Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris

Local Ditch Gaming > Mechwarrior > Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris

In 1996, there was that other mech game. No, not Mercenaries. No, not the one with "mechs," but not "Battlemechs." The other one that was a full on Battletech game: Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris. After bringing Multiplayer Battletech: EGA to life as an online pay-per-play service, Kesmai Studios launched its sequel on AOL and eventually its own gaming services.

For me, I had a different way into it. I don't think I ever actually played the game on AOL. Instead, I primarily played on Earthlink.net's The Arena. I believe some coverage in the current PC magazines of the day led me to discovering MPBT. The screenshots of polygonal shrapnel shattering across destroyed mech hulls lured me in. Comparing it Mechwarrior 2, the rules were different. Torso speed was insanely slow in comparison, the Mech's seemed to plod along more. There was an inherently risky feel to a lot of the mechs as several had in "instant" kill location if you knew where to perfectly place an alpha strike.

Time may heal all wounds, but unfortunately, it also blurs memories. Thinking back, I think of the graphics, shocking other users that I used a Sidewinder 3D Pro to aim, briefly joining House Marik, and pretty much just playing with random folks on afternoons while everyone readied up to get into battle. Perhaps unsurprisingly for an online-only game, there's not much coverage remaining about Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris. I've stumbled upon some old screenshots here and there, so that's what this page holds. Take a look and see if any of the images spark a memory. Or, if you've never played, peer into another Battletech game of old.

01/10/25