MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

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MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

Developers
	Activision
Engines
	MechWarrior 2
Release dates
DOS	September 25, 1996
Windows	September 25, 1996
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	First-person, Third-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	Vehicle combat
Vehicles	Robot
Art styles	Stylized
Themes	Sci-fi
Series	MechWarrior

MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries is the second expansion pack for the 1995 sci-fi vehicle combat game MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat. Unlike Ghost Bear's Legacy, it is standalone and does not require the base game to play. It includes its own set of campaigns for various mercenary groups, as well as all 'Mechs from 31st Century Combat and Ghost Bear's Legacy. It has its own version of the multiplayer client NetMech, called MercNet, which this time comes bundled with the main game.

Like the original, Mercenaries had several different releases; see Version differences.

On modern systems, the DOS version of the game is commonly played via MechVM. However, the Windows-native versions do not work on Windows 8 and later.

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail

A free demo version is available from Archive.org.

Version differences

The Titanium Trilogy includes Mercenaries as well as MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat and Ghost Bear's Legacy. However, it has an abbreviated soundtrack and gameplay changes.

The 3Dfx Interactive Edition does not actually include a 3dfx renderer. 3dfx support was included in the Titanium version.

The DOS version uses software rendering. This version can be played in DOSBox.

DOS and Windows versions can be played using MechVM.

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
MercNet	Mercenaries equivalent of NetMech.

Essential improvements

MechVM

Windows versions do not work on Windows 8 and later; choose the DOS version when prompted (not included with all Windows versions).

Use MechVM
Download MechVM and extract it. Run mechvm.exe and install the game through it. Go to the directx folder on the game disc. If dplay.dll exists, copy it to the Mercenaries installation folder. Set mercswin.exe to run in Windows 95 compatibility mode. For versions with 3dfx renderers, use nGlide.

Patches

The v1.1 Patch fixes various issues and adds dynamic salvage (the original release had pre-determined salvage). Battlepack and Titanium versions are already patched.

Skip intro videos

Use replacement MINTRO.SMK
Apply the MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries intro skip.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
DOS
Windows

Save game data location

System	Location
DOS
Windows

Video

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution			4:3 only; for higher 4:3 resolutions see Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed		Use Alt+↵ Enter to go into windowed mode
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Install nGlide and force in the graphics card control panel.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		Install nGlide and force in the graphics card control panel.
Vertical sync (Vsync)		For DOSBox use an unofficial build (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
60 FPS and 120+ FPS

Widescreen resolution

Versions with 3dfx renderers can run at higher resolutions using nGlide (choice of stretched or pillarboxed 4:3); for Direct3D versions see the WSGF entry.

Use nGlide[citation needed]
Install nGlide. Run the nGlide configurator from the Start screen/Start menu. Set the desired resolution. Change aspect ratio to "4:3" for the correct perspective or "fit to screen" for a stretched output. Select the 3dfx renderer in-game.

View Distance

A patch to increase the game's view distance is available here.

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers

PlayStation controllers

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio
Red Book CD audio		On Windows, CD music might not play correctly; see the troubleshooting guide for solutions.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
German

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		8
Online play		8	Official servers have been shut down.

Issues unresolved

Windows version crashes on mission launch on Windows 8 or later

Windows versions crash on Windows 8 and later; use the DOS version instead.

Issues fixed

No music

The disc must be inserted in CD-ROM 0; see this page for details.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DOS video modes

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

System requirements

DOS

Windows

DOS
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	5.0
Processor (CPU)	486-66
System memory (RAM)	8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	45 MB
Video card (GPU)	SVGA 256 Color

Windows
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	95
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 100
System memory (RAM)	16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	195 MB
Video card (GPU)	Direct3D or 3dfx compatible