If Armored Core 6 has got you craving more mech action, you’ll be happy to hear that MechWarrior 5: Clans is on its way. And if a helicopter is still kicking your backside, even post-patch, don’t worry. You’ve got until 2024 to get ready for some more heavy metal stomping.
Unlike 2019’s Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries, which cast you as a gun for hire, Mechwarrior 5: Clans’s linear campaign casts you as a member of Smoke Jaguar Clan, just a rookie. What could possibly go wrong?
You’re in training ahead of the Clan invasion, preparing for.. well, long-time MechWarrior fans know the story. And if you’re new to the MechWarrior/BattleTech universe, this is when all the enemies that Earth and its systems exiled decided to stomp right back in and take the place.
Does that make you the bad guy? Sort of, there’s definitely a hint of Evil Empire there. And, as a MechWarrior, you’ll get to take on your enemies in a big walking tank. The difference between MechWarrior 5: Clans and Armored Core 6, however, is going to be the maneuverability of your mech.
Armored Core 6 is an excellent game, particularly if you prefer easily maneuverable, Gundam-style mechs. But MechWarrior’s mechs feel much clunkier, even the smaller ones. There are jump jets available, but you won’t be scooting around the whole battlefield with them. Gameplay-wise, they’re pretty distinct.
Developer Piranha Games promises that it’ll deliver “..engaging combat, both complex and chaotic, demanding thoughtful, strategic play” as well as a wealth of customisation options. They also state that there’ll be plenty of different biomes to explore, each of which will impact you tactics. So you won’t be wandering around That One Desert Planet™.
What we really want is for it to be better than MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. We’re slightly nervous that this is still Mechwarrior 5, not MechWarrior 6. Reviewing MechWarrior 5: Mecenaries we remarked that, while there was fun to be had, it felt “…like it’s an old game given a fresh lick of paint.” Given that it’ll be played on next-gen platforms, it can’t afford to look or feel dated.
We’ll have to wait until next year to see how MechWarrior 5: Clans, landing on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, turns out. In the meantime, you can check out the teaser trailer above or wishlist it on Steam.
