Looks better than it actually plays

by Ripline

In Group: Average

Worth to: Rent

Weird gameplay and strange open-ended missions make this game something of a letdown

I was really hoping this one would be better. I got hooked by some of the ads but in the end this is nothing more than a weird action game with difficult controls. Let’s face it, shooters are damn nearly impossible to play on a console without a lock-on feature, and this one seriously lacks it. It lacks quite a few things, but mainly controls.

Rather good plot and dialog

Ok, so you’re a group of mercenaries out to get rich. The story begins with the player selecting one of three characters: Chris Jacobs, an ex-special ops guy turned mercenary, Jennifer Mui, the token female character (she grew up in a poor family and figured killing loads of people was the only way to make some serious dough), and Mattias Nilsson, a Nordic guy you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

The game begins with a bunch of rather good scenes showing your character meeting a Venezuelan leader who wants you to save somebody. The story always introduces each you select in the same scenarios, save for a few differences in dialog. The actual dialog is sharp and witty – has a nice professional touch, clearly the highlight of the game. Regardless of which character you select, the end of the first missions leaves you betrayed with a bullet in the ass (literally). You watch the TV screen after escaping your employer’s betrayal only to see him take power in Venezuela. You vow to make him “pay” (he didn’t pay you for the first missions you did for him. It’s all done rather nicely.

Gameplay, err… sucks, but plenty of vehicles make up for it

Here’s where the game derails: the gameplay. As soon as you start the first mission, you realize this game is in serious need of a lock on feature. Enemies are plentiful and have pretty good accuracy. You on the other hand, are about as precise a shooter as a soccer mom with sawed off shotgun. Every enemy takes 3-4 adjustments of the analog sticks before you get your cursor on your target. Once you’re homed in, your cursor becomes red and somewhat follows your opponent, but it’s all very messy. You basically spay bullets until you don’t see a red reticule. Most often than not, you are surrounded by multiple enemies, which forces you to run around shooting in every direction like a flipping idiot, usually missing all your targets. Game blows, simply blows in the firearm department.

Fortunately, the game isn’t all run and gun. You can drive vehicles: jeeps, trucks, tanks, even trawlers. Vehicles with mounted guns allow you to use the weapon. Some vehicles let you climb from various points. A circle around the back of a jeep with a mounted gun allows you to jump on the back and use the turret. Climb on the driver’s side and you can drive. Driving is a bit over-responsive but fun.

Once you finish the first mission, you are given freedom to take out your former employer. It’s here where the game takes on a more GTA feel. You can climb into any vehicle in war-torn Venezuela and ride around doing various tasks. As you do that, you accumulate money, which you can spend on improving your team. A pilot on your team can open up precise bombings with the help of a laser painter. Missions can be confusing, tough. On your first real mission you are to take out the Venezuelan dictator, and your navigator tells you over the com-link to stop some trucks leaving your area. Where that is you are not told. The map isn’t very helpful. The result is you end up riding around like a moron looking for some vehicles. Vehicles abound in the game, so you end up failing your sub-mission. What you’re supposed to do isn’t always very clear.

Hmm, this game reminds me of something

Mercenaries 2 feels very much like Gran Theft Auto, especially the un-polish foot gameplay. As soon as you get close to an enemy things go to hell, with you trying to whack your opponent with your gun only to swing in thin air. The graphics also resemble GTA, with the skyline being drawn as you advance. Towns and neighborhoods are well done but the outdoor terrain leaves a lot to be desired.

The game keeps track of your standings with the various fighting factions. You got your pirates, rebels, UN-type people, etc. If you kill too many of one side, your standing with them goes south and they eventually view you as the enemy. The cool thing is if your standing with a particular faction is good they can help you out. If you’re driving with a vehicle that can take passengers, members of a friendly faction will hop in, even man the turret.

In the end, much of the game takes place on the ground, and that’s where Mercenaries 2 lacks the most. Precision while aiming really sucks. Fortunately, you don’t take much damage. To compensate for the shitty aiming and the enemy’s good accuracy, your character has super-human strength. You can take loads of hits without dying. You can even take a few point blank tanks blasts without dying. This is a cheap way to fix the aiming issue, but it works. I really wish the game was better but it unfortunately has horrible controls.