I've been told that a game about shooting mechs till they explode is only as much fun as the variety of mechs in the game (and the size/frequency of the explosions), so, by that reckoning, the latest update to Mechwarrior Online, which brings with it a new stalker mech, the Misery, should make the game 12 times more fun, right?
The update also brings some new trial mechs and the all-important bug fixes.
Watch as Misery takes over the battlefield (never have I wanted more than this current moment to have a picture of a mech holding its head in its hands looking sad):
Here are the update highlights (lifted from here):
`Mech of the Month – Blackjack (21st)
Hero `Mech of the Month – Misery (7th)
Champion `Mech of the Month – Jenner JR7-D(C) (7th)
New Patterns – Buccaneer (7th) and Cobra (21st)
New Cockpit Items – BattleMech Statues (7th)
New Modules – Seismic Sensor, UAV, Advanced UAV. Improved UAV, and UAV Upgrade (21st)
New Map – Canyon Network (21st)
I'm intrigued by those UAV consumables. Activating one will send a wee drone up into the air for 60 seconds. From there it can spot and target enemy mechs for your companions while also burn through ECM.
I've not had a chance to run through the new map yet but according to Piranha Canyon Network is going to be an ambush nightmare. Deep ravines and many a cubbyhole means mechs could be hiding round any corner. Scouts will be key in a map like this, simply as a means of directing the assault mechs out of ambushes and into the main fights.
And here are those bug fixes:
Fixed friends list size limitation.
Better incoming message notification.
Improved message context sensitivity.
Chat Colour coding/ identification.
Decoupled Anti-Aliasing from System Spec option.
Implemented brightness/Gama option.
Fixed an issue where s were being disconnected during game.
Fix for possible soft lock s experienced while playing a match.
Fixed a crash that some s experienced when the end of round screen timer ran out and they were kicked back to the Mech Lab.
Fix multiple control rebind issues.
Fix for 'Mechs losing the ~1km/h with speed tweak.
Fixed a black screen bug that could happen to s after the loading screen.