MechWarrior: Living Legends
Mechwarrior: Living Legends (also known as MW:LL or MWLL) is a fan-created multiplayer mod of Crysis, based in the BattleTech universe, and using CryEngine 2 as its engine; it is one of the few mods based on the BattleTech universe (and its supporting Intellectual property) to have been sanctioned by Microsoft—who currently (as of 2011) owns the rights to the Mechwarrior video-game franchise—and additionally received pre-SDK support and sanctioning directly from Crytek, producers of the games' engine.[1][2] On December 26, 2009, an open beta (version 0.1.0) was released via BitTorrent and other distribution methods.[3] Because the project changes the play-style and feel of the game it is originally based on (Crysis and Crysis Warhead) so completely as to be unrecognizable in comparison, it is billed as a "full-conversion" mod, since little to no trace of the original game's art or play-style (besides the most basic menus seen when first loading the game) exists any longer within MW:LL.[4][5] It was created by American developer Wandering Samurai Studios.
MechWarrior: Living Legends | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Wandering Samurai Studios |
Series | MechWarrior |
Engine | CryEngine 2 |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
Release | 2009 |
Genre(s) | Vehicle simulation |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
History
Mechwarrior: Living Legends is based in the BattleTech universe and began as a mod for Quake Wars. However, for a number of reasons, the team decided to switch to Crysis and continue development on the CryEngine 2. Not long after the switch, German Crysis developer Crytek announced that the team would be one of only four to receive the Crysis Software Development Kit (SDK) in advance.
On Friday October 28, 2016 a new development team, unaffiliated with Wandering Samurai,[6] released a 0.8.0 version of the game.[7][8][9]
Gameplay
MW:LL is a multiplayer only game with no single-player mode. As such, it has no specific story and does not seek to establish canon. The game is limited strictly to the first person point of view, and focuses largely on vehicular combat, including the franchise hallmark BattleMech. Additionally, it is the first game in the MechWarrior series to allow players to operate a wide range of vehicles in addition to 'Mechs including tanks, hovercraft, VTOLs, and aerospace fighters. The game offers three game modes: Solaris Arena, a free-for-all deathmatch with announcer chatter and an arena setting, Team Solaris Arena, a team based deathmatch, and Terrain Control, an objective based game mode revolving around capturing bases for points or spawn tickets, similar to the Conquest game mode in the Battlefield series.
Reception
In 2014 MechWarrior: Living Legends was named by PCGamer among the "Ten top fan remade classics you can play for free right now".[10]
References
- Chris Faylor (24 September 2007). "MechWarrior Crysis Mod Given Legal Clearance". webcitation.org: Shacknews.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- Cry-Alex. "New Crysis pre-SDK Mod - MechWarrior: Living Legends". Crymod.com: CryTek. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- "MechWarrior: Living Legends Crysis mod stomps out". webcitation.org: shacknews.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- "MechWarrior: Living Legends mod gives Crysis Nanosuit a run for its money". webcitation.org: Joystiq.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- "15 Modders who changed PC gaming". gamingbolt.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/2017-01/mechwarrior-living-legends-community-edition/
- http://www.gamestar.de/news/vermischtes/3304858/mechwarrior_living_legends.html
- http://kotaku.com/fans-are-keeping-a-mechwarrior-mod-alive-1788510156
- https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/02/mechwarrior-living-legends-new-version-released/
- Craig Pearson (2014-01-01). "Ten top fan-remade classics you can play for free right now". PC Gamer.