Summary
As its title suggests,MechWarrior 5: Clansis all about the Clans ofBattleTechlore: a highly advanced civilization that exists separately from the factions of the Inner Sphere whereMechWarriorgames are generally focused. Developing independently and building up a technologically superior military, the Clans eventually launched a bloody invasion of the Inner Sphere that would lead to the Clans' defeat and the near-total annihilation of clans like Smoke Jaguar.
During a preview ofMechWarrior 5: Clansgameplay, Game Rant spoke with Piranha Games CEO Russ Bullock about how the unique technology of the Clans and their signature omnimechs will change up the usualMechWarriorgameplay. He also spoke about how Clan Smoke Jaguar presented a unique narrative opportunity, as this elusive Clan is important in the lore but its perspective has been little explored.
MechWarrior 5: Clans' Clan Mechs Are Built Different
The last time a mainlineMechWarriorcampaign played from the Clans' perspective was nearly 30 years ago withMechWarrior 2, although the more recent multiplayer gameMechWarrior Onlinedoes feature Clan omnimechsand their technology. For many newerMechWarriorfans, Clan omnimechs and their weaponry will be a fresh but familiar experience since many of their behaviors and visuals will differ from their inner sphere counterparts.
It’s pretty much completely unique from MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries in that way. MechWarrior Online does have full Clan technology trees within it, so if you played MechWarrior Online you’d experience most of these things, but the Clans have their own set of weapons. So a medium laser isn’t the same in a Clan mech, instead, it’s called a “Clan medium laser.” It has different properties, different range, damage, and heat settings. Everything’s just a little bit different. It’s very familiar and it’s still veryBattleTech: it’s lasers, autocannons, PPCs, and short-range missiles, but the Clans have technology like Streak SRMs and things are just a little bit different. There’s a fresh heads-up display in the game representing Clan technology, there are fresh colorings in the various weapons and laser beams, sound effects are new, and visual effects on the impacts and destructions are new.
So I think overall, the combat does take on a very sort of fresh feel compared to playing the inner sphere mechs. It’s all new if you haven’t played the Clans before. Some of the younger generation never playedMechWarrior 2or maybe they haven’t even playedMechWarrior Online, but they did playMechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. In that regard, they’ll get a pretty fresh perspective playing Clans.
Although it’s expected that a newer gamewith an upgraded enginemight enjoy some visual and HUD updates, the new heads-up display inMechWarrior 5: Clansalso helps drive home how Clan omnimechs operate with different technology than their counterparts. Omnimech customization also works somewhat differently: they’re meant to be highly modular, and players will be swapping out omnipods in their mechs to open up new possibilities for loadouts and hardpoints.
Clan Smoke Jaguar Is A Perfect Focus For MechWarrior 5: Clans' Story
Bullock also noted that playing as a member of Clan Smoke Jaguar is an excellent narrative opportunity. Smoke Jaguar was known even among the other Clans as being particularly brutal. With that in mind, the game can show thingsfrom the antagonist’s perspective, shedding human light on the internal conflict that some Smoke Jaguar members face.
One thing I want to drive home is that Clan Smoke Jaguar is the last major Clan that hasn’t been explored narratively. MechWarrior 2 handled the other three major Clans through its main product and expansion pack, but Clan Smoke Jaguar is very ominous and has some major events in theBattleTechlore timeline. There are some dastardly acts that Clan Smoke Jaguar was known for, but they’ve only just been line items on a lore sheet. Now the player is going to experience those firsthand visually through the human element of these characters and get to see the turmoil and the conflict that might exist within the Clan around those events.
There’s also a hint of tragedy underpinning the story since Smoke Jaguar’s ultimate fate at the war’s end is inevitable. With an emotional and cinematic narrative accompanied by afresh arsenal of mechsand weapons,MechWarrior 5: Clanslooks to be a memorable entry in this long-running franchise.
MechWarrior 5: Clansis set to release in 2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
