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If you have a standard-def TV, you're not going to notice anything. Running, shooting, hi-jacking cars all feel comfortable in their methods, but driving vehicles could've used a bit more R&D. But, if you pride yourself on your 1080p set, character models and environments really lose their luster after about an hour. This doesn't seem frustrating but when faced with 20 enemies in tight quarters, you'll soon find yourself inadvertantly driving away from your destination because you're camera is pointing one way and your vehicle is pointing another.In summary, this game is a great deal for $20. If you liked games like GTA: San Andreas, Crackdown or Just Cause, you'll love this game with its over-the-top action and insane explosions.Taking place in 2010 Venezuala, Mercenaries 2 has enough story to get you started and pointed in the right direction where you're inclined to finish the game, but doesn't flood over you with little, minute details like other games in the genre (ahem, GTA IV). Mercenaries 2 is probably one of my favorite, most underappreciated games in the last few years and is still a great game today. And for $20. And the game lets you do whatever you want, too.
Granted, the fire effects and the destructible models are impressive, its easy to realize that this game is honestly just a Playstation 2 engine glossed over with a coat of next-gen paint. For example, driving a tank only uses the left joystick to move forward, backwards, and turn left or right while the right joystick controls the turret. When a character falls and then slides 15 yards in the same position as if he/she was running, it really takes you out of the game. Filled with water cooler moments that you'll want to tell your friends about, this game is sure to keep you busy for quite a while. If you're familiar with the games I mentioned above, you'll easily be able to jump into this game without thinking twice. One of the most fun things about this game is that you can ramp a flaming car off of a mountain, jump out before it explodes and land in a military base only to hi-jack a tank and start demolishing everything. I know this game isn't going for realism, but its just one of those things that could've used a bit more work before launching.The controls are another thing that need to be approached with caution. Everyone should have this game whether you like third-person action games or not.Pros: Mercenaries 2 is like mixing the movie The Transporter or XXX: State of the Union with a Mountain Dew commercial.
Also, the rag-doll physics of when a character falls down, gets hurt or dies leave you wanting more. Everything explodes or falls apart in an extremely realistic way and destroying an enemy-occupied building is most satisfying.CONS: Last-gen technology and an old school way of thinking about games really limits this game's appeal to non-hardcore gamers.Safe to say, the game is not going to win anyone over with its visuals. Instead of trying to impress girls or make friends, you're given free reign of practically everything: tanks, motorcycles, various cars, helicopters, speed boats and more. Honestly, I can not say this enough, this game is just plain fun.The game may not be the most visually impressive, even brand-new this game felt last-gen, but Pandemic (the creators of the game) really stepped things up when it comes down to destructibility.
The later point really sucks as why buy a nice helicopter for $10,000, only to LOSE it when you take on a new contract. Falling from a blown-up helicopter and sliding half a mile down a hill, only to have to climb up it again, gets very old after the 15th time.There seem to be more trees / rocks / steeper hills to contend with when driving around the countryside. I love this game. several times since it came out and have always wondered why Mercs II never came out. (hence 4/5)Third person camera still needs a little work (don't they all). Not perfect, but very good.There are many reviews here already so I will cut this short:PROS: Good follow up of Mercs ILots of actionYou still have to take into consideration the various "Factions" before making a move (This is very hard to get into at first but is a distinct element of this game, you can not just "spray and pray". Same goes for fuel usage.Good game play overall.Lots of vehicles to drive / flyEnvironment can be blown up, and "remember" it is blown up (think of sunken ships in the water).Auto-SaveCONS:They seem to have changed the game play, no 'vehicle repair' airdrops, and THEY STEAL YOUR HELICOPTERS / VEHICLES AFTER TAKING ON A NEW CONTRACT.
I think it is a bug that should be fixed. hence you spend a lot more time hijacking helicopters than in the first version.
And it was good. Now it just disappears.
I have played Mercs I (Blow Stuff Up). They used to move it and park it somewhere close.
Takes a little away from the open sandbox aspect.Mechanic does not seem to do much apart from offer the helicopter hijack grapple.My brother-in-law in Europe and I play online co-op once a week and chat via XBox LIVE which is a very cool feature (most XBox games can do this now of course).Regards to all - M Then it did.
It makes it more of a "Thinking Game" rather than a pure Shoot-Em-Up).
No need for about 90% of the vehicles, they lack the mobility or firepower that the higher end attack choppers are loaded with. I'd rather play the first game, it was at least consistently fun. To summarize my feeling of the game, the ending non-cinematic of the game is a series of correctly timed button taps. It makes no sense, whereas the prequel had an epic battle, this game ended with a feeling that the designers were bored of the game. So much of the game was rinse, wash, and forget where you put the detergent, then repeat. it detracts). Most annoyingly, the vast majority of the game can and should be beaten in a helicopter.
Then the vehicles you have more than likely will disappear when you go to buy stuff or take a mission, you can't even put things into this garage that you supposedly have.The game redeems itself in a decent storyline and fantastic graphics, but those alone can't make up for a broken game play system. Just memorize the pattern for each vehicle and close your eyes.
Gone were the sensible systems of purchases (You have to run around to different people to buy what you need, we do have phones and the internet, heck the people you buy from give you business cards that often have phone numbers, which when you need to go to a loading screen to buy things and get missions. I know they want to make it more of a challenge so you can't just hijack everything with ease, but honestly it is annoying as they didn't even vary the sequences to make things at least a challenge.
Who on earth would wrap a game up with a combination of shoulder button, a, b, d-pad up. Which brings me to the grapple system and the vehicle boarding system, it is frustrating.
Do yourself a favor and rent the game, you will be saving yourself money and the shelf space for a better game. Going against the gritty look of the first game with everything being so damn shiny, Merc 2 took away what worked best in what seemed an honest attempt at making an inferior game.
Who cares that most of your support strikes are called in by means that leaves you at ground zero, you will find most of them are useless as they have a penchant of blowing you up in the process.
Everything comes to you by air, and the game has some really cool, sometimes goofy, vehicles, but it is definitely worth buying if you can get it under $20. This game should have been called Blow Stuff Up. If you like blowing things up in a huge variety of ways and shooting lots and lots of guys with an assortment of assault rifles this game is for you.
It looks like a fun game to me but I just wish it was two players as well so I could have enjoyed it with my husband. I haven't actually played this game but my husband has and he was addicted to it until he got stuck :) It's only a one player game unless you have XBOX live.
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