Focusing on a PS5 launch in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months, MechWarrior 5: Clans has a transparent aim in thoughts: to increase its viewers past the hardcore followers of this long-running collection. Certainly, MechWarrior has all the time been a reasonably demanding franchise — which has largely caught to PC — however Clans is constructed to be probably the most accessible entry so far (and the best-looking entry, due to Unreal Engine 5).
For lots of video games, ‘accessibility’ typically means a watering down of techniques and mechanics, and at instances, these video games find yourself dropping what made them attention-grabbing within the first place. Luckily, it feels like Clans is sticking with the extremely in-depth MechWarrior blueprint for probably the most half — it is simply reducing the barrier to entry.
And to be completely sincere, that is in all probability a great factor. If you happen to’ve tried a MechWarrior title earlier than — like earlier PS5 instalment MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries — then you definately’ll understand how brutal the educational curve will be. It is a property the place skilled gamers will actively inform newcomers to go and lookup newbie’s guides on-line, as a result of the video games are simply that dense.
So, what does Clans do otherwise? Effectively, for starters, this instalment’s banking on a linear, story-driven marketing campaign. As an alternative of enjoying as a faceless mech pilot who receives orders via reams of textual content, Clans options full-on cinematic cutscenes, bookending missions and introducing you to what appears to be a vibrant forged of characters.
The story itself revolves round 5 pilots from the Smoke Jaguar clan, who’re tasked with helping their allies in an invasion try. Admittedly, we’re not significantly savvy in terms of BattleTech — the mother or father franchise that spawned MechWarrior — however developer Piranha Video games assures us that this can be a standalone narrative. The goal, then, is to welcome new gamers into the fold with what is going to hopefully be an attractive wartime plot.
Through the preview occasion that we attended, we have been proven a prerendered cutscene through which the aforementioned pilots acquired a stern speech from a veteran commander. It was clear that quite a lot of effort had been poured into such a cinematic, with life like facial seize enjoying a key position in making the characters appear… effectively, human. It seems to be a real step ahead to the collection by way of presentation.
What’s extra, this sort of construction might assist floor every tour. The earlier sport, Mercenaries, relied on procedural goals and non-linear development — and that is nice when you’re capable of wrap your head round issues — however studying via whole mission dossiers and checking a lore-based glossary is quite a bit totally different to having the stakes spelled out for you thru cutscenes and dialogue.
It is a related method when you’re truly participating in a mission. You and your fellow squad members will chat over comms, as characters react to the present state of affairs. In actual fact, we obtained to see a fairly prolonged mission for the needs of this preview, because the workforce marched throughout a desert planet. Comms chatter meant that characters might present some welcome exposition as they moved between goals.
However in fact, mech-on-mech fight remains to be on the core of MechWarrior, and there was quite a lot of it to go round throughout this mission. With skirmishes happening throughout such a big surroundings, it is essential to utilise the sport’s tactical view once you’re not busy blasting enemies. There’s nonetheless a strategic angle to Clans as you can provide direct instructions to your AI squad mates, swiftly repositioning them by way of a radial menu if wanted.
At this level, it is also value mentioning which you could produce other gamers drop into the roles of your allies. We did not get to see co-op play in motion, however we will think about simply how satisfying it could be to drag off tactical victories with associates by your aspect.
Battles are frantic affairs when you’re within the thick of it. The kind of mech that you just’re piloting will decide your out there weaponry, and though this was an early-game mission the place the mechs have been fairly primary, it was straightforward to see how issues will escalate. Swapping between first and third-person viewpoints, we noticed the squad take down a number of waves of opposing pilots, earlier than monitoring their major targets.
What stood out to us was the mission’s pacing. Slower segments of traversal have been quickly torn away by explosive skirmishes, and the entire thing ended with a bombastic bid for survival because the workforce was beset by but extra foes in an ambush situation. Due to the title’s linear marketing campaign, Piranha Video games is ready to handcraft every mission to most impact — and the one which we noticed actually helped promote the studio’s imaginative and prescient.
We got here away from this preview desirous to see extra of MechWarrior 5: Clans, and that is all the time a great signal. If Piranha Video games can tie an interesting story to the collection’ already partaking gameplay — full with purpose-built missions — then this might find yourself being an ideal start line for lots of potential gamers.
Are you a MechWarrior fan? Are you curious about Clans? Get your squad collectively within the feedback part under.
