Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

"A so-so game that proves that there still is life within the aging PS2...but not much"

The moment I had been waiting for...the long-awaited sequel to the hit Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction launched on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and the Playstation 2, which celebrated its 8th birthday this year. Though they emphasized on the next-generation ports of this game, the PS2 version is...well, it's so-so.

First, let's go over the storyline: It is the year 2010, in Venezuela. Playing as one of the returning ExOps mercenaries (Mattias Nilsson, Jennifer Mui, and Christopher Jacobs), you are hired by a man named Solano to rescue General Carmona, a Venezuelan officer who is reportedly being held prisoner by the Venezuelan Army after a failed takeover attempt. After rescuing the General, you return to pick up your pay, but are then double-crossed by Solano and Carmona, and they want you dead. You escape, but...well, you know how some people say it feels "like a shot in the ass"? Well, there you go. A bullet in your rear is the payment for your efforts. Needless to say, you're mad.

Anyways, Carmona tries again for a coup, and succeeds. They are now in control. The whole storyline revolves around payback, "mercenaries style", as the back of the box would tell you. Well, enough of the story. You know the basics of it. Let's talk gameplay.

If you play the PS2 port of this game, don't be surprised if it feels EXACTLY like the first Mercenaries, because it does. Same controls, same graphics (with some nice cutscenes throughout), and same mechanics; However, it's not all bad. I know the PS3 and 360 versions are far more superior even though I haven't played them yet. But there are still people like me who enjoy their PS2 and are thankful that some game developers are still creating games on it. Hell, if EA Sports can put Madden 09 on the original Xbox (a system which I think was declared legally dead), then who's going to stop EA from putting Mercenaries 2 on the PS2? So, roll with it.

As with the first Mercenaries, the idea of "no boundaries" gameplay is still in effect; no vehicle is off-limits, no building is indestructible...pretty much no one is safe. Blow up whatever you want, as long as you have the firepower. Speaking of, the way of getting firepower is different. In the first game you had Merchants of Menace, the Russian website that offered you vehicle drops, airstrikes, and weapons (including the ever-so-awesome Cheat Weapons drop). This time around you have the Stockpile, which is comprised of items and services that you earn. It's empty at first, and you have to find contacts and perform jobs to get those items and services for purchase. It sounds complicated, and yes, it's not as convenient as Merchants of Menace, but it'll do. Anything to make things go 'boom'.

The sound quality is good. The voice talent from Playground of Destruction returns with Peter Stormare (Nilsson), Phil LaMarr (Jacobs), and Jennifer Hale (Mui) reprising their roles. The music contains the same kind of incidental tone that the first game had, with a bit of regional influence, so it offers a sense of familiarity, but at the same time it's not just more of the same. Probably one of the best factors in this otherwise meager game.

So, to sum it up, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for the Playstation 2 is nothing to get excited about. If you have the first Mercenaries, I'd say rent it or try it for a little while. It's not too much of a departure from Playground of Destruction, but it has its own sense of fun in a new environment. If you're new to the Mercenaries world, then it might be worth a buy. A few small hiccups aside, it's almost as good as the first one, which is kind of a downer. You'd hope this sequel would have brought more to the table, but...ah, who am I kidding? Most of you probably have a PS3 or 360 anyway, so just get it on those systems. To me, it's a bit of a disappointment, but it'll do in this day and age. You can't expect too much on the PS2 these days, so make the best of what you get. That's it for me. Enjoy, and get it on.

-=Brian=-

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 09/16/08

Game Release: Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (US, 08/31/08)