As Ian Dresari, you find yourself alone as your family has been brutally murdered during your absence from home. As the last heir to the family name, you recruit a Mech force to avenge their deaths. This not only changes the focus of the game, it also leaves you with a fairly linear plot played from one perspective. The game engine has undergone a major overhaul, making this one of the nicest looking 3D games around. Mechwarrior 4 is one of the very first titles to use Microsoft's DirectX 8, and all the stops have been pulled out to make this one of the best-looking games available.
Sound effects are also very good.
Weapon fire and explosions are very well detailed. Voice acting is very stiff, with no prominent actors portraying any of the parts. Control is easy to get used to and very responsive, especially when using a good controller. A decent input device is a must for the precision you'll want when playing this game. Mapping is customizable and, while there is a bit of a learning curve, moderately easy to pick up.