Mechwarrior 5: Clans - Ghost Bear Flash Storm Review (Scarcer)
7 missions in and I already think this expansion is worth the $20. Here's my mid-way through remarks.
Level design feels more cohesive.
Graphics look like they are honed in better.
7 missions in, and while it doesn't have the "wow" factor of the base campaign, I'm enjoying the overarching narrative far more, somehow it reminds me of Battletech game and how well everything was conveyed.
Going 3 or 4 missions without cutscenes makes me a bit sad though.
Really enjoying the contrast between the battle-hardened Mechwarriors and the greenhorn, good storytelling.
Missions overall aren't nearly as annoying to play through as Clans campaign. A couple got a little long in the tooth, but objectives were well spaced, varied and relevant to the story. Rescue Operation in particular was giving me some MW4 vibes with map layout and mission structure... more of this please! End of the mission though still felt a bit too much like a shooting gallery. I slightly regret how much we are required to use the repair bays to get through a mission... but I think it's a fair compromise compared to the Clans campaign.
Audio ballance and music is a solid tier above the base game. Not as many silent drop ships, music composing feels less random, less overreaching for studio capabilities, more appropriately used... good ambiance.
Solid job on the new mechlab. It's clean and useful, but it takes a little bit of studying to understand the new flow, saving loadouts, where to access paint, etc.
Elementals don't feel all that dangerous, but they are an extremely useful distraction when sent after targets.
Would still like to see improvements in mechanics, i.e. kinematics, floodlight toggle etc. Other quality of life improvements to add to the simulation feel.
Overall, satisfied and will continue buying DLC if this is the indication of what's to come in the future. I feel more invested in these characters than I did with Clans... I just really wish there were more cinematics!