What does MechWarrior look and play like in 2021?

Well now, MechWarrior Online has already been around for a few years. To be exact, developer and publisher Piranha Games will be celebrating the game’s eighth birthday on the 17th September of this year. But as an actively played and continuously developed online multiplayer game, MechWarrior Online is very much alive and kicking, seeing regular updates. Hence this game should also be unbiasedly re-reviewed, as the game in its current state is quite different from the game that it was eight years ago.

About MechWarrior Online

Release your inner child by climbing inside the cockpit of a big, stomping robot!

MechWarrior Online is situated in the BattleTech universe, which has already extensively featured in pen and paper RPGs, tactical TRPGs, and several video games, all during the last thirty-seven years. MechWarrior Online could best be described as an online BattleMech combat simulator, with a BattleMech, or Mech for short, being a giant manned combat vehicle of roughly humanoid or avian shape. Basically, you sit in a giant robot and duke it out in online PvP combat with the other players. Note that I wrote “simulator”; as this is not an arcade game. Like in the single-player games of the MechWarrior series you will have to micromanage numerous factors, such as your limited ammunition as well as your Mech’s heat level. I’ll get back to this later... 

MechWarrior Online has a small player base, which however is extremely dedicated, keeping the development and maintenance of this free-to-play game alive through their regular in-game purchases. At the time of its release, the game received mixed reviews, as its user interface (UI) was clunky and only two game modes were available. Since then the UI has been overhauled by the developer and several new game modes have been added, making the game even more enjoyable.

MechWarrior Online Story

The BattleTech universe is rich in lore, not much of which is included in this game

While the MechWarrior series hails from the lore-rich BattleTech universe, which features countless tech manuals and novels, MechWarrior Online completely lacks an in-game story. The battles that you play in might be aligned to BattleTech canon, but there are scant references to this. The game focuses completely on the BattleMechs themselves, their customization, and the experience of taking them into combat. To have an idea of what MechWarrior Online is all about you’ll need to know the lore of the BattleTech universe. As such, this game is ideal for the die-hard BattleTech fan, who will instantly recognize iconic BattleMechs and the various planetary environments, as well as references made by in-game events. Players who are new to BattleTech will however still enjoy the unique experience of intense combat in a giant robot.

MechWarrior Online Gameplay

MechWarrior Online gameplay video

You begin the game with a handful of basic BattleMechs in your possession. You do have the option of later buying more Mechs, as well as their components, using the in-game currency, which can be earned by winning matches, or using real money, if one is impatient. The Mechs themselves are classified according to their tonnage, into light Mechs, medium Mechs, heavy Mechs, and assault Mechs. Mobility decreases with tonnage, while the amount of weaponry and equipment carried by the Mech increases. Each Mech chassis has several variants and unique Hero variants. Choosing the right Mech to buy from the large number available can seem daunting, so you should first try out the basic trial Mechs to determine if they fit your playstyle. These four Mechs of different chassis are rotated every two weeks.

Your BattleMech can be customized with weapons and other equipment, as well as with paint-jobs and cockpit decor before launching into a match. For some of us, customizing and tweaking a giant robot is a whole lot of fun on its own. Plugging some new lasers onto the arms of your mech and then firing them off in your next battle is a joy to behold! Those who want to jump straight into the game can do so, however, but they might miss out on the fiddly fun of making a Mech your own.

Once you are happy with your mean Mech machine you can start a new match with other players. Choose from arena combat (1 vs 1 and 2 vs 2) or one of the Quick Play game modes. These are 

• Incursion (12v12 single-spawn, defend your base and destroy the enemy’s base)
• Domination (12v12 single-spawn, maintain control of a central area)
• Escort (12v12 single-spawn, defend or attach an AI vehicle)
• Conquest (12v12 single-spawn, capture-the-zone),
• Assault (12v12 single-spawn, destroy the enemy or capture their base)
• Skirmish (12v12 single-spawn, destroy all enemy Mechs)

There are also game modes for faction play, namely 

• Siege (12v12 respawn, attack or defend successive targets)
• Counter Attack (12v12 respawn, destroy Mechs and bases)
• Scouting (4v4 single-spawn, gather or protect intel)

This is quite a large number of game modes, making this game varied indeed. Alternatively, you can stick to those modes which you enjoy the most. After choosing a game mode you’ll spend a minute or so in the game lobby, which you should use to get acquainted with your teammates and their Mechs, i.e. roles. The nimble light Mechs will usually scout ahead and flank enemy groups, receiving support from those Mechs with long-range missiles, while the heavies and assault Mechs will more or less head straight for the targets. This game places a strong emphasis on strategy, tactics, and good teamwork. To achieve the latter, communication is a must. This can be done either via voice or a hand quick-selection tool.

On that note, if you don’t stick with your team but forge ahead alone you will be pretty dead, pretty quickly. As already mentioned, MechWarrior Online has a small but extremely dedicated player base. Most players have been playing this game regularly for eight years and counting; they are pretty much experts at it. This means that you will probably be facing capable opponents, but your team members will hopefully be just as capable. A noob might feel out of his depth and should definitely listen to his team and stay in the back for the first few games.

While one might want to complain about the lack of a single-player mode, there is no need for it, as a single-player BattleTech game is already available with the pretty excellent MechWarrior 5.

MechWarrior Combat

Combat in MechWarrior Online

Combat is intense and will require all of your concentration, no matter whether you are tracking long-distance targets, harassing them with your missiles, or if you are in a close-range firefight with an enemy assault Mech. You have to constantly keep an eye on the opponents, your environment, and your mech. Are you able to use this hill as cover? How many missiles can you fire before your heat level goes critical and your Mech shuts down? Could you cool it down in that lake, which would however completely expose you? How many rounds of autocannon ammo do you have left? How damaged is your rear armor? To add to this, your mech is built like a tank, i.e. its legs and movement can go in one direction while its torso, and your view, can face in another. This makes the controls truly something to get used to. I personally prefer the use of dual joysticks, with one controlling the legs and another the torso’s orientation and pitch. Oh, and did I mention that some Mechs have jump jets?

Combat is frantic, with multiple factors and HUD elements to manage

Each Mech also has several configurable weapons groups, allowing you to group your long and short-range lasers, missiles, and various types of guns and cannons for simultaneous firing. Your Mech’s structure and components are protected in various areas by its localized armor, which degrades with each hit. There are no shields that magically recharge, so a hit is a hit, and being careful becomes a necessity. Turning your torso away from enemy fire suddenly becomes a vital combat tactic. Mechs can be improved by installing better components and by increasing your pilot’s stats.

MechWarrior Online Graphics

MechWarrior Online graphics video

For an eight-year-old game developed with the CryEngine 3 game engine, the graphics can still hold their own, but will not wow anyone. There is only so much that the developers can improve and tweak without changing out the entire game engine. On the plus side, you will not need the most powerful gaming rig to enjoy the game. And what does impress the avid gamer is how the graphics and game engine integrate with the gameplay. Mech components can be shot off, falling to the ground in a shower of sparks. Trees topple when Mechs walk through them. Explosions are massive, with fitting amounts of oomph. Each Mech, as well as its customizable cockpit, is beautifully modeled and detailed.

MechWarrior Online’s Developer

MechWarrior Online was, and is being developed, by Piranha Games. After eight years of continuous maintenance, one can safely say that this game is pretty much bug-free and well-balanced. The developer knows their community. They know what the players want and they know how to listen to them. All patches and content packages are announced and well documented in the official forum. The developer even obtained the publishing rights and is now independently self-publishing their game. This might go on ad-infinitum, were it not for the technical hurdle of the already mentioned aging game engine.

MechWarrior Online Price 

The game is free, with in-game purchases, and the best news is that it is not of the pay-to-win kind. Skill, experience, and teamwork are what determine victory and all Mechs and their equipment can be bought by farming the in-game currency, which is done by simply playing the game. Impatient types can also spend real money to buy special Mech packages and experience boosters. The game is currently only available for Windows PCs, unlike its brother MechWarrior 5, which is also available on Xbox and soon on PlayStation.

FINAL VERDICT: 

For BattleTech fans: 9 / 10

For everyone else: 7 / 10

Pros

• Captivating concept and unique gameplay
• A small but extremely dedicated player base
• Lots of customization options
• Free and not pay-to-win
• If you are a hardened BattleTech fan, then this one's for you

Cons

• A small but extremely dedicated player base
• Overwhelming controls and combat
• Very little in-game lore
• Aging game engine and graphics

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