MechWarrior (1989 Video Game)

Activision's Mechwarrior is a 1989 computer game set in the BattleTech universe.

In the game, the player (as Gideon Braver) takes command of the Blazing Aces mercenary unit in his quest to uncover a hideous plot, retrieve a vital artefact and avenge the murder of his family... within only 5 years. He gets to manage the unit's finances and negotiate contracts, can hire and fire other MechWarriors for the unit (which can thus grow up to Lance size, i.e. four 'Mechs and their pilots) and gets to control Gideon's BattleMech in combat. Most importantly, however, he must follow leads and gather information about the events on his homeworld. Ultimately, he must find and defeat the Dark Wing unit to reclaim his heritage.

Only the major/more important planets from the BattleTech universe can be visited in the game (30 planets from each House except for House Liao who have only 25 worlds on the game map; no periphery worlds can be travelled to). A short one-line description is provided for each of these worlds, as is a rough impression of the environment as either tropical, ice or desert.

The game contains many references to other elements of the BattleTech universe. Over the course of the game, prominent events taken from various novels are mentioned in the news, covering items from the "Gray Death" triology (Verthandi Rebellion, Sirius massacre, events on Helm) and the "Warrior Trilogy" (following the Solaris career of Justin Xiang Allard up to the wedding of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner and the subsequent Fourth Succession War).

Plot synopsis

Gideon Braver Vandenburg was the son of Cameron Vandenburg, the Duke of Ander's Moon (Elidere IV). The world had been colonized centuries ago by the Vandenburg and McBrin clans and was rewarded with a Dukedom by Prince Davion for the valor of its warriors in the Succession Wars. Upon the death of the old Duke, the new Duke is elected by the Council of Representatives and anointed with oil from the sacred Chalice of Herne, an ancient artefact from old Terra that had come to symbolize the office of Duke. The title has thus passed from clan to clan over the centuries, creating a bitter rivalry between the Vandenburg and McBrin clans.

On March 1, 3024, Gideon Braver Vandenburg left Castle Vandenburg, his father's stronghold, for an inspection of the family's holdings. Upon his return two days later he found that a Lance of BattleMechs had attacked the Castle, killed his family and stolen the Chalice of Herne along with other treasure. This turned out to be an intrigue by Jarris McBrin, who coveted the title of Duke for himself. McBrin faked evidence that suggested the Vandenburg clan had worked with and then double-crossed the pirates, but failed to convince the Council of Representatives to elect him Duke; instead, they chose to delay the election of a new Duke until Gideon Braver Vandenburg had reached adulthood (23 years of age) on April 8, 3029.

Shortly after this decision, Gideon Braver Vandenburg found himself falsely accused of conspiracy and crimes against the state and was forced to flee off-world. Jordan Rowe, a friend of the Vandenburg family, provided him with safe passage on a DropShip, some money and an old Jenner 'Mech.

Upon arriving at a nearby world, he abbreviated his name to Gideon Braver to avoid "complications", and created a small mercenary unit, the Blazing Aces. Over the course of his adventures, they accepted many short term contracts with various employers all over the Inner Sphere.

Inquiries about the insignia seen on the BattleMechs that had pillaged Castle Vandenburg point Gideon Braver to Grig Griez, a wanted crimelord operating from within the Draconis Combine. On Land's End he finally meets one of Griez's henchmen. Eventually, Gideon Braver meets Grig Griez in person and agrees to deliver a message to one of Griez's agents on Dustball in exchange for information.

On Dustball, the receipient who calls himself "Brown" draws a gun on Gideon Braver but does not kill him when the message turns out to contain a deadly poison. Obviously, Grig wanted both of them dead. Gideon Braver is tipped off to a JumpShip named the "Stone Arrow". This is a smuggler ship operated by a man known as Kangaroo Jack, whose enstranged brother serves as a Scorpion pilot with Smithson's Chinese Bandits on garrison duty in the Free Worlds League. When Gideon Braver seeks him out, he hints to a world in the Federated Suns where Kangaroo Jack has a woman. Immediately after meeting with the Scorpion pilot, another assassination attempt is made against Gideon Braver but he survived again.

Subsequently, a man named Kearny contacts Gideon Braver and informs him that it had been the Black Widow Company who had been moved to Ander's Moon with the "Stone Arrow" and attacked Castle Vandenburg bearing false unit insignia. He gives Gideon a slip of paper with an adress that turns out to be a trap. Kangaroo Jack has been killed, and the murderer tries to ambush Gidon Braver who survives yet another assassination attempt.

Gideon Braver and the Blazing Aces then track down the Black Widow Company in the Draconis Combine (obviously prior to the events on Misery in early 3028). When confronted with the accusations, Natasha Kerensky denies any involvement and a barfight ensued where only the intervention of a mysterious woman named Tasha saves Gideon Braver from a severe beating by the Black Widows. She reveals herself as a MI6 operative and later provides him with datafiles that reveal a Kurita company, Matabushi Incorporated, to be behind the Dark Wing and the attack on Castle Vandenburg as part of their Operation Inroad. She also reveals Kearny as a Kurita agent working for the ISF; the Black Widows really had nothing to do with it - Kearny had set Gideon up to get himself killed by the Black Widows.

The Blazing Aces eventually wind up in an attack against Matabushi Inc. on Albiero by the MI6 that also sees a showdown between Tasha and Kearny who accuse each other of being Kurita operatives at gunpoint. Gideon elects to trust Tasha. After this, Tasha provides the Blazing Aces with detailed data on the whereabouts of the Chalice of Herne, which is guarded by the Dark Wing for Matabushi.

With this information, Gideon Braver Vandenburg and the Blazing Aces eventually defeat the Dark Wing and reclaim the Chalice within five years after it had been robbed from Ander's Moon. The retrieval of the Chalice, together with the data disk on Operation Inroad, clear the Vandenburg name and the family title and honor is restored.

BattleMechs featured

Within the game, only eight different 'Mech designs are available for either side: Locust, Jenner, Phoenix Hawk, Shadow Hawk, Rifleman, Warhammer, Marauder and BattleMaster. Neither the player and his unit nor enemy forces can acquire or field 'Mechs of any other type. However, over the course of the storyline, a Scorpion (BattleMech) features in the narrative and yet other models are mentioned in the game although they are not playable.

Personnell

The player can recruit lancemates from numerous applicants, although experienced MechWarriors only become available once the unit has gained a certain reputation. They can be hired and fired at the player's discretion, and can also die in battle. The pool of available personnell includes a variety of minor characters (with their respective starting Skill at Gunnery/'Mech Pilot):

Men

• T. D. Bente (Poor/Average)
• Billy Chow (Average/Average)
• Kevin Call (Good/Excellent), formerly of the Gray Death Legion
• A. Cooper (Good/Average), a MechWarrior from the Federated Suns
• Jim Eagle (Excellent/Good), who formerly served in the recon lance, Lindon's Company
• Ted Hegel (Average/Poor), who lost his 'Mech in a brush with the Black Widow
• B. Hendrik (Average/Good), who started with Narhal's Raiders
• J. Holmaas (Excellent/Excellent)
• Darc Horse (Good/Excellent), who works "alone or with Team Banzai" otherwise
• "Killer" (Good/Good), a psychopath who enjoys killing
• G. Lofall (Excellent/Good)
• "Nasty Bill" (Excellent/Excellent)
• Z. Rodgers (Poor/Average), a former Tech in Richard's Panzer Brigade
• Pete Ryan (Good/Average)
• Tim Seers (Poor/Poor)
• Tank Smith (Good/Excellent)
• "Tricky Nik" (Good/Good), who previously worked for Redjack Ryan
• R. Torsak (Good/Excellent), a former Marauder pilot with the 21st Centauri Lancers
• Kelly T. (Average/Good)
• Bob True (Poor/Poor)
• Kinji Tsi (Good/Average), a follower of Bushido
• Alex Veer (Average/Good), who got his training on the gaming world of Solaris

Women

• Ara (Good/Average)
• Rose Artz (Good/Average), formerly a Thunderbolt pilot with the Eridani Light Horse
• Karen Blak (Average/Poor)
• Tara Ellis (Average/Good), formerly a Griffin pilot with the Eridani Light Horse
• Erin Falls (Good/Excellent)
• Elli Gujar (Poor/Poor)
• JJ Kitter (Good/Excellent), who "spent some time with the Waco Rangers and Miller's Marauders"
• A. Chu Lai (Excellent/Excellent), formerly a Javelin pilot in Winston's Scout Lance, Waco Rangers
• Ilsa Marn (Average/Good), a self-proclaimed expert at covert operations
• Emma Meyer (Excellent/Good), who previously worked in scout and strike lances in Brion's Legion
• S. Miller (Average/Good), who claims she "practically grew up in the 3rd Recon Company"
• A. Morris (Good/Average), who had her Locust shot out under her in a Kurita raid
• Pam North (Average/Poor), whose last tour was with the 12th Vegan Rangers
• Taris Ren (Poor/Poor)
• D. "Desire" Sajak (Poor/Average)
• Chaney Ti (Excellent/Excellent)
• Zera Tith (Excellent/Good), whose "last gig was Helmar Valasek"
• "TJ" (Average/Poor)

Resources

• Copy Protection Codes
• Keyboard Controls
• Cheat Codes
• Strategy Guide