MechWarrior 3
Encyclopedia
MechWarrior 3 is an entry in the MechWarrior
series. It featured a new 3D accelerated graphics engine at the time of its release. The game contains over 20 missions, with access to 18 different mechs.
's Operation: Bulldog, a daring plan to eliminate the most hostile and vicious clan in the Inner Sphere: Clan Smoke Jaguar, led by Anastasius Focht and Victor Steiner-Davion. Operation Bulldog and Task Force Serpent have already completed their objectives, but there is one last operation left—the one with which the player is tasked—a final clean-up of the Smoke Jaguar forces remaining in the Inner Sphere, and the elimination of the last ranking Jaguar officer. This mission (codename: Damocles) is to destroy key Smoke Jaguar installations on the planet Tranquil, including a mech factory, a starport, a geothermal power plant
, and finally to eliminate the Smoke Jaguar forces and leadership on the planet.
Two dropships are deployed to release the BattleMech force to destroy these installations. However, while in orbit above Tranquil, a dropship is attacked by massive naval laser
fire. The Blackhammer is shot down and the remaining dropship, the Eclipse, retreats to safety. The player was already deployed from the dropship, which had been slightly off target before it was destroyed. The Mobile Field Bases (MFB), which were deployed at the same time as the player, land on target. The player's first mission is to rendezvous with the MFBs and secure the area from hostile forces.
Less than half of the total Mechs are deployed, with the rest either shot down during the drop or still onboard the Eclipse. Despite this setback, the player must continue with his objectives and hope to link up with the forces that survived, and eventually secure a landing zone so the dropship can return to evacuate them.
mecha simulation game, with the player piloting a Mech in each mission. Mechs are armored and fitted with various projectile and energy weapons, and engage in combat with other Mechs as well as traditional military vehicles such as tank
s and helicopter
s, and occasional weapon emplacements. During combat, a Mech's weapons and critical components can be damaged, and it is even possible for entire limbs to be blown off a Mech.
Mech customization is a major aspect of gameplay. The player has near total control over the configuration of each of his or her Mechs, from the type and amount of armor used to various internal components, and all of the Mech's weaponry and ammunition. In the campaign, additional parts, weapons, and ammunition are acquired through the missions, from captured supplies and salvaged enemy Mechs.
In the campaign, the player controls up to three squadmates, with the ability to issue basic orders such as attack, move, and return to the Mobile Field Bases (MFBs) for repairs.
The Mobile Field Bases are a unique feature not seen in any other Mechwarrior game. The player starts the game with three MFBs, although these can be destroyed. The MFBs travel with the player throughout the missions, advancing when ordered to by the player. They carry all the player's supplies (which means there is a weight limit to the amount of supplies the player can keep). The MFBs can provide field repair and resupply, provided they are carrying suffient armor and ammunition. As Mechs do not have shields and are only protected by armor which is damaged in combat, the MFBs can become crucial in enabling the player to complete a mission.
MechWarrior 3: Pirate's Moon is the only expansion pack for MechWarrior 3, with an all new storyline and 20 new missions, plus six new mech, brand new terrains, and a number of weapons. The player can select either Campaign Missions or Pirate Missions which contain respective stories.
MechWarrior
MechWarrior is the title of a series of computer and video games set in the fictional universe of BattleTech-Games:In these games, players take control of a single BattleMech and combat other BattleMechs, tanks, infantry, and more, from within the cockpit of their machine. A third-person alternate...
series. It featured a new 3D accelerated graphics engine at the time of its release. The game contains over 20 missions, with access to 18 different mechs.
Plot
The story opens with a short briefing of the Inner SphereInner Sphere
Inner Sphere can refer to:*A region of space in the BattleTech universe*Inner sphere electron transfer, a chemical reaction involving closely associated atoms*Inner sphere complex, a type of ion-surface binding...
's Operation: Bulldog, a daring plan to eliminate the most hostile and vicious clan in the Inner Sphere: Clan Smoke Jaguar, led by Anastasius Focht and Victor Steiner-Davion. Operation Bulldog and Task Force Serpent have already completed their objectives, but there is one last operation left—the one with which the player is tasked—a final clean-up of the Smoke Jaguar forces remaining in the Inner Sphere, and the elimination of the last ranking Jaguar officer. This mission (codename: Damocles) is to destroy key Smoke Jaguar installations on the planet Tranquil, including a mech factory, a starport, a geothermal power plant
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
, and finally to eliminate the Smoke Jaguar forces and leadership on the planet.
Two dropships are deployed to release the BattleMech force to destroy these installations. However, while in orbit above Tranquil, a dropship is attacked by massive naval laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
fire. The Blackhammer is shot down and the remaining dropship, the Eclipse, retreats to safety. The player was already deployed from the dropship, which had been slightly off target before it was destroyed. The Mobile Field Bases (MFB), which were deployed at the same time as the player, land on target. The player's first mission is to rendezvous with the MFBs and secure the area from hostile forces.
Less than half of the total Mechs are deployed, with the rest either shot down during the drop or still onboard the Eclipse. Despite this setback, the player must continue with his objectives and hope to link up with the forces that survived, and eventually secure a landing zone so the dropship can return to evacuate them.
Gameplay
Mechwarrior 3 is first-personFirst person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
mecha simulation game, with the player piloting a Mech in each mission. Mechs are armored and fitted with various projectile and energy weapons, and engage in combat with other Mechs as well as traditional military vehicles such as tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, and occasional weapon emplacements. During combat, a Mech's weapons and critical components can be damaged, and it is even possible for entire limbs to be blown off a Mech.
Mech customization is a major aspect of gameplay. The player has near total control over the configuration of each of his or her Mechs, from the type and amount of armor used to various internal components, and all of the Mech's weaponry and ammunition. In the campaign, additional parts, weapons, and ammunition are acquired through the missions, from captured supplies and salvaged enemy Mechs.
In the campaign, the player controls up to three squadmates, with the ability to issue basic orders such as attack, move, and return to the Mobile Field Bases (MFBs) for repairs.
The Mobile Field Bases are a unique feature not seen in any other Mechwarrior game. The player starts the game with three MFBs, although these can be destroyed. The MFBs travel with the player throughout the missions, advancing when ordered to by the player. They carry all the player's supplies (which means there is a weight limit to the amount of supplies the player can keep). The MFBs can provide field repair and resupply, provided they are carrying suffient armor and ammunition. As Mechs do not have shields and are only protected by armor which is damaged in combat, the MFBs can become crucial in enabling the player to complete a mission.
Pirate's Moon (expansion pack)
Campaign
The Lance Leader from MechWarrior 3 is now given an official name known as 'Lieutenant Connor Sinclair' and returns as main protagonist of the campaign missions. Sinclair is assigned to protect the Federated Suns' control over the planet Vale and its resources against New Belt Pirates led by Susie Ryan. During the confrontation, Sinclair and his lancemates encounter overwhelming pirate forces unexpectedly and explore for the further plot to be unveiled.Pirate Missions
The player controls 'Scourge', the New Belt Pirate working for Susie Ryan as the forces attempt to attack the Federated Suns' defense and claim control over the resources on Vale.External links
- MechWarrior 3 at GameRankings
- MechWarrior 3: Pirate's Moon at GameRankings