MechWarrior 5: Clans Review
High-stakes mech battles with massive machines
MechWarrior 5: Clans by Piranha Games reboots the franchise with a fresh focus on clan warfare, focusing on Clan Smoke Jaguar’s intense battles. Unlike its predecessor, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, this standalone title centers around a rich narrative set during the Clan Invasion of the Inner Sphere, delivering a campaign filled with strategy, action, and character-driven interactions. Players embody Jayden, a newly appointed MechCommander, who leads a “Star” team of five pilots, maneuvering through battles and making high-stakes decisions across varied terrains and environments. This game balances Mech customization, realistic combat mechanics, and a gritty campaign, making it one of the most ambitious entries in the MechWarrior series.
Gameplay 8
The gameplay in MechWarrior 5: Clans excels in realism and tactical depth, with the game presenting a significant shift toward narrative-driven combat scenarios. Players must strategically maneuver their "Star" across challenging environments, from dense forests to snowy tundras, where visibility and terrain play crucial roles. Combat is slower-paced, and the controls demand precision as players navigate their towering BattleMechs, balance heat management, and make use of strategic weapon loadouts. Unlike previous games, the controls can be customized for traditional or modernized layouts, offering a degree of accessibility for newcomers while retaining the hardcore mechanics that series veterans appreciate.
Customizing the Mechs with Clan Omnipods allows players to modify weapons and add upgrades specific to each mech’s unique tonnage limitations and design. These loadouts have a real impact on gameplay, as weapon overheating, energy expenditure, and targeting accuracy all demand player attention. A notable addition is the command feature, allowing players to manage and position other pilots mid-combat, adding tactical depth. However, the command system can feel clunky during intense skirmishes, occasionally detracting from the seamlessness of the gameplay.
Though some repetitive mission structures detract from the immersion, the game remains dynamic, with moments of nail-biting tension and excitement as you navigate massive battlescapes.
Graphics 9
MechWarrior 5: Clans offers a significant visual upgrade over Mercenaries, with a noticeable focus on environmental design and BattleMech detail. Each biome, from arid deserts to thick jungles, is crafted with meticulous attention, contributing to the overall immersion and tactical challenges within each mission. BattleMechs are rendered in fine detail, with visible joint movements, weapon effects, and wear from combat damage, which bring the clashing robots to life. The game’s realistic weather and lighting effects, such as fog in damp biomes or blinding sunlight in deserts, affect visibility and underscore the game’s focus on immersive, methodical combat.
However, despite its polished presentation, the game occasionally suffers from minor performance issues, particularly during heavy firefights with multiple Mechs. Some players have noted periodic frame drops and a few visual bugs that, while not game-breaking, do detract slightly from the experience.
Storyline 8
The storyline in MechWarrior 5: Clans delves deeply into the lore of the MechWarrior universe, placing players in the boots of a Clan Smoke Jaguar pilot during one of the most turbulent periods in the game’s universe. The narrative follows Jayden and their squad as they attempt to secure Clan supremacy, navigating moral complexities and facing fierce resistance from the Inner Sphere. This entry places a renewed focus on character development, and each squad member has unique traits and backstories, adding a layer of emotional investment that has been largely absent from previous entries.
Although the plot occasionally leans heavily into franchise lore, which may alienate newcomers, the story unfolds with cinematic cutscenes and dialogue that effectively convey the high stakes of the Clan Invasion. While hardcore fans will appreciate the depth, some scenes are overly exposition-heavy, and players unfamiliar with the backstory may find certain plot points confusing without external research.
Multiplayer 7
The multiplayer experience in MechWarrior 5: Clans is primarily co-op, where players can team up with friends to tackle missions, coordinate tactics, and cover each other in complex battles. The cooperative mode allows players to bring their unique Mech configurations, leading to creative and varied team strategies. However, the multiplayer options are somewhat limited, with no competitive modes or additional multiplayer-exclusive missions.
While the co-op gameplay itself is engaging and allows players to share the immersive experience of piloting massive Mechs, connectivity issues and occasional bugs impact the seamlessness of the experience. The ability to command AI squad members is less fluid in multiplayer, with some players experiencing difficulty managing the squad effectively. Although the multiplayer mode adds replayability, its restricted scope may leave players hoping for a broader competitive experience.
Issues and Community Feedback
Reception of MechWarrior 5: Clans has been mostly positive, with praise for its intense, realistic combat and robust Mech customization system. However, the game’s lore-heavy plot and some repetitive mission design have been sticking points for certain players. Additionally, minor performance issues, particularly frame drops during intensive scenes, have been noted across various hardware setups. The AI has also been a mixed experience, with enemy units occasionally behaving erratically and friendly AI sometimes misfiring on player-controlled Mechs. Despite these concerns, Clans has generally been praised as a marked improvement over Mercenaries in terms of polish and narrative depth.
Conclusion 8
MechWarrior 5: Clans successfully reinvigorates the franchise with a gritty, lore-rich campaign and an impressive degree of Mech customization. While minor technical hiccups and a lore-heavy storyline may be daunting to new players, the game’s strong visual design, challenging combat, and nuanced controls provide an immersive experience that captures the essence of piloting a BattleMech. It is a must-play for franchise fans and a compelling entry point for newcomers drawn to tactical mech warfare.
Pros and Cons
- Immersive combat
- Detailed customization
- Stunning visuals
- Repetitive missions
- Performance issues
- Limited multiplayer
Player Quotes
"Finally, a story that gives MechWarrior some heart and stakes!”
“The AI is hit or miss, but when it works, the battles feel epic.”
“Feels like a true MechWarrior experience—tense, weighty, and tactical.”
Please note that this review is based on the feedback and sentiments of players on various Reddit threads and does not represent the views of all players.