Ballistics Report

Pros

Kickass Gameplay: Rompin' stompin' around, not having to worry about anything except another 'Mech - oh yeah! You even feel as though you're in a 'Mech, thanks to the massive amount of momentum you have to deal with when you turn, torso twist or even try to stop.

Clean Interface: It's really easy to use - obviously aimed at newbies - but has enough control and customizability that even we were satisfied. Aside from the gaff in team selection in multiplayer, all is good.

Haha, bring it pipsqueak

Roasted

Good Netcode: After the previous game's disastrous netcode at launch, this is one heck of a sight to behold. Even at 200 ping it was easy enough to hit an enemy 'Mech without having to lead shots.

Mind-blowing Graphics: Mechwarrior 4 is easily the best big-robot game out there, bar none. In fact the only games more impressive that we've played so far are Tribes 2 and Quake 3. However, MW4 performs a lot better on a similar system than either of those two games would.

Awwww... crap

He is bad, bad bad bad BAD news

Great Design: Although fans will be split on the "no OmniMech" issue, everything else is very well-designed. Even the new 'Mechs, like the Uziel and Mad Cat II, are great-looking and very effective in combat.

Sweet Sound: Sound effects and music are cream of the crop. From the rumble of your lance running across a plain, to weapon blasts and explosions, to the music itself, everything is top-notch here. We would have liked more songs, however.

Look at those missile streaks

Another one?!

Cons

FMV and Plot: Although you get used to them, and they're really not that bad once you do... compared to the rest of the game, the FMV and plot doesn't measure up. The plot is probably an average computer games' portrayal of a revolution could be, and it's too simple. The FMV is simply under-whelming.

Stability/DirectX 8: We experienced a few separate stability problems with both the game and our test system. If it was just the game, it would have been an easy problem to pin down, but since the stability of our review box was also in question, it might have been a DirectX issue. Caveat emptor.

Admit it, you love the missiles

I'd like to thank the Academy for this award...