MechWarrior Online is a computer game in the MMO-action genre, reviving the Battletech universe. The developer is Piranha Games, while the global publisher is Infinite Game Publishing. The events of MechWarrior Online take place in 3049, just before the Clans invade the Inner Sphere.
Initially, it was intended that the game would include a single-player campaign, but in 2011 the developers decided to take a different path – the word 'Online' was added to MechWarrior, and the game transformed into a multiplayer project with a free-to-play distribution model.
MechWarrior Online offers players the opportunity to participate in battles of giant robots, equipped with state-of-the-art technology – guns, lasers, and rocket launchers. The mechanics of these massive machines are fully preserved – after a particularly powerful hit to the torso, a robot may sway and fall to the ground with a thunderous crash, and it may not always be able to get back up. The robots can also ram into each other, and some mechs are capable of soaring into the air and landing on their opponents' heads. The gameplay mechanics encourage players to carefully choose the right moment to attack when the enemy 'mech' is especially vulnerable to a ram or shots from all weapons. The armored behemoths are not very responsive to direct attacks, so players must search for weak spots on each of the robots available in MechWarrior Online (Atlas, Hunchback, Jenner, etc.).
The battles between 'mechs' occur in rounds, each involving 24 robots – 12 on each side. Each round lasts from ten to twenty minutes, during which teams need to establish dominance on the map by destroying and incapacitating enemy mechs. The locations in the game are quite diverse – battles take place in deserts, jungles, cities, and frozen arctic zones reaching unimaginable depths. Players need to consider the terrain type, as 'mechs' behave differently in various environments. If a battle takes place on a planet with scorching heat and nothing but deserts to the horizon, the giant robots must find a way to cool down. For instance, they might spend energy on cooling systems at the expense of armor. Conversely, in cold locations, all energy can be directed into powering lasers since the activation of cooling radiators is unnecessary.
The environment plays a crucial role in MechWarrior Online, and this must be taken into account. In hot conditions, when the air is heated to unimaginable temperatures, the heat-seeking systems may malfunction and fail to register enemy 'mechs.' The system, in a critical state, can be cooled down by directing the mech into a flowing river in the area. However, this effect will only be possible if the radiators are installed in the legs of the 'mech' – the giant machine cannot immerse itself completely in water. In general, before any battle, it is essential to carefully adjust your battle machine considering the terrain where the fight will take place.