Giant robots with frickin’ laser beams: MechWarrior Online closed beta (hands-on preview)

The first time I started playing video games in the MechWarrior series, I felt like I’d finally found a shooter that suited me. I no longer had to rely on twitch mechanics, master tricks like rocket jumps that killed me more often than they propelled me into the air, or worry about snipers ruining my day in a fraction of a second. While I equated games like Doom and Quake to Hungry, Hungry Hippos (where the emphasis was on speed, timing, and a little bit of dumb luck), MechWarrior was like a good game of chess for me. It rewarded strategy, knowledge and research, a slower pace, and out-thinking your opponent.