"Mmmm. Explosions. You Like Explosions? You'll Love This One."

The reason I first played this game was because of the Tagline. I simply read the title "Mercenaries: PLAYGROUND OF DESTRUCTION" and I ran to my local Blockbuster and rented this game out (I was lucky to get their last copy). Man, was that ever lucky. The game is incredible in many aspects, though has flaws here and there that detract from the gameplay somewhat, but not enough to make it any less enjoyable.

GRAPHICS - 9/10

I really have nothing else to say; bravo. When you aim and fire a rocket propelled grenade at a tank and it blows up, it REALLY LOOKS LIKE it blew up. The fire and smoke engines are simply fantastic. Detailing on everything, from your utility belt to your weapons to vehicles (well, most vehicles... civillian cars and buses do just exist to be destroyed, anyway...) is for the most part astounding. My only big complaint is loading time, which can span anywhere from a couple seconds to five or ten minutes (at the startup screens). Though this isn't really a huge deal, the game within is well worth the wait. Pop-up menus and well-placed onscreen elements make for a visual interface that doesn't look too cluttered, and lets you get on with your killing spree.

SOUND - 7/10

Once again, very well done. A convincing set of explosions, gunfire, guys screaming when you run them over in something, and so on, has been complimented with catchy and theme-appropriate music. Cutscenes are for the most part acceptable, the graphic synchronization with the audio in movie clips is for the most part also well done. However, I've experienced a number of glitches, where the game just randomly skips over some transmissions, leaving me wondering what to do next. Sometimes the game will show a spoken line for a fraction of a second, then wipe it, having the character speak the line ten or fifteen seconds later, sometimes not at all. The BGM has also randomly started skipping for me. For these reasons I lowered the overall score. Otherwise, there are no real flaws.

GAMEPLAY - 10/10

This is right where everything goes WAY uphill for Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction. To me, personally, gameplay is the most important aspect of a game. I didn't even know what to expect out of this but cool explosions, and this one didn't leave me disappointed. Man, do you ever get explosions.

The basic physics in Mercenaries is nothing short of brilliant. You can run anywhere, interact with anything in the environment, get in and drive any car, fly any aircraft. You accept missions from various factions and carry out their ends for cash rewards (earning possible bonus bucks if you can carry things out in a clever fashion, go the extra mile, so on). It would seem like it would have a GTA-like feel to it, but it doesn't, really, though it has a touch of the GTA feel to it. It's more calculating, it's smarter than just running around jacking cars. It also has a SOCOM-like feel to it. You're running around with the left analog stick, aiming with the right, firing with R1, lobbing thrown weapons with L1, switching each weapon respectfully with R2 and L2, making for a comfortable, easy-to-get-used-to foot combat system. Using extra weapons menus, you can call in air strikes, place C4 bombs, or radio for a lift out of the area if things get too heated. Driving isn't quite as comfy, but is also quick and easy to get used to with practice. Flying aircraft is even easier.

Weaponry? There's NEVER a shortage. You've got your basic assault rifles and grenades, then you have your RPG launchers and your portable Nuclear bombs (levelling whole CITIES). And that weaponry does its toll. It's a realistic game, but it pushes the limits of physics. Crashes are massive, explosions are massive, cars soar through the air. YOU soar through the air. I guarantee it, you will be flung skyward by something blowing up at least once before it's all said and done.

Computer-controlled soldiers are pretty darn smart. It's tough to take some of those mothers down when they're able to run away from your grenades, recognize and locate strong firepower lying around... whatever, in order to take you to hell in a brutal and fiery fashion. Your own allies are tough cookies; there comes a special feeling from driving around with a man sticking out the top armed with an RPG launcher, blowing the crap out of any enemies you happen to come across.

If you enjoy GTA, if you enjoy SOCOM, if you enjoy any kind of explosion, you'll agree with my opinion on the Gameplay. It just plain kicks a$$.

STORY - 7/10

Let's face it, there's not much of a story. We've basically got a group comically named the Deck of 52. Each one representing a playing card. So you, in eventuality, are going around rounding up these suckas and netting extra cash by performing services for other factions along the way. Again with a GTA style of play, you can do work for any faction you chose at any time they have work for you, though there is a general main storyline that's stuck to. It's the perfect compliment to the Gameplay engine, giving the player the freedom they crave to run around dusting buildings.

REPLAY VALUE - 9/10

I guarentee that if you like this Gameplay engine, you won't stop liking it for a long, long time. You can go through the game multiple times, discovering new ways to Pwn that statue to the ground, finding out just how high you can launch cars with collective C4, planting a Nuclear device on a bus and driving it off a cliff somewhere; use your imagination.

TOTAL:

9
7
10
7
9
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8.8 (Rounded)
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9

RENT / BUY:

As goes my personal policy, it's always better to rent a game to see if it's down your ally first. Though if you're a GTA fan and a SOCOM fan and a pyromaniac (or any mixture of those), then chances are you'll love this game to pieces, so it's a pretty safe buy for you folks. Otherwise, again, rent it to be on the safe side, but you'll most likely run to your nearest game retailer to buy it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/14/05