Mercenaries 2 does a job on UK chart

By Robert Purchese Published 9 September, 2008

Spore not Darwin so well. Top 40 inside.

Mercenaries 2: World of Flames has conquered the UK All-Formats chart this week, helping EA to secure all top three spots.

The openworld action sequel trumped improved sales of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, which finished at two - ahead of Will Wright masterpiece and headline-grabber Spore.

Of the other new entries, Eurogamer favourite Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise struggled most visibly, managing to debut way down at 23. You should all be ashamed.

Even further down were other newcomers S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky at 25, and Square Enix role-player Infinite Undiscovery at 28.

The rest of the top ten from Spore down was unsurprisingly familiar: Wii Fit at four, Carnival: Funfair Games at five, Mario Kart Wii at six and Wii Play at seven.

Then came the never-tiring pairing of Mario & Sonic at the Olympics at eight, followed by Big Beach Sports at nine and Wall-E at 10.

Here's the top 40 in full:

  1. Mercenaries 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2)
  2. Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii)
  3. Spore (PC)
  4. Wii Fit (Wii)
  5. Carnival: Funfair Games (Wii)
  6. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
  7. Wii Play (Wii)
  8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS)
  9. Big Beach Sports (Wii)
  10. WALL-E (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS)
  11. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
  12. The Sims 2: Apartment Life (PC)
  13. Beijing 2008 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
  14. LEGO Indiana Jones (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS)
  15. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
  16. Too Human (Xbox 360
  17. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS)
  18. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)
  19. Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, Xbox 360)
  20. The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS)
  21. FIFA 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
  22. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
  23. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (Xbox 360)
  24. Ben 10: Protector of Earth (Wii, DS, PS2, PSP)
  25. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (PC)
  26. Scrabble Interactive: 2007 Edition (PC, DS)
  27. Need For Speed ProStreet (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS)
  28. Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360)
  29. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, DS, PSP)
  30. Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360, PS3)
  31. Imagine: Teacher (DS)
  32. Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360, PS3)
  33. Mario Kart DS (DS)
  34. More Brain Training (DS)
  35. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
  36. Sports Party (Wii)
  37. Off Road (Wii, PS2, PSP, PC)
  38. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)
  39. Driving Theory Training (DS)
  40. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, ©2008 ELSPA (UK) Ltd.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (28) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • dingo75 #1 3 years ago

    Can we have a review of the PC version of Mercs please?
    People complain a lot about lack of wide-screen and other problems.
    Would like to know if I should skip and pick it up cheap for the Xbox 360 instead.
    Since I also own a PS2 a few words about that port would be nice, too. :)

    Thanks

  • wewillselfdestruct #2 3 years ago

    If Viva Pinata struggled the most visibly, since I can't see it in the top 40 at all I guess Facebreaker must have struggled the most invisibly.

  • mkreku #3 3 years ago

    I second that. A PC review too, please? I am having a hard time imagining it being a 5/10..

  • andywilkie35 #4 3 years ago

    dingo, I read that the PS2 version of Mercenaries is one of the worst games ever. Check this [link url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/ mercenaries-2-on-ps2-how-bad-is-it/a-2008090514490596020
    ]http://ww w.gamesradar.com/f/mercenaries-...[/link]

    But yes the fact its at Number 1 despite poor reviews and games like Viva Pinata 2 are way down despite very positive reviews is another example of how great games get missed by numpties who just like simple things like blowing shit up. Reminds me of how Okami got skipped over by loads of people despite being one of the most original and - dare I say it - best games ever. Because it didn't have guns.

  • johnnybrn #5 3 years ago

    Spore was only released on Friday for gosh sakes

  • DFawkes #6 3 years ago

    I'm glad people are ignoring the average review here and good (but not great) reviews elsewhere, it's really good. I've ben waiting for it since the first one, and I didn't like it at first, but as I got into the rhythm again it's really fun, and there's plenty to do - almost too much at times.

    I did consider getting Spore instead, but went for the game I could install as much as I want and resell if it was rubbish. Glad I did, but Spore does look good.

  • dingo75 #7 3 years ago

    @andywilkie35: Wow just wow! Thanks for sharing.
    Ok scrap the words of the PS2 version heh...

  • asphaltcowboy #8 3 years ago

    I agree with DFawkes, 5/10 was a ridiculous score!

  • Gnort #9 3 years ago

    @andywilkie35
    Unfortunately, it's the nature of the market, you can't get too upset about it. It's like when a band which is making really excellent music is massively outsold by some piece of empty pop fluff, it's always going to happen. Heck, Big Beach Sports is outselling 98% of the good games on the market, that isn't right.

    Viva Pinata shoots itself in the foot, though, by appearing to be a kids game, even if it isn't one. I know several people who got the first game for free as a pack-in with their 360, and they haven't bothered to play it because they were so put off by the visual style. These aren't necessarily lager-swilling, macho shoot n' drive gamers, either.

  • menage #10 3 years ago

    Sigh, I really feel bad for Pinata. I'm enjoying it so much. On the filpside. I couldn't find it anywhere, saw no promotion, I always thought it hadn't been released yet. MS is just fucking up this release once again. Great job.

    I know Mercs may not be so bad, but I do think the big summer drought had something to do with it being number 1.

    @Gnort

    Let's just hope it does well enough then in it's segment. I do think VP1 managed to hit a decent number in the end, even if it started of disastrous.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 09:45

  • wewillselfdestruct #11 3 years ago

    Okami doesn't have guns? Screw that then.

  • Triggerhappytel #12 3 years ago

    Re. Mercenaries on the PS2 - it's practically the same as the first game. Same controls, graphics, pop-in; everything. If you were perfectly happy with the first game and want more of exactly the same then this will be perfect, however it suffers the same problems (respawning enemies, some really fucking harsh missions, dodgy vehicle handling, repetitive gameplay, terrible AI) and doesn't have the PS360's co-op gameplay to enhance the fun.

    It's still an entertaining game, but gets very repetitive and blowing shit up is fun for only so long. I would recommend a rental - as I am doing, unless you can get it particularly cheap (from Morrisons this week, perhaps?).

  • L42yB #13 3 years ago

    I hope that Spore does really badly and that no-one buys it. Despite the fact that I'd really really like to play it, I refuse to install their SecuRom DRM shit on my PC.

    Hopefully if enough people feel the same way that I do, they will STOP putting this malware in their software and I can actually buy the game.

    :'(
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 10:00

  • davc4 #14 3 years ago

    walking through town last night i passed gamestation huge merceneries 2 poster in the window, not very big advert for Viva Pinata, also the tv advertising campaign for mercs 2 (which i quite like [/ashamed]) so the regular punters are being force fed mercs 2.
    As i am completly skint this month ive picked up neither of them but am more likely to go with VP2 the first one that i got free with my console was a great game.

  • Dark_Era #15 3 years ago

    it aint shocking that EA has the first 3 spots, if am right they own about 30% to 45%(rough estimation, i ain't no statician, lol) of the games being realeased and we're also gearing up to the holiday season.

  • Corben_Dallas #16 3 years ago

    Cmon EG'ers go out and buy Viva Pinata! got it this week and its already gobbled up whole sessions.

    VIVA! :)

    *plus as usual its not being advertised/promoted, :( one shop i went into didnt get copies. :( :(
    ** cept on EG.

  • PlugMonkey #17 3 years ago

    "But yes the fact its at Number 1 despite poor reviews and games like Viva Pinata 2 are way down despite very positive reviews is another example of how great games get missed by numpties who just like simple things like blowing shit up."

    So, Mercenaries (Metacritic: 75%, four platforms) is outselling Viva Pinata (Metacritic: 84%, one platform)? Fuck me if that doesn't mean the world is about to end. Get that large hadron collider cranked up to max and have done with it, I say.

  • Tomo #18 3 years ago

    Jeez :/

    STALKER and Viva outside the Top 20. Releasing them alongside the other first decent PC game in ages, and a load of EA mammoths wasn't a good idea.

  • menage #19 3 years ago

    @Tomo

    I agree, Viva should have been released august 14th or something.

  • jaxon58 #20 3 years ago

    Sad to see Need for Speed still hanging around too :(

  • SEVQA #21 3 years ago

    5/10 was completely off the mark – but looking at the charts it looks like no one listened! Which is good, I had high hope for Mercs 2 and when the EA promo machine starts turning I always become sceptical and even more so when I read EG review that gave it 5/10.

    I took a punt and glad I did as I’m 30% into the game and enjoying it very much, irrelevant of its slight faults! As for every fault you’ll find fun in equal measure! I recommend this title to anyone who enjoys sandbox gameplay. It’s a hoot! 7/10 for sure Eurogamer!

  • makeamazing #22 3 years ago

    Played it last night on PS3, and I wasnt that impressed, i would give it between 6/7 out of 10... probably erring on the side of 6.

  • septimus #23 3 years ago

    How did such a shitty, shitty game get to be number 1? Yes, I have played it... sadly.

    Shame for Viva. At least Spore seems to be doing well. (Running the Mac version, so no nasty DRM).
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 12:53

  • mungolikebeans #24 3 years ago

    Mercs 2 sold better because it has a very polished advertising campaign. Simple as that. The TV ad is great and the online campaign has been running on this site and every other gaming site in the world it seems,for the past fortnight. Might seem strange to some people, but advertising, when done well, works.


  • OmagnusPrime #25 3 years ago

    People considering Mercs 2, do yourself a favour and don't. It's a horribly shallow, bug-ridden game that is broken in a number of places. It has potential, and elements of it can be fun, but not for any length of time. There's too much wrong with it to forgive it.

  • BillyBrush #26 3 years ago

    it's not very good is it?

    however if twas done correctly shooting an RPG would have been immensley more fun than clicking a mouse or controlling a shovel (unless it's Condemned and you hit a tramp in the face), in a game mechanic boom boom visual feedback way...but yes, it is pretty rubbish, if only EG were more like Edge and you could actually rely on their scores i would have listened to Kristan, who in this case has ze last laugh, because he wos right..

  • RedSparrows #27 3 years ago

    'I know several people who got the first game for free as a pack-in with their 360, and they haven't bothered to play it because they were so put off by the visual style. These aren't necessarily lager-swilling, macho shoot n' drive gamers, either.'

    I don't get it. I try a game at least once or twice.

  • Gearskin #28 3 years ago

    WHY NO FACEBREAKER!?!?!?!?