The Collection Chamber: MECHWARRIOR

I Am Become Death, The Destroyer of Worlds

Standing between you and a mission complete is 70 tons of armor plate, myomer muscle and lethal weaponry. Just another day's work for a 31st-century MechWarrior. If you're the better pilot, you'll walk away with the money, the salvaged parts and your life. Prove yourself enough times and you can afford a full four-Mech lance. Forge your lance in the fire of combat and you'll be ready to take on the Dark Wing, scourge of the Inner Sphere

Push it to the limit.
You fusion reactor is about to shut down. Stall for time with a barrage of Short-Range Missiles.

Don't expect mercy.
Don't give it. Salvage what you can when the battle's over. Repair or replace your war-torn Mech at the Mech Complex.

Plan fast and take command.
Missions range from simple raids to grueling extended campaigns. Be ready, your recon data may be wrong.

Go where the money is.
Negotiate your best deal, then travel the Inner Sphere and do battle on a variety of terrains.
The Battletech universe comes alive in accurate detail
Solid 3D simulation of Mech combat
Choose from 7 different types of Mechs:
Locust Warhammer Phoenix Hawk Jenner
Marauder Battlemaster Shadow Hawk Rifleman
Rich story with clue locations which change every play
Hire on for hazardous duty with any of the five Successor States
1st person out-the-cockpit perspective with Heads-Up-Display

~ from the back of the box

Released in 1989, MechWarrior was something of a breakthrough in the world of PC gaming. Developed by Dynamix and published by Activision, it was perhaps the first bona fide Mech sim, blending strategy, combat, and resource management in a way that was revolutionary for its time. Based in the universe of FASA Corporation's tabletop strategy game Battletech, it has you directly piloting bulky military-grade robots called BattleMechs to fight in a colossal futuristic war. Over the years, it has inspired many a copycat (including Sierra's Metaltech series of which EarthSiege and Cyberstorm are a part of), as well as being the progenitor of a well-regarded series that has lasted to this very day.

Despite bearing many of the hallmarks of a first-person-shooter, Mech sims like Mechwarrior play very differently (not least because the FPS wouldn't be cemented until three years later when Wolfenstein 3D debuted). They are slower-paced and more sprawling, being more about what is decided upon outside of the battlefield that what you do in it. While you do shoot at opponents in the first-person, your aim is not to reach the end of the level, but to destroy your enemies. You must manage your resources, carefully maneuver massive machines, and make strategic decisions both on and off the battlefield. Every action counts, from choosing the right Mech for the job to managing its weapons and power systems.

Monitor your mech at the Blazing Aces. If they're beyond repair, you can buy another one (left).
You can own up to 4 of 'em, but you'll need to hire pilots at the bar to man them (right).

You do all this through the game's interface. While somewhat straightforward, the many menus are packed with data and decisions that all budding mercenaries must master. Among there are Blazing Aces, where you can review your personal database, hire crew members, and read messages on the NewsNet, which helps you track the reputation of factions and get important intel for your next mission. The Mech Complex screen is where you manage your Mechs, allowing you to repair, buy, sell, or re-arm them based on the condition of the equipment and local availability as well as personal funds. The Contracts screen shows mission options, while the Travel screen lets you move between planets and locations to find more lucrative contracts. The Bar offers rumours and the chance to recruit new crew members, and the Game Options menu is where you can save, load, or quit the game. The breadth of these systems livens up this sci-fi world making for an immersive experience, and navigating them becomes second nature after a few missions.

Once you're in the cockpit, you'll find yourself in a detailed and immersive real-time 3D combat environment. The controls, however, are anything but intuitive. You're in charge of controlling a vast array of functions, from weapon systems to the movement of your Mech making the lengthy manual a must read before diving in. With each key representing a different function, it's a complex affair. You'll be managing your speed, targeting, weapons, and heat levels, all while trying to destroy enemy Mechs in a battle to the death. One of the game's key features is the use of Jumpjets, which allows your Mech to leap over obstacles and avoid fire. This can be an essential part of the gameplay, as it offers mobility and strategic positioning in combat. While most functions are locked to the keyboard, I played mostly with a joypad which I reconfigured thanks to DOSBox's handy remapping tool. Even so, many actions remained to their keys. While this was fairly standard for its time, I found it to be mostly awkward.

The different cities on the different planets vary in value. You can gain a fortune by traveling and trading mechs (left).
Though you will eventually need to take on missions to earn more money and complete the game (right).

Most awkward of all is the Command Screen. By a tap of the C key, you can bring up a selection of orders which can be given to computer controlled allies. These are other mercenary pilots who are either hired by you or assigned to your squad called a Lance. You can order your allies to straight up attack, defend, or even ambush enemies, though you are at the mercy of the limited AI implementation as to how successful they are. Managing your Lance is key to succeeding in certain missions, as you can direct your allies to focus on specific targets or retreat when the heat is too much. If commanded well, they can turn the tide of battle, especially in the more difficult missions. However, just like with your own Mech, your allies are not invincible and they can - and will - make mistakes. Sometimes they will fail to carry out commands, or ignore you completely, even if it's to back out of dangerous situations. Needless to say, programming such things has come a long way in the proceeding 37 years.

By today's standards, the graphics in MechWarrior are dated, but for 1989, they were a technical marvel. Using EGA graphics, the game could render large battlefields with reasonable detail, giving you an immersive, if somewhat blocky, view of the action. The simple flat-shaded polygons make up rocky structures, basic building and impressive mechs in a flat seemingly endless arena. It could've easily struggles on contemporary computers so the different levels of detail would've been welcome. This is no issue for 2026, so lowering this stat only reduces the number of wireframe polygons for an uglier, more jagged look with a smaller draw distance. Unfortunately, the best setting isn't on by default so you'll have to change it each time you launch the game.

Choose which mech each crew member will pilot (left).

In battle, you can give them orders which change their behaviour in battle (right).

MechWarrior was one of the more visually ambitious games of its time, with terrain that could be navigated in real-time, and Mechs that were recognizable and detailed for their era. VGA was beginning to rise in popularity, but it wouldn't be universally adopted until 1990s Wing Commander swooped the PC-gaming scene. The sound design, meanwhile, is also reflective of the era. While not overly complex or memorable, it serves its purpose by immersing players in the cockpit with sound effects for weapons, engine noise, and environmental ambiance, though you'll have to use your imagination for them to be realistic. 1989 was also the first year of the SoundBlaster, which is also absent here. Instead, the best audio comes in AdLib or Roland, though stay away from the bleeping PC Speaker.

MechWarrior was a groundbreaking title in the world of PC gaming, and its legacy is certainly deserved. As the first major BattleTech game to focus on Mech combat, it laid the groundwork for the series' future and influenced countless other games that followed in its wake. While its dated graphics and complex controls may be a challenge for modern players, there's no denying the game's significance as a precursor to the Mech simulators and strategy games that would define the genre in the years to come. Though the MechWarrior sequels and imitators would refine the formula, the original game's mixture of combat, resource management, and mercenary strategy remains an enjoyable and nostalgic experience for the retro gaming enthusiast among you.

To download the game, follow the link below. This custom installer exclusive to The Collection Chamber uses the DOSBox-X build of DOSBox to bring the game to modern systems. Manual and Affidavit included. Read the ChamberNotes.txt for more detailed information. Tested on Windows 10.

File Size: 43.6 Mb. Install Size: 76.7 Mb. Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ

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