between six different gears, outfit them with more than 60 weapons, and give them over 50 strengths and weaknesses. You can play training, historical, campaign, or instant action scenarios in single-player mode, or play multiplayer over a LAN, over the 'Net, or on MPlayer.

Neat ripple effect

Big fake rock wall

What it's all about

HG2 is a futuristic action/strategy game. The real idea behind it is to similate a gear, a 10--15 foot high robot designed to move like a human and carry huge guns. You get to pilot (and pilot is certainly the right word) a gear, sometimes commanding other gears as well, into the field. Sometimes your mission is to do battle, sometimes to simply gather information.

Shooting the wrong guy

It's cold out there today

The game's story takes place thousands of years in the future. Those obnoxious people from Earth are planning an invasion of your planet, and so the feuding North and South have put aside their differences in order to stop the Earthlings. You play a central role in this resistance movement, a crack pilot sent into what seems like all the important battles around. You should be flattered!