Yes, it is a reality, and has been for some time.
As a result, these engine systems aren't new, they have been around for a while. I got one when I got my first Boreas. They have however only just been released to the plebians on the open market.
There is also some confusion around the price. I always thought they were free. As I said, mine came alongside a Boreas and I simply assumed it was one of those promotional giveaway items, in the same way you sometimes find an Anzu at the bottom of your cereal packet. They aren't free.
So at a book price of 54 Niodes, 1951 Ferrite and 1498 Bioptics, what exactly are you getting for your hard earned lolly? And more importantly, since I much prefer the old price of 'free', are you getting fleeced?
Well, quite simply put, you are getting the best engine for a Boreas or Glaccus you can possibly have.
And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, shoot them in the head because they are quite obviously mad.
That does about sum up the review, and there isn't really much more that needs to be said, but since my editor is a slave driver and I plan on spiking his rum with anti-freeze later on, I'd better carry on and go into some more detail.
Let's examine the engines on offer at 95 tons, because at the end of the day, it was those big ice mechs that this was always aimed at. Over a straight basic crystal engine like the Heat Cycler, and lets face it, traditionally crystal gives you better power ratio than niode, you loose absolutely none of the torques needed to shift these things.
There are a few engines with the same power output, 9 engine types that are slower and only 3 that are higher. So it is at least close to the top end of what is available speed wise.
Of the fast ones, there is the ridiculous Anzu Run that will blow up as soon as you look at it. There's the RACE which is the fastest of its class and has auto repair, definitely making it a nice engine. Or there's the Reverse Rotary which is useful in its own right.
But at the end of the day, none of them complement an ice mech in the same way the Cold Fusion does. The only real downside is that while the decision to purchase one of these should be a no brainer, there are other things that should be higher up the priority list that you need to invest in to counteract the deficiencies of the 95 ton chassis.
But since I'm a good sort generally and have had experience with using Cold Fusion for a while, here are some tips.
Watch out for heat spikes and sharp vibration. A sharp rise in heat from a flame weapon, especially if coupled with a close call from a missile blast is going to crack the containment bottle, and since they run at super cooled temperature to start off with, it is notoriously fragile.
If it does start to give, you will suddenly find yourself in the position where your mech is coming up with new and interesting ways to transport you to China.
Oh, and you need to remember that the unfortunate reality is that your cockpit is positioned directly above this thing and as stated previously, they run very, very cold.
The net result is that you may feel as if you are riding into battle with your nethers stuck in a chest freezer.
Things will turn blue. They might fall off.
But since your dealer is stitching you up to the tune of 54 niodes, make sure the miserable sod throws in a heated seat. Trust me, it's a vital accessory.
Or at least invest in some of those thick wooly undies like your granny used to wear...
Submitted by David McCallum #701548