Octopus Overlords

Yeah, my comment was just an observation rather than a damning indictment. It was just a bit wordy because I wasn't sure how to convey the feeling of "wrongness" I was experiencing.

"Digital Collectors Edition" kinda makes me want to grind my teeth, just a little.

Max Peck wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:48 pm "Digital Collectors Edition" kinda makes me want to grind my teeth, just a little.

Makes me want to fire up my damn mech...LOL

That looked cool. Loved the fog and stuff. But I dont buy digital collectors editions...dont care for the in game items usually . I want physical items if I buy a collectors edition.

I only own the original Mech5Mercs...I should play it but my plate is full at the moment.

I wonder if there is a separate collectors edition.
The end describes the collectors edition then says get it when you buy clans in the first week of launch.
So maybe you just need to buy clans in general during the first week.

Punisher wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:55 pm I wonder if there is a separate collectors edition.
The end describes the collectors edition then says get it when you buy clans in the first week of launch.
So maybe you just need to buy clans in general during the first week.

Those are 2 different things. The "CE" includes extras like an art book and sound track. The week one freebie is a DLC.

MechWarrior 5: Clans New Gameplay + Digital Collectors and More

EDITIONS AND PRICING
MechWarrior 5: Clans - $49.99 USD
MechWarrior 5: Clans Digital Collectors Edition - $79.99 USD

DIGITAL COLLECTERS EDITION
Includes MechWarrior 5: Clans - Base Game PLUS Exclusive in-game content:
70-Page Digital Artbook (With continued updates post launch)
36-Song Digital Soundtrack
Omnimech Technical Readout (With continued updates post launch)
Platinum Mech Patterns For all Chassis
A Timber Wolf WAR Omnimech with Unique Weapon Loadout and Skin

Purchase MechWarrior 5: Clans in the first week and get access to the Invasion Mech pattern DLC for FREE!
*To acquire this Bonus you must "Purchase" the DLC for Free after purchasing the Base Game or Digital Collectors Edition
*Some Platforms will automatically Grant you the Invasion Mech Patterns DLC Make sure you acquire your FREE DLC Before October 17th 00:00 UTC

Got it. Thanks.
That War Timberwolf sounds nice. The technical readout is neat. But I never listen to a soundtrack from a game and general art is usually a turnoff but this is Mechwarrior so maybe.
But $80 is steep so I may need to get base for now or check various sites for discounts.

Hopefully the QA for their code is better than the QA for their press releases.

When the game releases:

October 17th at 00:00 UTC

How you claim the free DLC:

To acquire this Bonus you must "Purchase" the DLC for Free after purchasing the Base Game or Digital Collectors Edition

When the free DLC offer expires:

Make sure you acquire your FREE DLC before October 17th 00:00 UTC

Purchasing free dlc is strange.

Think of it as being on sale for 100% off.

Good news for some of us.

https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft- ... ass-launch

Initial reviews of Clans are quite positive.

I'm definitely enjoying it. I made it through the tutorial level and just started the inner sphere invasion. I like the story so far, and the game mechanics are interesting.

Downloading now on the PS5. Ready to free the Inner Sphere from their tyrants and corrupt rulers...whether they like it or not.

I was amused by the opening cinematic when the cadets were told to prepare for a training mission and one of them whined, “But we just got here!”. I am surprised that we were not ordered to beat the cadet who should be assigned to the worker caste where all inferiors go. He did get what was coming to him for being a weak surat.

The graphics are pretty on my PS5 and I think the Unreal engine is a good improvement.

Oh hell yeah, I forgot this was released today! I know what I'm playing tonight.

Or at least downloading while I play Diablo IV...

**Edited to say have they fixed the "bouncing Barbie Doll" effect of downed 'mechs?

I still need to get back to the base game. I tried the campaign, got partway in, and bounced off, hard.

Blackhawk wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:43 pm I still need to get back to the base game. I tried the campaign, got partway in, and bounced off, hard.

You probably already know this, but this is a stand-alone and has nothing to do with the base campaign. Sorry if I stated the obvious...

Hyena wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:48 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:43 pm I still need to get back to the base game. I tried the campaign, got partway in, and bounced off, hard.

You probably already know this, but this is a stand-alone and has nothing to do with the base campaign. Sorry if I stated the obvious...

I know. But it's also the thread for the base game.

Enjoying it so far.
Kind of disappointed at the trieal.

Minors spoilers for the trials.

Started the download last night, but ended up being to exhausted to play. Didn't get back from dropping the bus off from the football game I had to take 50 middle schoolers to...

But you can bet your batchall that I'll be playing tonight.

I am enjoying Clans so far. The combat felt fast to me at first, but I think that's because you start out in light mechs and I had gotten used to stomping around in a Battlemaster.

Playing as from the clan perspective is interesting and a nice change of pace. All the Clan jargon is goofy but fun. The voice acting is a real mixed bag, though. Not terrible, but some performances come across flat and others are trying way too hard.

Some more thoughts now that I'm further into the game, possibly near the end:

Many of the missions are significantly more challenging than those in MW5 Mercs. Thanks to the linear campaign, you can't come to a mission vastly over-leveled. This is mostly for the good, since completing a mission feels like more of an accomplishment. Sometimes it's annoying, when you fail right at the end and have to start a lengthy mission all over again, because there are no mid-mission saves.

The mission and level design is much more interesting than Mercs, with more varied terrain and challenges. Because Clan weapons have very long ranges, I enjoy long-range combat much more here than in Mercs.

I take back what I said in my last post about the voice acting. It's much more bad than good: an off-putting mix of painfully over-the-top and utterly flat. It is not helped by the writing, which is also bad. The overall story arc is good, if somewhat predictable, but it is crippled by cliched characterizations and awkward dialogue, delivered poorly. A real shame.

That said, I have enjoyed my time with Clans and look forward to wrapping it up. I hope that they build on this with a Mercs-style expansion or sequel that leverages some of the new tech and level design that they introduced in Clans.

OK, I'm done with Clans and don't have much more to add, except that the writing managed to grate on me even more the more in the last mission. It's like fanfic written by someone who learned everything they know about writing from Battletech novels and Vin Diesel movies.

AWS260 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:25 am OK, I'm done with Clans and don't have much more to add, except that the writing managed to grate on me even more the more in the last mission. It's like fanfic written by someone who learned everything they know about writing from Battletech novels and Vin Diesel movies.

This made me laugh. I totally agree with you, but just know there are some people out there that might decide to go out and buy the game BECAUSE of what you wrote...

AWS260 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:25 am OK, I'm done with Clans and don't have much more to add, except that the writing managed to grate on me even more the more in the last mission. It's like fanfic written by someone who learned everything they know about writing from Battletech novels and Vin Diesel movies.

While I appreciate the sentiment, I feel that the writing being like Battletech novels is probably an intended part of the experience.

Also, I assume you're not talking about "Pitch Black" or "Saving Private Ryan"? lol

AWS260 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:25 am OK, I'm done with Clans and don't have much more to add, except that the writing managed to grate on me even more the more in the last mission. It's like fanfic written by someone who learned everything they know about writing from Battletech novels and Vin Diesel movies.

I would take you more seriously if you did not use contractions.

$iljanus wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:00 pm

AWS260 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:25 am OK, I'm done with Clans and don't have much more to add, except that the writing managed to grate on me even more the more in the last mission. It's like fanfic written by someone who learned everything they know about writing from Battletech novels and Vin Diesel movies.

I would take you more seriously if you did not use contractions.

The Clan-speak didn't bother me at all. But the ham-fisted "it's about family" stuff, the inability of the writers and actors to convey an ounce of nuance, the telegraphing of every major plot beat...

The actor who played Naomi did a pretty good job, though. Wish her role were larger.