Metaltech Earthsiege Expansion Pack

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

The Metaltech Earthsiege Expansion Pack was an add-on to the original Metaltech: Earthsiege game, providing additional missions and content to the acclaimed mecha simulation¹. Developed by Dynamix and released in 1995, the expansion continued the story set three months after the original game². The expansion pack was part of the larger Metaltech universe that would later evolve into the Tribes franchise³.

Set in the 25th or 26th century, the expansion continues the desperate battle between humanity and the Cybrids (cybernetic-hybrid machines)⁴. According to the game’s description, “The attack on Earth by the Cybrids has been repelled and humanity is starting to rebuild. But a second wave is already incoming, and the battle starts again”⁵. Players command heavily-armed HERCs (Humaniform-Emulation Roboticized Combat Unit with Leg-Articulated Navigation) in this MechWarrior-style first-person simulation⁶.

Game Info

Developer: Dynamix⁷ Designer: David Selle, Mark Crowe⁸ Publisher: Dynamix⁹ Platforms: DOS, MS-DOS, Mobile, PC, Web, Windows¹⁰ Release Year: 1994 Series: null Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

The expansion pack is set five hundred years in the future, when “mankind is fighting a desperate battle for survival. Sentient cybrid war machines have rebelled against their human masters and crushed the great military powers of the world”¹¹. The narrative picks up three months after the events of the original Earthsiege, with humanity attempting to rebuild after successfully repelling the initial Cybrid attack on Earth¹².

However, the victory is short-lived as a second wave of Cybrid forces threatens humanity’s fragile recovery. Players must once again pilot their HERCs against these relentless automated enemies in an ongoing struggle for survival¹³. The expansion features a full-motion video introduction to set the dramatic tone for the continuing conflict¹⁴.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The expansion pack maintains the first-person perspective of the original game, offering players an immersive cockpit view of their HERC mechs¹⁵. The game supports various input devices including keyboard, mouse, analog joystick, Thrustmaster WCS, FCS and rudders, and Flightstick Pro¹⁶. Players can choose from multiple game modes including Instant Action, Single Mission, and Career Mode¹⁷.

Structure and Progression

The expansion adds extra environments, missions, and mechs to the base game experience¹⁸. It includes new vehicles and weapons beyond those available in the original Earthsiege¹⁹. The enemy Cybrids feature location-based damage, adding tactical depth to combat encounters²⁰. The career mode, which initially suffered from implementation problems, was improved with subsequent updates²¹.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around mecha-style simulation combat, where players must master the complex controls and systems of their HERCs while engaging Cybrid forces²². The game features multiple difficulty modes ranging from Easy to Hardcore, allowing players to customize their experience²³. The expansion requires the original game to play, building upon its established mechanics and systems²⁴.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Publication	Score	Notes
PC Games (Germany)	87%	Praised German localization quality25
Computer Gaming World	2.5/5	Called it “the best attempt yet at creating a futuristic simulation of giant armored combat”26
Next Generation	4/5	Declared it “Without a doubt, the finest mech simulator available”27

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been generally positive, with aggregate scores showing continued appreciation for the game’s technical achievements. MobyGames users gave it a 76% rating²⁸, while other platforms show scores ranging from 4.0/5 to 4.53/5²⁹³⁰. One reviewer noted that “EarthSiege is one of the most technically impressive games released in 1994 and is still very playable today”³¹.

Player reviews highlight the game’s exceptional atmosphere, with one noting that “The atmosphere in this game was incredible, and in my opinion it outclassed Mechwarrior 2”³². The graphics and sound design, particularly on the CD-ROM version, were praised as “amazing for its time”³³.

Development

Origins

The Metaltech Earthsiege series was created as an alternative to the Battletech universe after Dynamix lost the license to that property³⁴. The expansion pack was developed to extend the successful formula of the original game while advancing the ongoing narrative between humans and Cybrids.

Production

The expansion was produced by Mark Crowe, with Jay Balakrishnan serving as Executive Producer and Paul Bowman as Lead Programmer³⁵. The development team included 25 people total, with Robert Caracol as Art Director³⁶. The voice cast included Gary Bullock and Celeste Yarnall as Base Commanders, with Bill Barrett providing additional voice talent³⁷. The music was composed by Christopher Stevens, Timothy Steven Clarke, and the team known as Loudmouth³⁸.

Technical Achievements

The game was considered technically impressive for its time, featuring advanced graphics capabilities through VGA display modes³⁹. The CD-ROM version included enhanced features such as a cutscene opening and voiceover briefings⁴⁰. The minimum system requirements included a 386DX/33MHz processor, 4MB of RAM, and 27MB of hard drive space⁴¹. Audio support was comprehensive, including Sound Blaster variants, Pro Audio Spectrum, General MIDI, and other popular sound cards of the era⁴².

Legacy

The Metaltech Earthsiege Expansion Pack is now considered abandonware and is no longer commercially available through traditional channels⁴³. However, Hi-Rez Studios released the game as freeware in 2015, making it accessible to modern players⁴⁴. The game remains part of the larger Metaltech universe that eventually evolved into the Tribes franchise, establishing important groundwork for future mecha simulation games⁴⁵.

The series set important precedents for the mecha simulation genre, with its focus on tactical combat and detailed mech customization influencing later games in the field⁴⁶. Despite its age, enthusiasts continue to appreciate the game’s unique approach to giant robot combat simulation.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

• MyAbandonware
• Internet Archive

Series Continuity

• Previous: Metaltech: Earthsiege
• Next: Earthsiege 2

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames - Metaltech: Earthsiege Expansion Pack - Development information ↩

2. MobyGames - Game set three months after original ↩

3. Collection Chamber Blog - Part of larger Metaltech universe becoming Tribes franchise ↩

4. Collection Chamber Blog - Set in 25th/26th century with human vs Cybrid conflict ↩

5. MobyGames - Expansion Pack plot summary ↩

6. MobyGames - Main game description of HERC combat simulation ↩

7. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Developer information ↩

8. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Designer credits ↩

9. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Publisher information ↩

10. MobyGames - Platform information ↩

11. Remember PC DOS Games Blog - Opening narrative setting ↩

12. MobyGames - Expansion pack storyline ↩

13. MobyGames - Cybrid threat description ↩

14. Collection Chamber Blog - Full-motion video introduction ↩

15. Sierra Help Wiki - First-person perspective ↩

16. Sierra Help Wiki - Input device support ↩

17. Collection Chamber Blog - Game modes ↩

18. Collection Chamber Blog - Expansion content additions ↩

19. MobyGames - New vehicles and weapons ↩

20. Collection Chamber Blog - Location-based damage system ↩

21. Collection Chamber Blog - Career mode improvements ↩

22. MobyGames - Mecha-style simulation description ↩

23. Collection Chamber Blog - Difficulty modes ↩

24. MyAbandonware - Original game requirement ↩

25. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - PC Games Germany review score and localization praise ↩

26. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Computer Gaming World review ↩

27. Wikipedia - Next Generation review quote ↩

28. MobyGames - User rating aggregate ↩

29. Giant Bomb - User rating ↩

30. MyAbandonware - User ratings ↩

31. Collection Chamber Blog - Technical assessment ↩

32. MobyGames - User review comparing to MechWarrior 2 ↩

33. MobyGames - Graphics and sound praise ↩

34. Collection Chamber Blog - Created as Battletech alternative ↩

35. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Producer and executive credits ↩

36. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Development team size and art director ↩

37. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Voice cast information ↩

38. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - Composer credits ↩

39. Sierra Help Wiki - VGA graphics capabilities ↩

40. Collection Chamber Blog - CD-ROM version features ↩

41. Sierra Help Wiki - Minimum system requirements ↩

42. Sierra Help Wiki - Audio hardware support ↩

43. Collection Chamber Blog - Abandonware status ↩

44. Collection Chamber Blog - Hi-Rez Studios freeware release ↩

45. Collection Chamber Blog - Connection to Tribes franchise ↩

46. MyAbandonware - Genre influence assessment ↩