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This upcoming narrative-driven MechWarrior name features the Smoke Jaguar Clan as they attempt to reclaim their participation as part of Operation Revival.
It’s been almost 3 decades since MechWarrior enthusiasts had an extended family game in the series, namely MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat released in 1995 for DOS and Windows. Developer Piranha Games aims to replace that with its upcoming MechWarrior 5: Clans, which is either a workaround level and a continuation of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. In a one-on-one meeting at GDC 2024, the studio showed off a brief pre-alpha demo of the game, which revealed about fifteen minutes of what can be expected in the early chapters. And so far, it looks like MechWarrior 5: Clans will have perfect compatibility with the BattleTech universe.
Set to Clan Invasion, also known as Operation Revival from the perspective of the Clans, this action shooter aims to tell a deep narrative experience. Those who perceive the history of BattleTech will know that it was at this point that a clan organization made a decision. to fight the Inner Sphere in hopes of reclaiming their homeland. (You’ll also know how this confrontation ends, but it’s about the journey, not the destination, right?) As for the timeline, the developers on the floor have stated that the plot is designed to parallel the Kerensky’s Blood trilogy. While MechWarrior 2 allowed players to take control of either the Jade Falcon Clan or the Wolf Clan, this time around, the Smoke Jaguar Clan will be front and center.
Specifically, the player will take on the role of a member of a newly graduated star, a squad of five mech pilots, all of whom must report to the battlefield. In one of his first projects on the desert planet Santander, on the outskirts of the Inner Sphere, the Star is forced to confront a pirate leader named Helmar Valasek. The main project is to assemble friendly forces on a few mysteriously interacting ships, a task that proves to be quite undeniable, but one of the squadron members, Star Commander Jayden, feels that this is easier said than done. Within minutes, he was forced to interact with the Star to patrol with pirate forces and clear an outpost full of friendly guards. When the team returns to the launch craft, they explode. and destroys many allies in the explosion. It’s time for revenge.
Piloting a Shadow Cat robot, Jayden has several weapons at his disposal and can give orders to his team via a convenient radial menu. The demonstration showcased several popular armaments for the robot, adding a C-ER M laser and a C-Gauss rifle. The specific laser weapon is very powerful, capable of destroying tanks and VTOLs with a single well-placed shot, but it takes about two seconds to reload. With sufficient accuracy, damage dealt to fast parts of an enemy robot or a dispatch can disable speed. weapons and functions. On this front, to achieve a greater angle of fire and dodge incoming missiles, the robot can perform a small jump propelled by a jet aircraft.
For tactics, in addition to a circular radar in the middle of the HUD that will detect enemy combatants, players have access to an aerial map that will make navigation less difficult. A module that shows the aptitude of teammates, as well as the front and back parts of Jayden’s robot are placed on the right rear. Players can also transfer between first- and third-person perspectives. Using the radial menu, other squad members can be called to meet at a certain time and engage enemies. in a quick queue. The AI that controls the rest of the Star is smart enough to fly targets without needing too much direction, though finding an organization for the five-player co-op mode will make it easier to coordinate and work as a team. The peer-to-peer multiplayer formula is necessarily the same as that of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, so it will be in a position to run without too many problems.
MechWarrior 5: Clans is slated for 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. A more exact date is expected to be announced in June.
This preview is based on a hands-on demo presented behind closed doors by the editor at GDC 2024.
Once upon a time, Nick’s parents confiscated his Super Nintendo because he “played too much. “Since then, he has been secretly vowing revenge. Nick is now a freelance publisher of video game sites. Fueled with iced green tea, he regularly plays RPGs of all kinds such as Shin Megami Tensei, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. In his spare time, he follows the final season of Critical Role.