MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (Xbox)

MECHASSAULT 2: LONE WOLF, you are a futuristic Mechwarrior trying to keep powerful weapons out of the hands of a really bad cult. Strategy is limited and weapons are decidedly futuristic, and while some would argue mechs are graceful in their own special way, they certainly are not light on their feet -- the most petite is a hefty 35 tons. Mechs have a human pilot (that's the player's role) who sits in them and tells them where to go, much like a walking tank.

In many ways, the game is designed for multiplayer action -- to appeal to an online community of gamers who calibrated their Autocannons and saddled up their mechanical steeds in the first MechAssault game. These players form "clans" and rage non-stop battles to see who is top dog (or wolf) via the Xbox Live online gaming community.

There is a certain appeal to driving 35-plus tons of steel around in order to make some big explosions. And that is pretty much what drives this game: a lot of explosions, big ones that make it seem like the TV might rattle its way off the stand. Many eighth-graders could write a more engaging storyline, and while there are some tactics to mech fighting, it is not exactly a game of chess. The cut scenes that attempt to pull it all together primarily exist as a vehicle to explain how the player gets from one battle to the next.

There is little blood to spill, since most battles are fought entirely while inside machines. Fallen mechs leave behind piles of "salvage" -- parts that are used to upgrade and repair the player's mech. However, there is still some blood, and plenty of battles make this game far from peaceable. Ultimately, the game doesn't provide a compelling storyline or any educational value, but it may be an appropriate alternative for kids who are begging for more violent shooting games.