"Pimp my ride... with C4"

Introduction:
The year is sometime after the Korean Conflict, and they're at it again. General Song has taken over Korea with a seemingly endless supply of cronies and weaponry. You are a mercenary work for ExOps, a private corporation with an interest in war. You goals are:
1. Make as much money as possible, and
2. Stay alive
Good Luck..

Gameplay: 9.9/10
Possibilities are (virtually) limitless. With little exception you can use EVERYTHING, vehicles, weapons, high explosives. There is something to suit everyone, provided they like non-graphic violence and explosions. Whether stealth, strategy, or all out force, there is a vehicle or gun to suit your needs. The game itself is not too hard, though some missions are rather frustrating/virtually impossible. Your Merc handles well, with semi-independent movement and firing. Using the vehicles takes a certain skill quickly acquired. Beware of the faults in the A.I.

Story: 5/10
The story line is HORRIBLY cliched. Song forcefully sized power or, is "the duly elected leader of this sovereign nation," depending on who you listen to. Does he have Nuclear Capabilities? How much time is left? Can you make it in time? Really, this game isn't about a story, its about the fighting.

Graphics/Sound: ?/10
Ok, I'll put it bluntly, I'm no expert in this field, and graphics don't particularly matter to me. The 3-D is some of the best I've seen, and the people are very lifelike. The explosions are good enough for me, and the lack of blood adds a nice "T" rating, making this much more accessible, while only detracting from realism a bit.

Playtime/Replayability: 10/10
The game takes a good while to beat, but the actual length depends on how much you want to do, as many missions are optional. As for replayablity, Mercenaries has this in spades (and hearts, diamonds, and clubs). You could try to beat it with a different character, capture every card, or, my personal favorite for kicking boredom, AFTER you beat it legit, chuck a second file full of cheats, and go killing everything.

Overall: 10/10
Ok, I know my score doesn't add up, but different categories are weighted differently in what makes a good game, depending on genre, and each individual game. For the Rent/Buy dilemma, I full heartedly recommend buying it, as it takes a long time to full appreciate this game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 04/18/05