MECHWARRIOR 5: CLANS REVIEW - WHEN A LOVE LETTER TO FANS NEEDS MORE POSTAGE
Ever wondered what happens when you take a beloved mech franchise, sprinkle it with some Clan warfare, and somehow still end up with more bugs than features? Well, strap into your neurohelmet, because MechWarrior 5: Clans is here to show us exactly that.
STORY TIME WITH THE CLANS
Let's start with the good stuff: the story actually feels like a proper MechWarrior tale for once. The campaign brings back memories of the classic games, complete with well-crafted cutscenes and proper attention to the established lore. No needless modern "reimagining" here - it's a pure nostalgia hit for longtime fans, even if the voice acting occasionally sounds like it was recorded in someone's bathroom.
PERFORMANCE: A MECH-SIZED HEADACHE
Unfortunately, this game runs about as smoothly as a Dire Wolf trying to do ballet. Frame rates bounce around more wildly than a light mech in a firefight, especially in dense terrain. Even with a beefy RTX 3070, getting a stable 60 FPS feels like trying to negotiate with a Clan warrior about honor - basically impossible. Steam Deck users? Don't even think about it unless you enjoy PowerPoint presentations.
THE PRICE OF HONOR
For your almost 50 (or 80!) euro investment, you get about 23 hours of campaign content if you're going for 100% completion. That's shorter than a Clan warrior's patience during negotiations. While the developers are promising future DLC, judging a game on future promises is like trusting a Spheroid merchant - not recommended.
MULTIPLAYER MECHANICS
Co-op play currently feels as reliable as an ammo-less autocannon. Crashes and disconnects are more common than ComStar conspiracies, making multiplayer a frustrating experience unless you enjoy reconnecting every few minutes.
COMBAT AND CUSTOMIZATION
When it actually works, stomping around in your favorite Clan mech feels satisfying. The battles can be intense, and the customization options let you tune your war machine to your heart's content. Just don't expect revolutionary changes to the formula - this is still very much a MechWarrior game, for better or worse.
BOTTOM LINE
MechWarrior 5: Clans is like that friend who shows up to the party with great stories but can't stop tripping over their own feet. The core game is solid when it works, and hardcore fans will find plenty to love, but technical issues and a steep price tag make it hard to recommend to anyone but the most dedicated MechWarrior enthusiasts.
Score: 6/10 - Like a Clan warrior with performance anxiety