MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries

FASA Studio's MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries is a 2002 computer game set in the BattleTech universe. Smith & Tinker announced on 09 July 2009 that the MechWarrior 4 series of games and expansions will be made available for free via MekTek, this finally happened on 30 April 2010.

Canonicity

Computer games are explicitly excluded from the list of products that contribute straight Canon to the BattleTech universe while at the same time it was stated that the IP owners are "not in total denial about these sources either"; it has also been stated that fluff from certain official, licensed products (namely certain computer games including those produced by FASA) can be assumed to be part of the shared universe as long as it is not directly contradicted, and makes sense. On this premise, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries is considered to be an apocryphal product.

Plot synopsis

Backstory

The player takes the role of Spectre, a male mercenary BattleMech pilot traveling inside the fictional interstellar region of the Chaos March during the FedCom Civil War (specifically during the time period from January 1, 3066 to late July 3067). The player makes a living earning cash and useful salvage from completing mission contracts for various factions. With these resources, the player can purchase new weapons and BattleMechs, pay for 'Mech repairs, and hire additional MechWarriors for his or her company.

Halloran V Campaign

• Transpax Corporation
• Halloran Mining and Excavation cartel (HM&E)
• Corvatti Corporation

Eaton Campaign

• Skye Separatists

Styk Campaign

• Capellan Confederation
• Styk Commonality

New Exford Campaign

• Kell Hounds

Carse Campaign

• Clan Wolf

Featured BattleMechs

Light 'Mechs

• Adder (Puma)
• Cougar
• Flea
• Kit Fox (Uller)
• Osiris
• Owens
• Wolfhound
• Raven

Medium 'Mechs

• Bushwacker
• Chimera
• Hellhound
• Hellspawn
• Shadow Cat
• Stormcrow (Ryoken)
• Uziel

Heavy'Mechs

• Argus
• Black Knight
• Catapult
• Hellbringer (Loki)
• Mad Dog (Vulture)
• Nova Cat
• Summoner (Thor)
• Thanatos
• Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)

Assault 'Mechs

• Atlas
• Awesome
• Dire Wolf (Daishi)
• Executioner (Gladiator)
• Fafnir
• Hauptmann
• Longbow
• Mad Cat Mk II
• Mauler
• Sunder
• Templar
• Victor

Featured Planetary data

• Outreach
• Eaton
• Halloran V
• Solaris VII
• New Exford
• Styk
• Wernke-Talon
• Hesperus II
• Tharkad
• New Avalon
• New Canton
• Carse

Modifications

In 2010, Studio MekTek, Inc. released a free version of MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, with Microsoft's approval along with Mektek's Mekpaks (Mekpaks 1, 2 and 3, with 4 slowly progressing). These MekPaks improve upon many things in the game, including multiplayer. They also add many new 'mechs and weapons to choose from, as well as maps for multiplayer. One interesting feature the free release is the ability to play as a battle armor or infantry.

Resources

Downloads

• The MTX Download client, and other pertinent files. [1]