MechWarrior 5: Clans Review

Initial release date: October 16, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows

Engine: Unreal Engine

Genres: Shooter game, Simulation video game, Adventure game, Strategy video game

Developer: Piranha Games

Publisher: Piranha Games

Series: MechWarrior

MechWarrior 5: Clans had me on the back foot from the start. Not being a longtime fan of the series (I played Mercenaries a few years back), I didn’t go in with a preconceived notion of who someone was or why they were shooting each other in big mechs. To be honest, shooting anything in a huge mech is typically enough background for me. But Clans goes to considerable lengths to bring its world to life, with grandiose speeches delivered in huge hangars under the shadow of massive battle machines. It has its own language, which alludes to decades of history and warfare as outcast clans of humanity fight those who have cast them out. For those who are unfamiliar, it might be overwhelming.

And if I’m distorting the plot, it’s because it’s not particularly welcoming to newbies. After numerous games and spin-offs, it’s understandable to presume some expertise, but they could provide a “previously on…” sequence. What I do understand is that humanity has advanced to the point of fighting over many planets with massive robots and fleets of thousands, while also regressing to a nearly primitive social structure. You play as Kit Jayden of Clan Smoke Jaguar (Kit is a rank, not your name), are named Star Commander of a squad of five MechWarriors, and are instantly recruited to work for your Clan’s higher-ups.

In the end, the mech-fighting is what matters most. Purists and veterans alike will most likely convert the controls to “classic” mode, which requires manipulating the mech like a real walking tank, moving sections independently and feeling more like a pilot. For everyone else, there is a modern mode that makes it feel like a standard first or third person shooter, depending on your favorite point of view. Missions are engagements with many goals, usually followed by another high-quality cutscene.

But here’s my main concern with MechWarrior 5: Clans. The cutscenes may look nice, but they don’t always work properly. In fact, the game has performance concerns. And, while my PC isn’t the best, I’ve had no problems running games like Wukong this year. In MechWarrior 5, I struggled to find a smooth setting, experiencing texture pop, lag, missing frames, and stutter. Even on the lowest settings, it ran sluggishly, and the more action-packed cutscenes just stopped working, skipping and halting throughout. This extended to the gameplay, which was not a seamless experience.

The cinematic animations, uncanny valley lip-synching, and a ton of brow acting seems to have taken up a lot of time that could have been spent hammering out some of the problems elsewhere.

The gameplay is serviceable. Fans of the franchise will undoubtedly enjoy it, but the shooting is merely adequate, and the settings are unremarkable. The minute-to-minute action of boosting your mech around and rotating through your simply irresponsible arsenal is enjoyable, but the performance at every turn detracts from the experience. The story also suffers from some strange direction, with significant events taking place off-screen and a lot of background conversation throughout missions that you might easily miss while attempting to focus.

However, mech customizing is extremely important. As previously said, there are numerous weapons and modules to unlock, as well as cosmetic adjustments, paint jobs, decals, and a variety of parts that can boost speed, weapon cooldown, ammo count, and survival. Multiple mech archetypes have various attributes and preset loadouts, letting you to build the gear you want with minimal trouble. Because you can frequently switch to directly manage your teammates in the heat of battle, these various builds provide you with a wide range of options in combat.

Despite some shaky performance and a lot of proper nouns that I couldn’t track correctly, I had a good time with MechWarrior 5: Clans, which shows that Piranha Games put a lot of thought and work into this game. Not everything works, and it definitely caters to the enthusiasts, but MechWarrior 5: Clans is still a fine mech shooter with plenty of customization and some solid set pieces.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 83%

Controls: 80%

Aesthetics: 85%

Content: 81%

Accessibility: 78%

Value: 86%

Overall: 82%

VERY GOOD

Summary:

“MechWarrior 5: Clans” brings tactical mech warfare to life, featuring exhilarating large-scale conflicts and comprehensive customization choices. As you pilot your mech into battle, you’ll feel the weight and complexity of the machines while participating in strategic combat against strong opponents. While the gameplay excels in its blend of action and tactics, the controls can be difficult for beginner players, and the story does not always match the intensity of the gameplay. The game’s harsh graphics, along with a well-rounded campaign, make it a rewarding experience for mech fans, with high replay potential. However, its complexity and occasional mission repetition may put off more casual gamers. Overall, it’s an excellent addition to the MechWarrior brand.