MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries.jpg
MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries
Product information
Type Computer game
Publication information
Publisher Activision
First published 1996
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Clan Invasion era
Universe Date 10 May 3044-20 May 3052
Series MechWarrior (video games)
Preceded by MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat
Followed by MechWarrior 3

Activision's MechWarrior II: Mercenaries is a 1996 computer game set in the BattleTech universe. It is based on the same engine as its predecessor, MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and thus also tagged "MechWarrior 2" although it is a standalone game.

MW2MercsCluebook1.jpg

A cluebook was published for the game titled MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries - The Official Strategy Guide.

MW2MercsCluebook2.jpg

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 Activision) 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 2: Mercenaries is considered an apocryphal product.

Plot synopsis

The player takes contracts from four factions: the Draconis Combine (DC), the Federated Commonwealth (FC), ComStar (CS), and the Free Rasalhague Republic (FRR). The player can take contracts from both sides without censure from either, though doing so will cause time-limited contract openings to close if the player is already "booked". During the game, the Draconis Combine and Federated Commonwealth are making the initial moves towards yet another war, while the FRR and CS try to play both sides against each other. The game occurs in the aftermath of the DC/ FC War of 3039 (which was effectively a stalemate) and buildup by both sides towards the next war.

Missions include helping—and crushing—uprisings (to the benefit of the one of the primary factions), deep recon and raids, anti-pirate campaigns, and fights against other mercenary units. The player can also attempt to win the title of "Champion of Solaris" in 'Mech-on-'Mech battles in the Solaris VII arena. These missions proved so popular that they were brought back in the spiritual sequel of MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries.

The buildup to war between the two Great Powers suddenly takes a dramatic turn with the invasion of the Clans. The player is thrust into the battles against the "unknown 'Mechs" of the Clans (though if the player has played Mechwarrior 2, he or she will recognize most of the 'Mechs and their capabilities). After spending some time as a prisoner of Clan Wolf, the player returns to the Inner Sphere and fights some of the major battles of the invasion such as the Battle of Wolcott (which is represented inaccurately as a multi-day campaign rather than a multi-minute ambush) as well as the climatic Invasion of Luthien.

The Game ends with a cutscene from the last day of the Battle of Tukayyid, with a Level II from the Com Guards stopping a Clan Star and only a Com Guard Atlas and Catapult surviving the carnage.

Backstory

Starting on Outreach on May 10th 3044 the player is bequeathed a COM-7X Commando and a million C-Bills by the former Colonel Holly Harris of the late Team Venom; the player is the only survivor of the unit's latest mission as shown in the game's intro cinematics. The player may then choose to join Hansen's Roughriders and follow the basic campaign without money or inventory concerns, or become an independent mercenary with full access to the game's support features such as purchasing BattleMechs, hiring lancemates, and deciding which missions to pursue.

Venaria Campaign

This is a series of tutorial missions meant to get new players used to the controls of the game. It is set up as a pirate hunting operation where new mercenaries can learn the basic skills needed to survive. It includes a basic patrol, a strike on a pirate air base, a raid on a pirate supply convoy, and finally a mission to hunt down pirate BattleMechs. The campaign is notable for putting the player under the command of one Sergeant "Deadeye" Unther, an extremely sarcastic Catapult pilot.

Galedon V Campaign

Serving the Draconis Combine, the player must perform counter-insurgency duties, first by punishing rebel backers, then aiding the escape of a beleaguered Combine governor. Finally, the player must enter Galedon's capital city and hunt down the rebel leaders.

New Ivaarsen Campaign

Though called the New Ivaarsen campaign, the player is actually sent to the planet of Proserpina by the Federated Commonwealth. There, they must rescue rebel leaders from their besieged base, hunt down a ruthless Combine Sho-sa, destroy a 1st Amphigean Light Assault Group lance, and finally take the fight into the city to free imprisoned rebels.

New Ivaarsen Campaign II

Returning to Combine employ, the player is tasked to attack New Ivaarsen's 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs. The player must attack a wind farm and defense outpost, then raze a Chasseur airfield. Finally, they must make their escape from the planet before their numerous pursuers catch up to them.

Liezen Campaign

This campaign for the Free Rasalhague Republic is notable for not actually taking place on the planet of Liezen, but on a giant starship made of ice. The player must combat mercenary BattleMechs and Aerospace fighters to protect the ship from destruction.

Gravenhage Campaign

Contracted once more by the Draconis Combine, the player is tasked to hunt down the rogue Dread Legion mercenary unit. After securing the planet's water supplies and cutting off the Legion's escape through a dry valley, the player may choose to either fulfill their contract by destroying the Legion, or investigate why the Legion went rogue. If the player investigates, they will discover a Star League-era cache of Lostech weapons and can choose to take the cache for themselves.

Solaris VII Championship

The player may choose to join in the Solaris VII championship, participating in fights consisting of a free for all against three other 'Mechs in an enclosed arena. The opposing 'Mechs will attempt to destroy each other if not immediately attacked. If the player wins three matches in a row, they will be crowned the Champion of Solaris VII.

Sigurd Campaign

Tasked by the Free Rasalhague Republic to hunt down the Oberon Confederation's pirate raiders, the player is dispatched to strike the pirate air base, only to be captured alongside the Oberon pirates by invading Clan Wolf forces after impressing them by destroying three Clan 'Mechs. The player must then pilot a stolen Pegasus hovertank to freedom and recover their 'Mech, then fight their way off of Sigurd alongside the Oberon pirates.

Wolcott Campaign

This campaign marks the turning point where all subsequent missions are waged against the Clans. Unlike the canon established by Lethal Heritage, the battle for Wolcott is shown as an extended campaign stretching out over several days. After first laying mines to trap and destroy the Clan Smoke Jaguar DropShips, the player must then protect a resupply base against attacks by Smoke Jaguar forces. The campaign culminates in a headhunter mission in the swamps where the player must find and slay Galaxy Commander Dietr Osis. The campaign is notable for disturbing the player's radar with numerous ECM pods sending out faked target information.

Last Frontier Campaign

Ordered to attack Clan Ghost Bear targets, the player must first attack several Ghost Bear facilities before making a lightning raid on a Ghost Bear 'Mech hangar with the ultimate goal of capturing an intact Kodiak. The player must then decide to either turn over the 'Mech to the Draconis Combine or to destroy the Combine forces and abscond with the Kodiak to keep it for themselves.

Battle of Luthien

The battle of Luthien puts the player through a series of missions that resemble several dramatic moments from the canon itself, such as the Otomo ambush using fake BattleMechs rigged with explosives. The player must lure heavy Clan units into an explosive trap and clear the city of invaders, then hold the line for damaged Combine 'Mechs to break free of pursuing Smoke Jaguars. This is followed by a night mission to find and kill a Smoke Jaguar Star Colonel. The final mission of the game is the defense of Kado-Guchi Valley, asking the player to hold the valley against the incoming Smoke Jaguars.

Featured BattleMechs

Inner Sphere

Clan

Other Information

  • The ending cinematic purports to show some of the events at Dinju Pass at the Battle of Tukayyid, but do not seem to line up with any canonical sources on the subject thanks to the equally unlikely presence of a Kodiak and a Mauler in the battle. This is due to the cinematic being made by reusing the high resolution Clan 'Mech animation models from the Mechwarrior 2 and Ghost Bear's Legacy introduction movies, as well as the Inner Sphere models from the introduction movie to Mercenaries. The Com Guard Mauler's model is repurposed from the high resolution model shown on the Mercenaries game box.

Resources

Media

Downloads

See also

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