That gigantic mechs with uber-powerful weapons are super cool has never been in dispute. In fact, anyone who argues otherwise either doesn't have one, or got their ass kicked by a bigger one. So it was no surprise that Day 1 Studio's MechAssault (XBW 89%) was a huge success. Not only did it have lots of the aforementioned gigantic mechs with uber-powerful weapons, it also allowed us to blow stuff up- lots and lots of stuff- both offline and online. It was really the flagship title for the Xbox Live service in terms of gameplay and in its use of Downloadable Content, and people still play the game years after release. Until now that is, because MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf has plunged from a dropship to land with a thud amongst the other contenders vying for your hard-earned dosh.

Let's not mince words: MechAssault's primary strength has always been in providing a streamlined, accessible, arcade-style mech experience. MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf's (MA2 from now on) focus is no different, so if you're expecting a deep storyline or customisable mechs ala the Mechwarrior series, you will be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you want to blow up lots of stuff and have it look fantastic, then you will as much fun with MA2 as a caveman in a crockery store!

Having said that, the storyline is really disappointing, given how much effort Day 1 had said they would put into fleshing this aspect of the game out. It feels like you're playing an episode of a low-budget Sci-Fi channel production- possibly starring Chuck Norris and Lori Loughlin- rather than a blockbuster space opera. We don't want to spoil what few generic twists there are, suffice to say that as the last of the Wolf Dragoons, you will travel to a variety of new planets in a variety of new mechs and blow a lot of stuff up. That's probably enough for most people anyway.

The singleplayer campaign is best viewed as an interactive tutorial on how to better blow things up. If you found the original MechAssault's campaign simple, or if you have any experience with the game, MA2's campaign will be a walk in the park, only the path through the park is actually one of those travelators where you don't even have to walk if you feel lazy. 7 hours is about all it should take to beat the entire solo play section, 5 or less if you have that previous experience. The bottom line is that if you're looking to buy this game as a single-player title, DON'T.

It's just as well then that the blowing up of stuff is so much damn fun. The graphics have made significant jumps since its predecessor first allowed us to demolish buildings, and Day 1's robust engine handles the improvements with only minor framerate issues. The problem is that these slowdowns tend to occur at inopportune moments, like when you're fighting for your life against 3 enemy mechs and every second counts, or playing online against even more. Nevertheless, it's worth the sacrifice just to see the buildings come smashing down or witness the new mech-death sequences! The mechs themselves have had a facelift too, with more animations and details added, making these towers of terror seem much more fluid and fearsome. The environments have been bumped up a bit too, though the terrain detail is usually the last thing on your mind as you are dodging or unleashing powerful PPC blasts or swarms of homing rockets.

As well as giving the game an aesthetic facelift, Day 1 have made sure there are plenty of new toys as well. There's at least five or six new mechs to play with which is great, but the real joy comes from the new BattleArmour, Rommel tank and VTOL plane. For the first time in the series, you can leave your mech and hop into the pilot's seat of any of these new vehicles. It's a great way to impress a sense of scale on the player, something that was lacking from the original game. Once you see your tiny, fragile human frame trembling in fear next to the toe of an Atlas mech, you'll come to appreciate your killer-chassis all that much more.

Aside from being suitably impressive, the ability to dismount from your mech is also a crucial gameplay element within MA2's campaign and especially in the online game. The Rommel tank, for example, is vulnerable to damage but can cloak itself in invisibility and use its super-long distance gravity cannon to punch a mech's legs right out from under it. The BattleArmour is arguably the most important addition to your arsenal however, as with it comes the ability to 'Mech-jack' your opponents out of their ride. Pressing the 'A' button near a hostile mech begins a mini-game of snap, where the person who can whack the corresponding buttons on their controller to the ones on the screen the fastest wins the mech. If the pilot wins, the BattleArmour is rejected and sent packing, but if he loses, well, forced-ejection from your mech without a parachute is not pleasant.

This adds a whole new level of tactical depth to the once-simple MechAssault formula, and admittedly it won't be to everyone's liking. During multiplayer games, trying to fight off an attempted MechJacking while duking it out with enemy players can be an exercise in frustration. Most of the time though, it's half the fun of playing, and if you manage to get a bead on an incoming BattleArmour, unleashing lead and laser death in his direction and watching him bounce around like a flea is the perfect revenge. The VTOL- Vertical Take-Off and Landing- plane is also extremely important, especially online. This versatile little jet can harass enemy mechs with its rockets, but its primary role is supplying mechs in the field with powerups, or deploying automated defense turrets. It can also ferry BattleArmours into the fray. In fact, use of the VTOL can either make or break your war efforts in team games.

Like MechAssault, it is evident from the outset that the real guts of MA2 are in multiplayer. Incorporating Splitscreen and System-Link gameplay is a nice touch for those Live-less souls, and the range of multiplayer options seems to be pretty much identical, though obviously 2 player capture-the-flag in Splitscreen is about as exciting as agriculture legislation. The more the merrier is so true when it comes to MechAssault games, and this is especially true with MA2's Xbox Live Component.

All the standard multiplayer modes are available online: deathmatch & capture the flag are of course present in team and freeform variants, as well as Check-it!, and Not-it!, being a checkpoint-holding game and a terminal-tag game respectively. All these and a few more are available to play in one-off games online, but for the first time ever, you can also play these games with the added pressure of galactic consequences in the all new Conquest mode. As the name implies, this mode sees you playing your part in the subjugation of the entire Inner-sphere. Each player pledges allegiance to one of half a dozen noble Houses, and then goes about battling on a planet-by-planet basis. It's a little daunting at first when you are presented with a galactic map and left to your own devices- knowing that winning or losing a battle can affect the standing of your House can make for some truly tense games. If you'd rather not be responsible, you can simply choose to Reinforce someone else's attack, or to Defend an incoming assault. Full support for clans is incorporated too, so if you've got a bunch of mates with the game, you can form your own team and give `em hell, or just have a laugh at how crap you are.

Multiplayer, and Conquest specifically, is not without shortcomings. Some of these are quibbles that affect the whole game, for example, why a four-storey mech can't walk up a steep incline is as baffling as it is frustrating, as is the fact that autocannon fire can't unbalance a mech using jetpacks- when common sense dictates they'd be twice as vulnerable- and send them crashing to the ground. Plus there's the overall sluggish pace of the game thanks to the lumbering mechs. Navigating the menu's in Live is a nuisance too, and the simple act of inviting someone on your Friend's List to join your game is a counterintuitive process to say the least. Conquest mode suffers from matching problems that require an even number of players for both sides contesting a planet, and if nobody wants to defend your planned attack, well, you can't go ahead at all, making inaction the perfect strategy to stymie an enemy offensive.

Still, it's all minor issues for the most part, that don't detract from the overall polish of the game and the strength of its multiplayer modes. The audio is another highpoint too, with its outstanding use of positional 5.1 surround sound for those who have the equipment, and bass-pounding, impactful explosions and weapon effects. The music is an odd mix of Halo-esque instrumentals and rock, industrial/techno and licensed tracks from Korn and Papa Roach which fit about as well as your jeans after Christmas lunch. But even the ear-crimes of Korn can't hold MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf back from being an excellent follow-up to an excellent game- one that is well worth your money if you're looking for multiplayer mayhem.