Additional Info
Violence
Hard drive space
Full download: 0 GB
Initial download: 0 GB
Download time
| Kb/s | 20 MB | 8 MB | 512 KB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 0mn | 0mn | 0mn |
System Requirements
- Operating System: 2000/XP,Vista
- Processor: 700MHz
- OS: Windows
- RAM: 128MB
- Video RAM: 16MB
Copyright
é 2002 Microsoft Studios
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Overview
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Instructions & Tips
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Screenshots & Video
Getting Started
When you launch Mechwarrior 4 for the first time, you will need to create a pilot profile by selecting new. You will then need to choose one of the 4 sponsor groups to align yourself with. Each group has its own bonus, so read the descriptions carefully and choose the group that you feel would best match your playstyle. Then hit start to begin the game proper. If you wish to delete your pilot or create a new pilot after this, you can choose roster from the main menu.
Basics
From the main menu, you will have the option of playing the Training (tutorial), Instant Action, which will take you to a battle unconnected to the storyline, or Campaign, which is the primary mode of the game. Once in Campaign Mode, you will have four options: Star Systems, Orbital View, Free Market, and Mechlab. Star Systems will show you the available planets, Orbital View will show you the missions on your current planet, Free Market will allow you to buy and sell weapons, mechs, and teammates, and Mechlab will allow you to outfit or repair your current mechs. To begin, go to Star Systems and choose a planet with a mission, then jump there. Once there, use Orbital View to see more details, then choose which mission you want to run.
Squad
Your squad, known in Mechwarrior as a â¿¿lanceâ¿, is made up of yourself and 3 AI partners. Once you choose your mission, you will need to pick your lancemates as well as their mechs. As with your own mech, you can go to the Mechlab to outfit and upgrade any mech owned by your lance. In later missions, you may also have the option of a secondary lance, with 4 more mechs. If you wish to control your lancemates directly, you can use the function keys to call them up and give them specific instructions.
Controls
Mechwarrior 4 can be played with either the keyboard or a joystick/flightstick. By default on the keyboard, use numpad 4/6 to turn, numpad 7/9 to twist, and 2/8 to look up and down. Increase the throttle with = and decrease with -. Fire your current weapon with Enter, or use Home-PgDn to fire weapon groups 1-6. Use Q to select your current target, W to target friendlies, and E to target enemies.
Mechs
There are a large number of mechs to choose from, but they fall into four classes. Light, Medium, Heavy, and Assault. The bigger the mech, the more weapons and armor it has, but the slower it moves. It is important to pick a mech that is appropriate for a given mission. Once you earn enough from your missions, you can go to the Free Market to buy new mechs and gear. You also sometimes get these as salvage after successful missions. Once you have a mech, you will need to go to the Mechlab to outfit it. Each mech has a different number of weapon hardpoints and weight maximums. Each weapon will need a matching hardpoint, and your total weapons and armor weight cannot exceed the maximum. You can reduce your armor to allow more room for weapons, but be careful not to make yourself too weak.
Weapons
The three weapon classes are guns, lasers, and missiles. To use a weapon, you must have a corresponding hardpoint of the correct type and size on your mech. Guns have yellow hardpoints, lasers are orange, and missiles are green, with white being able to hold all three. Before attaching or buying a weapon, be sure to read its description to get a sense of its power, range and heat output. After attaching your weapons, you will be given the option of putting them into weapon groups. Generally speaking, you will want to put similar weapons within a group so they recharge at the same speed.
Tip: Let's Twist Again
The torso twist is a critical maneuver to master if you want to be a true Mechwarrior. Without it, your only option is to charge straight ahead into enemy fire. By twisting, you can fire and move in different directions. You will be able to circle-strafe your opponents and keep yourself firing while moving out of their line. To untwist quickly, use the spacebar to align your torso and legs.
Tip: Burning Up
To the left of your radar on the bottom of the HUD is your heat indicator. Itâ¿¿s crucial that you keep an eye on this during battle. Every time you fire your weapons, your mechâ¿¿s heat level will rise, with bigger and more powerful weapons generating more heat. If your mech gets too hot, it will simply shut down for several seconds to cool off, a situation that is less than ideal if an enemy mech has you in his sights. To avoid this, fire in short bursts. If you find yourself overheating anyway, you can use the F key to flush some coolant. Your coolant is a limited resource, so be careful. Depending on which mech you are using, you may also be able to add new heatsinks from the MechLab.
Tip: Eyes in the Sky
Besides your lancemates on the ground, your team also has an intelligence officer up in the dropship. During missions, she will feed you information on enemy positions, incoming fighters, and other useful items. Be sure to pay attention to her instructions, as they will give you an edge in battle.
Tip: Arenas
Need some quick cash? Then head to the Solaris VII system to fight in the arenas. If youâ¿¿re successful, you can work your way up the ladder to champion, and make plenty of C-Bills in the process.
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