I was sent a key to Dark Horizons: Mechanized Corps [Steam] from the developers and I came away pretty impressed with it.
The Linux beta can be accessed by anyone on Steam, you just have to own a copy and opt-in to the Beta, no password is required.
I should note, that the game as a whole is early in development and their Linux support is brand new too, so there may be a number of issues.
In comparison to Heavy Gear Assault, another mech game that supports Linux that's in Early Access, Dark Horizons: Mechanized Corps instantly feels more accessible. The controls are easy and it actually has a reasonably quick tutorial for the basics.
The actual mech movement mechanics feel really good too, with the body rotating separately to the legs, with a button to quickly align yourself straight again. The wobble when you walk also looks great, it really gives the feeling of actually being in a mech unit. It feels heavy, like you're an actual pilot and not just a fancy effect.
It's obviously early in development (as noted by the developer), since checking out some of the missions shows how poor the AI is right now. They will stand still, fire at nothing, but at times they do sort-of wake up and realize what they're doing and it is fun when you're in a battle.
A reasonably impressive slice of a mech game that could end up being quite fun, but for now it's mainly a test release while they hammer out the technical details. Due to how early it is, I would only recommend picking up a copy if you seriously want to support the development as content is very limited. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
I should note, that the game as a whole is early in development and their Linux support is brand new too, so there may be a number of issues.
In comparison to Heavy Gear Assault, another mech game that supports Linux that's in Early Access, Dark Horizons: Mechanized Corps instantly feels more accessible. The controls are easy and it actually has a reasonably quick tutorial for the basics.
The actual mech movement mechanics feel really good too, with the body rotating separately to the legs, with a button to quickly align yourself straight again. The wobble when you walk also looks great, it really gives the feeling of actually being in a mech unit. It feels heavy, like you're an actual pilot and not just a fancy effect.
It's obviously early in development (as noted by the developer), since checking out some of the missions shows how poor the AI is right now. They will stand still, fire at nothing, but at times they do sort-of wake up and realize what they're doing and it is fun when you're in a battle.
A reasonably impressive slice of a mech game that could end up being quite fun, but for now it's mainly a test release while they hammer out the technical details. Due to how early it is, I would only recommend picking up a copy if you seriously want to support the development as content is very limited. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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10 comments
Beta Version May 1, 2017
Does/will it have a single-player story mode?
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Mech games seem like the perfect fodder for VR. Hopefully Linux/SteamOS VR developement can continue to make strides as the next gen of headsets demand even more performance and efficiency at driver / OS level.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Beta VersionDoes/will it have a single-player story mode?Seems so, yes. Currently it has two single player battles to try out.
4 Likes, Who?
Whatever happened to that mech game that was like turn-based with small squads of mechs, that there was an article about in GoL some time back? Unfortunately I can't remember the name . . .
Like, I think it maybe was still in beta or something at the time, and I don't remember hearing of it being released . . . but maybe it was actually out and I just forgot to put it in my wishlist . . . urgh, my memory. It's annoying because I can remember it seemed pretty cool and now I don't know how to find it; it's been niggling at me every time a mech game comes up.
Like, I think it maybe was still in beta or something at the time, and I don't remember hearing of it being released . . . but maybe it was actually out and I just forgot to put it in my wishlist . . . urgh, my memory. It's annoying because I can remember it seemed pretty cool and now I don't know how to find it; it's been niggling at me every time a mech game comes up.
0 Likes
I am excited for a good mech game to come to Linux. MechWarrior Online is one of the few games I have installed in Windows still.
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Doc Angelo May 1, 2017
Quoting: meggermanMech games seem like the perfect fodder for VR. Hopefully Linux/SteamOS VR developement can continue to make strides as the next gen of headsets demand even more performance and efficiency at driver / OS level.
It sounds like Mech games are made for VR. Yet, having played some VR games, I think one might need a pretty strong stomach to play such a game. Even plain moving (character walking on its own or a car) is making many people rather sick after a few minutes. If you would add sway and stomping to that, I don't know if many could play it.
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slaapliedje May 2, 2017
Quoting: Doc AngeloQuoting: meggermanMech games seem like the perfect fodder for VR. Hopefully Linux/SteamOS VR developement can continue to make strides as the next gen of headsets demand even more performance and efficiency at driver / OS level.
It sounds like Mech games are made for VR. Yet, having played some VR games, I think one might need a pretty strong stomach to play such a game. Even plain moving (character walking on its own or a car) is making many people rather sick after a few minutes. If you would add sway and stomping to that, I don't know if many could play it.
Well, if you can handle playing Windlands standing up (I'm okay at it sitting down, it's really odd standing up..) then you probably can handle anything in VR.
But I was going to post the same thing, VR is just crying for a Mech Game. Think about it, a Mech game (or driving games for that matter) are indeed perfect anyhow, because you're not going to be feeling like you're just free walking when you're not. Though maybe the bouncing up and down you'd most likely do in a Mech harness wouldn't translate well, being fully seated and moving around in a swivel chair controlling a Mech makes a lot of sense.
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slaapliedje May 2, 2017
Quoting: GuestQuoting: Purple Library GuyWhatever happened to that mech game that was like turn-based with small squads of mechs, that there was an article about in GoL some time back? Unfortunately I can't remember the name . . .
Like, I think it maybe was still in beta or something at the time, and I don't remember hearing of it being released . . . but maybe it was actually out and I just forgot to put it in my wishlist . . . urgh, my memory. It's annoying because I can remember it seemed pretty cool and now I don't know how to find it; it's been niggling at me every time a mech game comes up.
Battletech, maybe?
Kickstarter says May 2017... GIMME! Been wanting a hard core battletech video game for a VERY long time. This one looks like it's the first proper one ever (based fully on the board game).
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Quoting: GuestThank you everyone. Yes, looking at a bit of trailer stuff I think that was it. And I guess it not being out yet is why I hadn't heard more. Definitely looking forward to, uh, "Late Summer/Fall". Especially since I'm quite fond of Harebrained Schemes, being a big Shadowrun fan. Their Shadowrun games are both a lot of fun and a better representation of the paper-and-pencil RPG than one would have a right to expect.Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: GuestQuoting: Purple Library GuyWhatever happened to that mech game that was like turn-based with small squads of mechs, that there was an article about in GoL some time back? Unfortunately I can't remember the name . . .
Like, I think it maybe was still in beta or something at the time, and I don't remember hearing of it being released . . . but maybe it was actually out and I just forgot to put it in my wishlist . . . urgh, my memory. It's annoying because I can remember it seemed pretty cool and now I don't know how to find it; it's been niggling at me every time a mech game comes up.
Battletech, maybe?
Kickstarter says May 2017... GIMME! Been wanting a hard core battletech video game for a VERY long time. This one looks like it's the first proper one ever (based fully on the board game).
It's been pushed:
QuoteRegarding the final release date for BATTLETECH: As noted during our livestreamed dev Q&As and on our forums, once we unlocked all of our Kickstarter stretch goals, our estimated release date of May was no longer valid. Way back then we said things like "Summer 2017.” Now that we're further along, we're targeting a Late Summer / Fall release of the game - but we won't be announcing a more exact release date until we're much closer in!
. . . Say, the kickstarter video says they're using Unity 5. Zat mean it would use Vulkan?
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 2 May 2017 at 5:20 pm UTC
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