I am more hopelessly addicted to this game than I've been to any game in recent memory, save perhaps Mass Effect 3. The game has extremely I am more hopelessly addicted to this game than I've been to any game in recent memory, save perhaps Mass Effect 3. The game has extremely deep-running similarities to Harebrained Studios' Shadowrun games in terms of the UI, mechanics, etc.; there's also a large amount of XCOM (especially the new XCOM 1 and 2 remakes) in the DNA of this game.



That said, I don't think the fact that they borrowed mechanics and systems from XCOM and Shadowrun makes this game any worse, and it doesn't make it less addictive, either -- not even for someone like me who's played a ton of XCOM and Shadowrun. What this game does do is take the Battletech board game, infuse a fantastic, memorable story and art style, and best-of-breed mechanics in one solid package.



The only bug I encountered so far was the game doesn't support my screen resolution, 3440x1440, because it's the wrong aspect ratio. I play in 2560x1440, which is 16:9, and it's letterboxed. So far that hasn't significantly affected my enjoyment of the game.



Performance-wise, it runs well (especially after installing the GeForce Game Ready driver for Battletech), but I have a very high-end system with an i7-8700K and a GeForce GTX 1080. The only performance gripe I have is that loading a game, or transitioning between the strategic map and a mission on the ground, takes a long time. The loading screens sometimes take 60 seconds or more on this high-end gaming PC with one of the fastest CPU/GPU combos available. However, this alone is not enough for me not to recommend this game, because it's just so much fun otherwise.



And the long pauses between combat animations aren't enough reason to dislike or stop playing this game, either! I find them mildly aggravating, but far more annoying is when I really need to score a hit with my AC/20 cannon but tragically miss. In other words, I'm so busy obsessing about the gameplay that I can overlook this flaw. Hopefully it gets improved in a patch, though.



This game has earned my recommendation more than most others in recent memory, I feel. These devs have worked extremely hard to make a compelling game in a very beloved IP, and not only have they delivered, but they've built a game that I think will be a cult classic long after the mainstream attention has shifted away from it.



Based on my experience with Harebrained Studios' games, I believe they are to the point where they are replacing Bioware in my pantheon of game developers. Bioware has fallen from Heaven with repeated miscues, and HBS has been elevated to take their place as the most talented, most consistent developer with hit after hit.



The best parts about this game for me are the addictive combat, the wide open customizability of your mechs and your ship, and the roleplaying dialogue and story missions. But even the randomized side quests are extremely fun on their own.



BTW, it's hard to convey just how deep the combat is tactically, so just buy the game and try it. There are so many clever things you can do with mech positioning, target choices, abilities, teamwork of multiple mechwarriors, and so on that you'll never get bored of the combat. It's truly a generational achievement for the tactical turn-based genre.



Ratings...

Graphics - visual fidelity: 8/10

Graphics - aesthetics/style: 10/10

Graphics - animations: 6/10

Sound effects: 7/10

Music: 9/10

Game balance: 9/10

Faithfulness to Battletech universe: 9.5/10

Combat visceral feel and sense of reward: 10/10

Strategic management screens and options: 10/10

Game fairness/difficulty: 9/10

Game Engine Performance: 7.5/10

Stability/bugs: 9.5*/10 (No ultra widescreen support)

Value for money: 11/10 (in the world of lootboxes and microtransactions, this can't be overstated)

Desire for expansion packs: 99999999/10 … Expand