MechWarrior 3: Giant machines at war

MechWarrior 3

****

Microprose

PC T13+ (US rating)

$99.95

Reviewer: Peter Eley

It seems like almost yesterday that MechWarrior 2 opened our eyes to the potential of 3D gaming.

In fact, it was four years ago and it says a lot for the title that it is still played today. This was in the early days of the Pentium chip and a lot has happened on the processor front since then.

MechWarrior 3 is basically an upgrade which lets the graphics take advantage of the latest chips. The result is a game as good as its predecessor and one that looks a whole lot better if you have the right gear.

Microprose has an each-way bet here. The game really needs a Pentium 200 and Direct3D accelerator, but will run on a Pentium 166 and standard 2Mb video card.

The MechWarrior series is based on the Japanese comicbook series Battletech, which has also inspired a trilogy of novels by Michael Stackpole.

Like most games sourced in the print medium, MechWarrior pays only lip service to the complexities of the plot. Action is what computer games are all about, anyway.

For what it's worth, MechWarrior 3 takes place way in the third millennium when humans have colonised most of space.

But the great dynasties can't agree on sharing the spoils and go to war in giant machines - MechWarriors.

From there on it's a shoot-'em-up, with you in control of several tonnes of lethal heavy-metal armed with particle projectors, lasers and missiles to name but a few items in an impressive arsenal.

Much of the fun is in customising your vehicle and there is a huge range of chassis, weapons, armour and engines.

One important factor to watch for is heat. MechWarriors generate huge amounts when fighting, or even walking, and you need to make sure you have adequate cooling facilities.

There's enough in the game to give you a real sense of futuristic adventure and it will be no surprise if we see MechWarrior 4 one day.


Rollcage

***

Psygnosis

PC (No rating available)

$99.95

Another car-racing game with guns - Redline, Motorhead and Powerslide are recent releases in the same mould.

Rollcage puts you in charge of a virtually indestructible car which you can race around tracks at speeds ranging up to 350 km/h.

As you're also trying to bump other drivers off the track or shoot up their vehicles, it can get hair-raising at times.

The key to playing the game well is trying to avoid collisions, otherwise you'll spend most of the race turning around and catching up the other cars.

The graphics are reasonable, especially if you have the recommended Pentium 233 and 8Mb video card.

However, cars are not as detailed as in some of the dedicated racing games.

* Send your comments e-mail to peter_eley@herald.co. nz