Visually, the graphics are stunning. Unfortunately, the lack of some simple camera features such as a top-down view tends to make the graphics a hindrance at times, but you can easily overlook that. One other tiny flaw to note about the graphics is that at times the scale just seems wrong. Mechs are supposed to be monstrously huge, some over eighty stories high*, yet many of the Mechs in MC2 barely seem to rise above the trees, or are even shorter than the trees.

*[Editors Note: An astute reader kindly informed me that the actual height of Mechs in the Battletech Universe is approximately two stories tall. While I recall reading several years ago that it was eighty, I'm likely less of a Battletech aficionado and believe that two is a more realistic figure.]

Most of the sound effects used are the same ones from Mech Warrior 4, so at least they are consistent with the universe. Voice-overs and movie talents are great, and the sounds are good for the game. There is nothing exceptional in terms of surround, echo, or depth, however. In terms of music, the music is fairly decent, and a bit less repetitious than the MW4 music was, though I can't say I'm trying to claw my way to a soundtrack.

In terms of Tactical Combat Games, this is by far, the best I've seen to date. MC2 features highly organized gameplay where the tactics really do matter, and everything is all in the approach and the use of the terrain to your advantage. The AI is rarely frustrating, and player units pretty much always do what they're supposed to.

In terms of story, the Battletech universe is one of the deepest gaming universes out there. Unfortunately, while the game does feature an encyclopedia built into the main interface (nothing like the holo-imager encyclopedia in the interactive Wolf and Jade Falcon clan halls in MW2), it is mostly just there for continuity, and the Battletech stories don't play much of a role in the game. In terms of gameplay depth, the game is pretty much simply to use and doesn't get too deep.

Multiplayer in MC2 is truly a unique experience. With several game types including capture-based and destruction-based objectives, multiplayer can be a blast. When playing against a human opponent, the tactics become purely endless, and the psychological aspect of the battle moves to the forefront, whereas it was utterly useless against the AI. On the downside, it's hosted by Zone.