Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

"Why Can't I Get an Irish Pilot?"

Well, Mercenaries 2 is finally here. Fan boys have been waiting months for this arrival and practically splooged when came out.

The graphics are nice on a 1080p television (not GTA IV graphics, but hey). The fires are quite nice and are well lighted and rendered. Air strike explosions are breath-taking especially those of the carpet bomb, MOAB, Fuel-Air Bomb and Daisey Cutter. The characters are detailed and have depth to them, though the depth shallows after three hours of playing. The Mercs themselves, as well as the AI and NPCS, have different phrases that the utter constantly which seem a bit funny at first, but the hilarity fades after, again, three hours. Each Merc is a vast stereotype of whatever persona they were given. As an example, Matias Nielson, the Swede, constantly has viking references applied both to him and by him and his accent is so flustered it becomes annoying.

The plot is a bit on the "eh" side. The short version can be found in the commercial: Merc does a job, doesn't get paid, gets run-out, seeks vengeance. The entire game you will hunt a man called Solano who was just elected as the high official of Venezuela. He is the new "Ace of Spades" if you will, though, no decks are used in this game. The VZ will be the constant hostile faction and you will join up with the UP (United Petroleum), the P.L.A.V (People's Liberation Army of Venezuela), the Jamaican Pirates, the AN (Allied Nations (slight references to being solely the United States)), the People's Liberation of China, and the PMC (you and Fiona). All of these factions yield basically the same missions and side-missions. In addition to the regular missions you have to capture new bases, verify HVT (High Value Targets) (much like the deck in Mercenaries 1), destroy specific buildings/structures/ships, and other random hunts (like the P.L.A.V.'s billboard hunt). These will yield faction bonuses, money, and eventual new shop items.

The shop is now set-up differently. Since you are now independent, you no longer have the funding or the Russian supplies as you did in North Korea in Mercenaries 1. You must collect your own money to pay for everything, collect fuel for deliveries and air strikes (save ones that do not drop from jets), stock them in your "Stockpile" by buying them from factions or collecting them around the world, and get a jet and helicopter pilot for your base. In addition to the two pilots, you can get a mechanic to make custom vehicles for you. All of these assets must be obtained through short missions and all of whom have side-missions for you (including Fiona).

The world is much more expansive than Mercenaries 1. It is said to be "5 times larger," but I'm not so sure about that. It seems larger, but that is not always better. Only specific areas are of interest in the game. Once you leave the "reception area," Fiona will yell at you until you lose feed with the PMC which is much better than being bombed in my opinion. Fast traveling requires a helicopter pilot who can transport you to heliports you have unlocked.

This game is very reminiscent of some other games. The "grapple" feature is just like Just Cause's air-hijacking, only simplistic. True, Just Cause is a rip-off of Mercenaries 1, but a rip-off of a rip-off is still a rip-off. Some other "improvements" from the original game may feel a bit familiar as well. The game is very chaotic and a bit glitchy. You will be running around trying to heal and be attack from all sides by RPG shots. You will find that the AI does not care that shooting the fuel tank next to you will destroy their own building which happens to be one that you need to take over. The sound will fade in and out randomly during game play. You will get stuck between rocks, trees, bushes, and other static objects and frantically jump to get out. You will swim around trying to get a boat whilst it circles you, shooting. You will be stuck in your own air strikes. You will have Misha (your jet pilot) drop a bomb on the tower you are in/next to in his air strike challenge. You may get ten achievements randomly after a cut-scene or action for doing stuff you have not done. You may not get the achievements you rightfully earned. Luckily, most of the glitches can and hopefully will be patched.

The game is a bit short and a bit messy, but once completed, you can always nuke the cities. It's fun and a bit addictive. It may not be a buy for everyone, but it's definitely a rental.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/15/08

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