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Traditional games of this sort let people pilot huge "Mechs." In Heavy Gear 2, as the title suggests, you get to pilot the
more maneuverable "Heavy Gears." So what is so special about the traditional Mechs? For one thing... they out number Gears
by a lot of games. Mechs are bigger than Gears, but Gears have their own nifty features. A Gear is a much more mobile
piece of machinery, giving the pilot more freedom of movement and the ability to wield such weapons as vibro axes (not
vibrators, a common mistake that leads to some messy um… I'll move on) and rapiers. Gears can fight with fists and
punch each other into submission when that Heavy Pulse Laser Cannon (TM) just doesn't do the job. These fine machines can
duck, crawl, strafe, ride on built-in wheels, or slice and dice french fries. This adds a whole new style of play to those
used to Mechs, but it is just as cool.
The Goods
Quick Peek:
Heavy Gear 2 is the sequel to Heavy Gear 1 (duh...,) and Activision is improving a lot of the things people have
complained about.
Release Date:
Late April 1999
Developer:
Activision
Publisher:
Activision
Homepage:
Heavy Gear 2
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There is a good backing story this time, as Heavy Gear 1 was... lacking. In Heavy Gear 2 the North and South finally
reached a cease-fire in Terra Nova. Now a new common threat has emerged, and it must be stopped. You are part of a special
ops Gear unit composed of the best pilots from all over the world. The player joins the best warriors alive in this, and
they are pretty tough. Why I got to ride along, I'll never know. The team is sent out to gather intelligence on the enemy.
Why they attacked, what types of weaponry and technology they have access to, and most importantly, whether or not their
toothpaste really does keep your mouth fresh. It can get pretty bad in a Gear with no access to a bathroom or shower for
weeks, so all forms of hygiene are of the utmost importance.
Activision is also trying to introduce more squad-based action, since you will be fighting alongside the greatest warriors
of your time. You can yell at them, but insults are not advised since they can kick your ass if they decide it's worth the
time. Ok... so you can't insult them in the game, but even yelling at them out loud can get you in trouble because of a
special piece of equipment attached to the CD that records what you say. It then interprets your comments as either "good"
or "not so good," and your squad mates react accordingly. What? Again? Alright, guess I'm not supposed to make things up
off the top of my head because of the flying pink monkeys. Or the editor of mine... who can tell the difference? You can
issue actual commands to your squad-mates, which adds some strategy to the game and allows them to be more than just
targets to soak up enemy fire while you sneak around the back. It is also cool just to watch your squad-mates in motion,
since the Gears usually look neat in action.
What it boils down to is that Heavy Gear 2 is shaping up to be an amazing game. The beta I tested did have some bugs, but
Activision has called Clark to get rid of the problem. From the opening movie and through the first mission, Heavy Gear 2
displays a dramatic and cinematic feel as the action unfolds. It promises to be a great game and to correct all that was
wrong with Heavy Gear 1, a promise I hope Activision lives up to.
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