Okay, deep breath. Battle Engine Aquila, Robotech, Robot Wars and now MechAssault. Not to mention the previous exploits of Phantom Crash, Gun Metal and let's not forget the promise of Steel Battalion. It reads like a sci-fi shopping list and it's crystal clear that Xbox is rapidly becoming the home for all things mechanised and robotic.

But, rather than just being a scrapyard for discarded junk metal, the big black box has become a much sought after address for the big bots in the know. MechAssault needs to reside on Xbox. It needs the space to manoeuvre. It needs structurally solid foundations and it needs a high-tech home in order to unleash its online potential. Lesser consoles just don't have the muscle to keep this bad boy under control.

This latest incarnation of the long-running PC-based BattleTech franchise makes its console debut in quite literally explosive style. It's the 3lst century and, lo and behold, you find yourself in the enviable position of controlling a 40-foot killing machine lovingly called a BattleMech, or Mech to its mates.

The action - and there's plenty of it - takes place in a third-person perspective. So, instead of a cockpit view, you get to check out the excellent animation dedicated to making the Mechs move as convincingly as possible.

It's not just the Mech animation that has been professionally executed. The graphics really are a sight to behold. If you want a fresh game to boost your bragging rights to your friends, then feast your eyes on the banquet of eye candy available here.

The sheer amount of damage you can inflict is immense. Most of what you see on screen will react in some way to whatever type of weapon you throw at it. This means everything from trees catching fire and clods of earth cascading in the sky, to huge buildings collapsing like a house of cards. Fire a salvo of rockets at a skyscraper and be careful you don't hurt your jaw when it hits the deck.

Many of the larger structures are subject to multiple levels of detailed textures. Windows will shatter and explode, exposing building insulation and bare concrete columns. Flames will lick around the gaping wound of a structure before you fire the decisive rocket that brings the whole thing tumbling down in a mass of concrete, glass, dust and flames.

The demolition sequences vary depending on the type of target selected so, even after you've taken care of the immediate enemy threats, you end up wandering around and letting rip on an unsuspecting office block just to see what will happen. To the developers' credit, they've really mastered the art of destruction and made it a hugely entertaining spectacle.

You don't even have to waste your arsenal to interact with your environment. Just nudge a building and it will often cause noticeable damage. You'll find yourself strutting around the maps thinking you're the baddest bot on the planet, and in fairness you pretty much are.

Most of the 20-odd single-player missions in Campaign mode involve you roaming around various terrains, ranging from cityscapes to snow scenes, blowing stuff up. It's a fairly basic exercise, but certain elements of game-playing tactics need to be employed if you are to succeed. As the levels progress, you soon learn that you can't just wade in with all guns blazing - you need to stand off and pick your targets or you'll quickly end up as a pile of twisted metal.

The enemy AI is deceptively good. The fixed weapons, token tanks and infantry are okay in small numbers, but on occasion you'll walk into a crossfire with multiple enemies. But the real fun is taking on the opposing Mechs. They will confidently lumber towards you with deadly intent (and at times offer a real test), but if you get the upper hand they'll quickly change tactics and back (or limp) away, looking for cover and trying to conserve precious energy. The AI encourages an instinct for survival, which makes a big kill all the more rewarding.

With Xbox Live compatibility this title has the potential to be a benchmark online Mech shooter; and the inclusion of two-player split-screen and System Link play hints at what may lie ahead. But as a single-player game it feels a little empty, resulting from an alarming lack of options - you've got the Campaign mode (with four difficulty settings) and that's pretty much it. You can't customise your Mechs like Phantom Crash and the missions offer little scope for different ways to achieve your objectives.

MechAssault is an undeniably good game boasting some amazing visuals. But with so much of the potential weighted towards the Xbox Live experience (which currently only our US mag can play) it falls a little short in claiming Elite status in its own right. This may well change when we take a retrospective look at Xbox Live games, but for now, MechAssault is a bit like a bottle of posh wine: it needs a little time to mature before it'll be at its best.

1. Looks great!
2. Special effects galore!
3. Variety of Mechs
4. Controls are a doddle

1. Not enough in single-player mode

Power
A great looking game with some fantastic interactive scenery and big online potential.

Style
More pyrotechnics than fireworks night reinforces the feeling of Mech power.

Immersion
Blowing things up is obviously great fun, but the gameplay can be a little basic.

Lifespan
In single-player there just aren't enough options. Although online could be a different kettle of metal.

Summary
Visually stunning Mech blaster with big online potential, but lacking sufficient game options to be a standalone classic.