The original MechAssault was the game to have for Xbox Live. It practically sold the service. There was just something simple and beautiful about signing on, choosing a mech and blasting the hell out of your buddies right in your living room. Buildings crumbling around you, missiles flying overhead, that moment of terror when you see the glowing beneath your hull plating that signifies your mech’s final moments…it just worked. But there really wasn’t that much variety, beyond choosing a large, medium or small mech (I was always a Belial jockey myself). Microsoft and developer Day 1 Studios are taking aim at changing that this coming January, with MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf. I got a chance to sit down and play with it a bit at PAX, and I definitely came away impressed. How did they manage such dramatic improvements to such a basic gameplay concept? By opening up the cockpit door.

In Lone Wolf, you can leave the safety of your hulking mech at any time, and run around as your puny little self. It’s not the most effective method of taking on the enemy though, so you’ll want to procure a new conveyance as soon as possible. Luckily, the choices are many and all useful. For instance, myself and the rest of the mighty Red Team didn’t even start in mechs. Instead we all spawned as unprotected pilots on a plateau with our flag and a host of unmanned vehicles to choose from. There were of course several mechs available, but also some high-powered, stationary defensive turrets, battle armor, and tanks. The latter have gotten a definite upgrade over the last game, as they stand just below mechs in firepower and are quick, maneuverable and harder to hit due to their smaller profile. The battle armor is even more interesting. Similar to the Elemental mech from the first game, it’s just a step up from walking around unprotected. You’re still rather vulnerable, but with stronger weapons and the ever-useful jump jets. Battle armor is also used for one of the coolest new features - Mech jacking. Latch onto the back of an enemy mech, and you might be able to kick him out and take over his firepower. Don’t worry if you find yourself in a mech with a sudden piggy backer though, as some careful button mashing will bail you out.

But my personal favorite new addition has got to be the VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. I played this most of our game, and even without too many kills I pulled off some pretty cool stuff. The heart of the VTOL’s awesomeness is its cargo-carrying abilities. Got a mech ready to bulldoze the enemy base? Pick up some weapon upgrades from across the map and power him up. You can give a lift to your tank or battle armor driven’ buddies, to drop them off for a sneak attack or airlift them out of a hot zone. You can even reposition your team’s defensive turrets for a tactical advantage. If you’re ever done with your cargo hauling duties, don’t worry, you can provide air support for your ground-pounding allies with crossbow missiles. Overall, the VTOL is an incredibly versatile addition to gameplay. With so much to do, this game takes strategic teamwork to a new level. There’s much more to it now than “You guys get the flag, I’ll guard ours.” Keeping your teammates informed on your position and vehicle will be critical. I can’t wait to play it with the Live headset.

MechAssault 2 is looking to be the first great Live game of the new year, improving on the original in every fashion. Aside from the significant gameplay enhancements, there are updated graphics and a brand new single player story spanning multiple worlds. With new mechs and weapons along with an assortment of supporting vehicles, there’s something for everyone. I’ll see you on the killing fields; I’ll be the one dropping a turret in front of you.

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