MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

 Xbox Series X
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 6 out of 15

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  1. Jissu
    Jun 4, 2021
    10
    At first I wasn’t sure about the game, but after a few hours in I can safely say it feels like Mechwarrior again. Really hoping they bring back the old games in some remastered form, but this will do just nicely. Very much enjoying it.
  2. spaznick
    Jun 2, 2021
    8
    This is a step in the right direction for a game that launched on EPIC and was not all that well polished/finished. The game is not perfect; however, if you like me LOVE mech games and especially the stompy hulking slow realistic feeling ones, there really is no other alternative on Xbox.

    -Game plays kinda like Steel Battalion, Chrome hounds etc -Graphically it's middle of the road (7    This is a step in the right direction for a game that launched on EPIC and was not all that well polished/finished. The game is not perfect; however, if you like me LOVE mech games and especially the stompy hulking slow realistic feeling ones, there really is no other alternative on Xbox.

    -Game plays kinda like Steel Battalion, Chrome hounds etc
    -Graphically it's middle of the road (7 of 10)
    -Nails the heavy Mech feel to a tee
    -Meta and Campaign are passable (6 of 10)
    - Career and even instant action are added bonuses
    -Story is meh (5 of 10)
    -Variety is significant: Mechs, customization, environment alts/maps (8 of 10)
    -Lack of Clan mechs/tech is a big let down personally, hopefully in following DLC
    -Lack of infantry, NPC escort missions etc etc (like in MW4/Lone Wolf ) a let down as well
    -PC mods are a big improvement some sort of mod support or at a min, officially supported community mod packs on Series X would be HUGE (Really want 3dadv zoom hud etc)
    -Really could use NPCs in the ship that actually move/idle animate (take a lesson from No Mans Sky)
    -Reviewer Bias appeal (9 of 10), yes I am a battletech/MW fanboy, overall rating reflects this but I am also realistic and I think Battletech aside, it's a decent game

    All in all a decent game, that could be a LOT better over time    … Expand
  3. symmetriebruch
    Jan 10, 2022
    2
    seriously? there´s actually a series x sticker on the box. i´m playing on series x and it looks like a veeeery early 360 game and a pretty ugly one at that. it´s a good game on pc but this is just a terrible lazy port.
  4. RavenCore
    Jun 8, 2021
    9
    A very good mech game, could do with some polish here and there but otherwise pretty dam good.
  5. Billdoor
    Jun 2, 2021
    8
    Best mech game on Xbox, could use some work on some things like the people in the hangar look derpy and don't move, no troops in maps and no Clan stuff, but it's the best mechwarrior game since the official mech warrior 4
  6. Papafonde
    Jun 6, 2021
    8
    I owned the PC version prior to this coming out on Xbox sx. Story wise I knew I was in for , nothing exactly written by Stephen king or George Lucas . I also knew that my PC which ran AAA titles at 1080p near full blown settings sometimes at 3 digit frame rates . MW5 was not one of those games , it also set the bar for me .

    That being said I was quite intrigued by a series x running the    I owned the PC version prior to this coming out on Xbox sx. Story wise I knew I was in for , nothing exactly written by Stephen king or George Lucas . I also knew that my PC which ran AAA titles at 1080p near full blown settings sometimes at 3 digit frame rates . MW5 was not one of those games , it also set the bar for me .

    That being said I was quite intrigued by a series x running the game . And no money lost on my part being a game pass subscriber . So let’s get into it . First thing I loaded up some instant action . Just get in and check out how good it looks and how well it handles using a controller . Visually I was happy . It looks good and depending on the amount of going on there aren’t too many hiccups . Im not sure if the level of detail is consistent between all versions of xBox but my assumption is it is the same as lesser versions seem to report lower frame rates . There are no visual options to tinker with outside of your preferred camera . Shadows are clearly painfully simple . Some compromises are made in order to get this game runnable on consoles . Right out of the hanger I say to myself , what is going with these controls !? I need to change these or something , but oh wait ... no options , the controls are the controls outside of stick sensitivities and inversion . At first this was a bummer , but after playing for a bit the controls became intuitive and I’ve adapted quickly . Now game play .... gone are the random behind your back enemy spawns , which took the fun out of the game . Friendly AI are serviceable . Blowing stuff up is wicked fun and completing missions narrowly as your mech is heavily damaged while running away from enemy fire after you’ve blown their junk up can be a bit exhilarating. Lots of mechs , lots of variety , lots of weapons , and fairly true to battle tech form .

    Overall it’s a bunch of fun .    … Expand
  7. chenocorp
    Aug 22, 2023
    3
    Un juego anticuado tanto jugablemente como a nivel de controles y gráficos. Entiendo que sea disfrutable, pero sería un juego del montón en la época de x360
  8. Zenren
    Jun 16, 2022
    3
    This game is just really bad on Xbox... but I don't think people who haven't played on PC would realize this. The game is not meant to be played on a controller, there are so many abilities you need to use, that you can't because of how they implemented the controls on Xbox. If you have to choose PC or Xbox, choose PC hands down. I mean the game isn't a 10 on PC either, but it's not even aThis game is just really bad on Xbox... but I don't think people who haven't played on PC would realize this. The game is not meant to be played on a controller, there are so many abilities you need to use, that you can't because of how they implemented the controls on Xbox. If you have to choose PC or Xbox, choose PC hands down. I mean the game isn't a 10 on PC either, but it's not even a 4 on Xbox. Just a bad game period on Xbox Series S. If you love the franchise and can't play on PC, maybe you should try it.… Expand
  9. Broyax
    Jun 8, 2021
    0
    Mechwarrior est une vieille franchise des années 90, déjà percluse de rhumatismes à son époque… et déjà très psycho-rigide dans sa jouabilité en son temps… La lourdeur est ce qui la définit par défaut(s)… Autrement dit, c’était rapidement casse-couilles à jouer… ou à tenter d’y jouer.

    Cette nouvelle mouture fait (dés)honneur à la série (ou lui reste fidèle dans sa médiocrité et sa    Mechwarrior est une vieille franchise des années 90, déjà percluse de rhumatismes à son époque… et déjà très psycho-rigide dans sa jouabilité en son temps… La lourdeur est ce qui la définit par défaut(s)… Autrement dit, c’était rapidement casse-couilles à jouer… ou à tenter d’y jouer.

    Cette nouvelle mouture fait (dés)honneur à la série (ou lui reste fidèle dans sa médiocrité et sa lourdeur de plomb) et cumule tous les problèmes qu’on pouvait lui trouver au fil de ses itérations successives. Surtout que sur consoles et notamment les consoles de dernière génération, ce Mechwarrior bâti pourtant sur le moteur Unreal est un désastre…!

    Sur Series X, il est limité à 30 im/s et dégringole souvent… sensiblement plus bas et dire qu’il est soit-disant optimisé X|S, on croit rêver ! ou cauchemarder plutôt. En outre, il est moche, vraiment moche, indigne d’un jeu moderne ! mais ce n’est pas tout, car l’interface est horriblement mal faite, les menus se révèlent atroces et abscons…

    Que ce soit en vue interne ou externe, pas de quartier : la jouabilité a été massacrée et on se retrouve donc avec une grosse merde rigoureusement injouable. Il faut dire que le jeu a été boulotté par ces branques de chez Piranha Games, aussi ne faut-il pas s’étonner outre-mesure… Bref, il est temps d’envoyer ce Mechwarrior à la casse et de ne plus y revenir.    … Expand
  10. Nerevarinho
    Sep 16, 2021
    1
    No HOTAS support. 30fps on walking in tutorial. Weird grain effect like in Crysis2 on PS3.
  11. Awanka
    Mar 18, 2022
    5
    They don't make mech games like they used to, and Mechwarrior 5 isn't a bad entry in this lacking space. The open world concept of leading a band of mercenaries is interesting, but in practice you do the same defend, assault, or recovery missions over and over, and it all just blends together other than the main campaign missions. When your mech takes heavy damage, you lose componentsThey don't make mech games like they used to, and Mechwarrior 5 isn't a bad entry in this lacking space. The open world concept of leading a band of mercenaries is interesting, but in practice you do the same defend, assault, or recovery missions over and over, and it all just blends together other than the main campaign missions. When your mech takes heavy damage, you lose components that need to be replaced, and which oftentimes aren't available, so you have to go to other systems to find them. It's realistic in that sense, but I don't believe being a Mechwarrior quartermaster is what the series was missing.

    The core gameplay of blowing up mechs is fun, but also repetitive and annoying. I find myself really disliking controlling mechs on the Xbox, because moving and aiming are difficult with a controller. You can't aim and see where your mech is going at the same time. All the while it's like controlling someone moving underwater. It must be said though, nailing an assault mech's weak point with dual PPC cannons, or hitting something at long range with a full salvo of missiles, carries a satisfaction that you seldom experience in today's games.    … Expand
  12. czgaming
    Aug 9, 2021
    8
    It is a Mechwarrior game. Fans of the series will be able to enjoy the game. The main downside to the game is the limitations of the load outs on the initial mechs. It can be hard to find something better than the initial Centurion that you start out with since it is important to level up all of your character's skills. Side story missions are better than previous titles, but they areIt is a Mechwarrior game. Fans of the series will be able to enjoy the game. The main downside to the game is the limitations of the load outs on the initial mechs. It can be hard to find something better than the initial Centurion that you start out with since it is important to level up all of your character's skills. Side story missions are better than previous titles, but they are still fairly repetitive. Main story missions aren't at the level of MW2 Mercenaries or MW3. At least they mentioned making money offhandedly as part of being a mercenary. Of course, the obligatory daddy is gone story is present. At least they killed him off at the beginning so you don't have to go find your daddy. Many of the best mechs you see early on are not obtainable due to limits on salvage slots. However, they can show up on the black market. I give it a 8/10, because despite the flaws the game has a lot of content and it is put together in a cohesive manner.… Expand
  13. ImBakingBrad
    Jun 24, 2021
    10
    Fun and addictive. And if you have GamePass, there’s no reason to not give it a try. Highly recommend, especially if you’re a Battletech fan.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. XboxAddict
    Jul 2, 2021
    70
    Yes, the graphics aren't up to par, the AI is bad, the port at times tells you to input PC commands and there's so little combat that the game turns into a managing resources simulator. Regardless of all this, Piranha Games delivers an enjoyable single player mech experience that will keep you playing for many months to come. If you're a fan of mech games, then this should definitely be on your radar.
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  2. Gaming Nexus
    Jun 14, 2021
    85
    If you're a fan of massive death machines, explosions, and a dab of entrepreneurship, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will appease your unique trio of interests. There are also enough mechs, customization tools, mission types, and environments to keep gameplay from becoming too repetitive. Lastly, although I wasn't emotionally attached to the story, it was still entertaining enough.
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  3. CGMagazine
    Jun 11, 2021
    65
    If you aren’t a BattleTech fan, mech fan or a gamer prepared to put in the additional study time required in order to learn how to master it, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a game that is either best left avoided (unless you’re taking it for a non-committal test drive on Xbox Game Pass).
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