Fizzling Out [Mercenaries 2 Impressions]
October 10th, 2008
I finally tried out the Mercenaries 2: World in Flames demo that has been sitting in my proverbial “games to play pile” for over a couple of weeks now. It didn’t give me the sudden urge to rush down to the local game emporium and hand over some hard earned green, but neither did I feel it deserves to be shot down in flames.
The problem with the demo is that it drops you in straight in at the deep end and gives you no time to acclimatise to the controls or the game itself. Given the mercenary Mattias Nilsson, your mission should you choose to accept it, is to install a listening post deep within a heavily defended enemy compound. Starting atop a rocky outcrop as the mission begins it’s only a matter of seconds before you’re under fire and harassed by lots of unhappy Venezuelans leaving little time to scope out the enemy encampment and formulate a plan of attack. Somehow I don’t think Mercenaries 2: World in Flames deals in too much subtlety.
I have to admit that initially Mercenaries 2 proved to be frustrating. The direct approach into the compound didn’t go according to plan, and playing tag with some explosive shells from a light tank patrolling the compound didn’t help Mattias’ complexion. However, after discovering you can hi-jack vehicles - with a press of “Y” followed by a short button pressing quick time like event – I found that I could trundle quite happily into the compound “disguised” as one of the faction’s members allowing me to get closer to the designated objective. This subterfuge only lasts for as long as you’re not rumbled by the enemy, or get out of the vehicle, and is indicated by the use of a gauge which gradually decreases when loitering near enemy troops.
The combat in Mercenaries 2 was okay. Mattias can carry a couple of weapons and different ones can be picked up on the battlefield replacing one of the two available slots. In addition Mattias can call in air support, accessed from the d-pad, which can provide weapon drops or vehicles if so required. The tools of destruction are all great, but the enemy AI is rather simplistic with troops that are either rooted to the spot or decide to drive straight at Mattias.
During my time with the game I also stumbled upon one almighty bug as the character, caught up in an explosion, was flung off the top of a building only to land on a canopy. This wasn’t the end of the matter however and Mattias was left in a fetal position atop the canopy, in mid-animation, until the game was reset.
Mercenaries 2 guarantees large explosions and plenty of destruction which I’m sure will appeal to many gamers out there. However, beyond the hubbub I’m left wondering what additional depth exists to the gameplay. Is the demo doing the game a disservice? For me Mercenaries 2: World in Flames feels distinctly average.
