History VideoGame / MechAssault

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: Powered-up gauss rifle and autocannon shots have a chance to knock over an enemy 'Mech (except for any of the Assault 'Mechs); they will be totally helpless for a few seconds before getting back to their feet, giving you a moment to rain down fire upon them while they're vulnerable. Getting a knockdown (or getting knocked down yourself) can often turn the tide of a particular engagement.

* TheNicknamer: Natalia, who has names for the Mechwarrior and Foster. "Tiger" for the former.

* DefeatEqualsExplosion: Even more so than the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' games. Every mech that dies explodes in a violent explosion and can easily cause a massive chain reaction if many others(even you) are near it

* MadeOfIron: Whatever those data cores are made out of, they sure will survive. The final one takes this up to eleven when it survives a spaceship getting dropped on it and doesn't even look scratched.
* MythologyGag: Via the games' variants system, Clan mechs that appear in the roster will use their Inner Sphere reporting name for the basic form, and their Clan name for the alternate loadout, such as the Thor and Summoner being treated as wildly different loadouts on the same chassis.

* RunOrDie: You get a neat little dose of this during the first part of the "Size Matters" mission in Mech Assault 1. [[spoiler: Fortunately, you get to have the enemy have their own taste of this when you steal one of their Atlas mechs to use against them in part 2, even getting some '''very sweet payback''' against the enemy mech that was hounding you all throughout part 1 of the mission though the field is quickly back to being balanced after the Word of Blake forces properly retaliate after a short while later.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Foster''': Sir, your mech playmate is back!]]

* AwesomeButImpractical: The [[KillItWithFire flamethrower]] that the Stiletto and Star Adder are equipped with can quickly melt through a mech's armor in just a few seconds as if it they were made of tinfoil, but unfortunately it's often a double-edged sword for the Stiletto mech since, unlike the Star Adder which has a larger heatsink system and can retain the flow of flames for longer periods, it quickly [[OverHeating overheats]] the Stiletto's heatsink systems when used for prolonged periods.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The [[KillItWithFire flamethrower]] that and Star Adder are equipped with can quickly melt through a mech's armor in just a few seconds as if it they were made of tinfoil, but unfortunately it's often a double-edged sword for the Stiletto mech since, unlike the Star Adder which has a larger heatsink system and can retain the flow of flames for longer periods, it quickly [[OverHeating overheats]] the Stiletto's heatsink systems when used for prolonged periods.

A sequel, ''[=MechAssault=] 2: Lone Wolf'', was released on December 28, 2004. It picks up right where the first game left off, with the heroes recuperating on the planet Dante. The Blakeists soon make a return, in search of the MacGuffin that the team found in the first game. They soon meet up with a PirateGirl whose Jump Ship can take them to other planets, so they can pursue the Blakeists and find more [[MacGuffin MacGuffins.]] This installment added [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing the ability to get out of your 'Mech]] and into other 'Mechs, as well as battle tanks, [=VTOLs=], and PoweredArmor.

* SequelHook: How the second game ends. However, [[ExecutiveMeddling the creator (Day One Studios) was bought out before a third game can be made]].

* {{Overheating}}: As in ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'', weapons generate heat when fired, with EnergyWeapons generating much more then ballistics or missiles. Unlike in Mechwarrior, however, overheating your 'Mech will not force a shutdown or [[StuffBlowingUp blow it up-]] you will simply be unable to fire until the heat meter drops out of the red.

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: Powered-up gauss rifle and autocannon shots have a chance to knock over an enemy 'Mech; they will be totally helpless for a few seconds before getting back to their feet, giving you a moment to rain down fire upon them while they're vulnerable. Getting a knockdown (or getting knocked down yourself) can often turn the tide of a particular engagement.

* GiantEqualsInvincible: Harmless infantry enemies are excused in that they're members a fanatical cult who aren't afraid to die.

* DeathFromAbove: If you have a 'Mech with jump jets, it's possible to damage an enemy 'Mech by repeatedly landing on it from above, to where you will do enough damage to kill it if you land on it enough times. Sure, there are much more practical ways to defeat your enemies, but it's possible and amusing nonetheless.

* FailedASpotCheck: Lt. Foster gets called on this during Mission 17 ("Payback") in the first game. After you seemingly destroy a convoy carrying the Word of Blake's second-in-command, Foster suddenly picks up a ''second'' convoy. Your Major replies with this line:
-->'''Major:''' Foster, when you looked at the sensors the first time, you missed a group of ''massive walking tanks?!''

--->'''Major:''' Foster, when you looked at the sensors the first time, you missed a group of ''massive walking tanks?!''

* MadeOfIron: Whatever those data cores are made out of, they sure will survive. The final one takes this UpToEleven when it survives a spaceship getting dropped on it and doesn't even look scratched.

[[caption-width-right:257: [[HumongousMecha A Cougar]] [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou is shooting you.]]]]

* DismantledMacGuffin: The Data Core found at the end of the first game proves to be one of a set of five, created by Jerome Blake, the founder of the [=ComStar=] company. Exactly what they contain is unclear, but they are used several times to [[PlugAndPlayTechnology supercharge current technology.]] This later becomes a plot point in the game's sequel.

* PressXToNotDie: The hijack mechanic has you do this to eject the enemy pilot. It's also use to operate consoles while on foot.

* MadeOfIron: Whatever those data cores are made out of, they sure will survive. The final one takes this UpToEleven when it survives a spaceship getting dropped on it and doesn't even looked scratched.

* MythologyGag: Via the games variants system, Clan mechs that appear in the roster will use their Inner Sphere reporting name for the basic form, and their Clan name for the alternate loadout, such as the Thor and Summoner being treated as wildly different loadouts on the same chassis.

* HoldTheLine: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The level "Holding the Line"]] in the second game. You use a SentryGun to hold off incoming tanks and light mechs, but eventually things get hairy and you have to fall back to your DropShip- where foster has prepped [[WhosLaughingNow the Star Adder]] you recently salvaged.

There was also an installment on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, ''[=MechAssault=]: Phantom War.'' It is unrelated story-wise to the Xbox games, instead set many years later after the collapse of the HPG Network and staring a named protagonist, Mechwarrior Vallen Price. [[SoOkayItsAverage It was less well-received]] then the Xbox games, due to a lack of multiplayer and issues with the controls.

A sequel, ''[=MechAssault=] 2: Lone Wolf'', was released on December 28, 2004.It picks up right where the first game left off, with the heroes recuperating on the planet Dante. The Blakeists soon make a return, in search of the MacGuffin that the team found in the first game. They soon meet up with a PirateGirl whose Jump Ship can take them to other planets, so they can pursue the Blakeists and find more [[MacGuffin MacGuffins.]] This installment added [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing the ability to get out of your 'Mech]] and into other 'Mechs, as well as battle tanks, [=VTOLs=], and PoweredArmor.

* ChargedAttack: [[{{BFG}} PPCs]] work this way as opposed to a cool-down as seen in the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' series, where the longer the [=PPCs=] are charged, the stronger they get; ditto with their Plasma counterparts in the sequel, but they trade a fraction of damage in favor of better tracking and faster charge speed. The Warhammer Missiles (possibly Arrow [=IVs=]) are unusual examples of this trope, where charging them affects the range and duration of the missiles rather than damage. Either way, the damage is still stupidly strong, no matter how long you charge it. The Alpha Strike works just like the Plasma PPCs, except they're way more powerful.

* AlphaStrike: An ability of all assault class mechs in the sequel. Alpha Strikes are essentially like Plasma [=PPCs=], except much bigger and deadlier, strong enough to OneHitKO almost every mech in the game and the few mechs that can survive it will be nearly dead.

* ChargedAttack: [[{{BFG}} PPCs]] work this way as opposed to a cool-down as seen in the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' series, where the longer the [=PPCs=] are charged, the stronger they get; ditto with their Plasma counterparts in the sequel, but they trade a fraction of damage in favor of better tracking. The Warhammer Missiles (possibly Arrow [=IVs=]) are unusual examples of this trope, where charging them affects the range and duration of the missiles rather than damage. Either way, the damage is still stupidly strong, no matter how long you charge it.

* FinalBoss: The Ragnarok mech and possible [[ReactorBoss the Doomsday Drill]] in the first game. For the former, not only does it have Gauss Cannons, the best lasers, and a weapon called the ''Magma Gun'', it also has an energy shield that nullifies ''all damage''. Later becomes BossInMookClothing when the final level of the second game has you fight multiple ones. Speaking of the second game, it has the half-built Uber Mech, a legless [[MechanicalAbomination monstrosity of a Battle Mech]] with two giant Plasma [=PPCs=], a flamethrower as a BreathWeapon, raining mortars from its back, and EyeBeams that melt your Battlesuit's health. ''Phantom War'' has Dante in a Battlesuit, just like your's.

* HumongousMecha: Ultimately the game's premise, since it's based on the TabletopGame/BattleTech tabletop game series.

* RealSongThemeTune: ''[=MechAssault=] 2'' has "Getting Away with Murder" by Music/PapaRoach. That song is also used for the awesome SpiderTank boss fight. The FinalBoss has "Right Now" by Music/{{Korn}}, although it's the clean version of the song instead.

* SkeleBot9000: The FinalBoss of the second game is what looks to be an unholy fusion of an ''Atlas'' and the [[spoiler: human reaper embryo]] from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', and it's supercharged with ''all five'' Data Cores. It looks scarier than it is, though - the strategy to defeat it involves AttackItsWeakPoint and the aforementioned hijack mechanic.
** Then again, it ''is'' only about 1/3 finished, with no pelvis or legs. Presumably if it had been finished, it would have been an absolute unmitigated ''terror'' on the battlefield.

* SequelHook: How the second game ends. Sadly, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork a third is probably]] [[ExecutiveMeddling never going to get made]] because the [[AuthorExistenceFailure creator(Day One Studios) was bought out]].