The MechWarrior franchise began about thirty years ago, and as a young PC gamer at the time I was well aware of the series but never got around to playing it. Just about every videogame generation since then has had at least one mech game, but the MechWarrior franchise took a long hiatus before the release of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries on PC in the fourth quarter of 2019. That release stumbled out of the gates, with technical issues and being only on the Epic Store. In the interim, Piranha Games has revamped MW5 in numerous tangible ways, such as releasing it on multiple platforms, enabling crossplay, adding achievements, many quality of life enhancements and gameplay tweaks. Plus, the first major paid DLC has been released: Heroes of the Inner Sphere. Also, note that if you have Game Pass, you can also get the full base game for free.
As I fired up MW5 on my XSX, I realized that I had never played a MW game before. I had dabbled in Earthsiege back in the mid-90s, played a little Slave Zero on Dreamcast, enjoyed the heck out of Damascus Gear on PSP, and checked out Chromehounds on the X360, but I think that’s about it. Still, MW just feels like the grandfather of all these, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Anyhow, I’ll admit I was a little intimidated at how difficult the controls and gameplay mechanics might be, as I wasn’t sure how ‘sim’ MW5 was. Well, from first launch, you have the option to dive right into the Instant Action mode, but I’d recommend beginning the Campaign (or the new Career mode for DLC owners) and going through the tutorial. Apparently, the tutorial used to not be optional, but unless you are already well versed with the game from playing on PC, I highly recommend the tutorial.
The tutorial was key to me becoming comfortable with the functions of the mech and navigating the d-pad based menus. Getting used to torso rotation that is independent of your leg position is critical, but the tutorial helps you through this. Understanding weapon groups, cooldowns, repairs, and so are also covered. Learning the camera and being able to quickly change from the first person cockpit view to an over the shoulder third person perspective was another must-know element, and I found myself switching between them often to get the best perspective in the midst of combat.
As important as the first hour or so was, MW5 has enough elements and mechanics to keep you on your toes as you play through. Learning the trade of the mercenary and taking on various mission types, balancing the risk/reward of sticking your new out for extra funds (CBills) and faction pull versus having major repair costs — there’s a strong underlying strategy element to go along with the action. Knowing when and where to get repairs, maintaining a good roster of AI pilots, and keeping weapon groups on your mech and your allies’ mechs in optimal form, etc., are all part of the keys necessary to win and uplift the legacy of the merc company that you inherited from your father. The story is a little cliched, maybe even a little melodramatic at times, but it provides a solid backdrop to the action strategy romp.
With the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC, players can go into a career mode that sees them progress through the ranks and reach areas that now cover the full map of the inner sphere that the base game takes place in. New story, areas, mechs, weapons, and other goods make this a very satisfying DLC that adds a lot of quality to the base game.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC represent the best mech experience on modern consoles. Piranha took what was a good game that was only on PC via the Epic Store in late 2019 and turned it into a great game with dozens of improvements across the board, with a major DLC pack available as well. For newcomers like I was, it can be a little intimidating at first boot, but a good tutorial and focused-play on your part makes this a very approachable, fun, and deep game.
###
