Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Comments by Kristan Reed

Well, i think Mr. Reed can do better. Some co-op might have been helpful.

Bah, I was looking forward to this!

At the end of a famine, fodder is acceptable nourishment imo

"This man's a Viking. You can tell by his comedy beard."


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t27/A...

timpig: +1000000
DutchDemons: minus infinity

I watched a promo for this the other day, with one of the developers talking about the game. He looked absolutely shattered and kept going on about how they'd spent YEARS developing this game.

If I were you, Kristan, I'd watch your back, mate.

He's probably going to send a few boys around. Properly tooled up an' that.

I think the reviewer is being over-harsh really. Marking a sequel down just because the core gameplay hasn't changed, when that gameplay is known to be good and fun, is just silly. GTA's core gameplay hasn't really changed since GTA3, but I don't see that being overly thrown about in the GTA4 review?

If you are cancelling your orders for this based on the review, my advice would be to at least rent it, never trust just one review of a game. This is by far the lowest review and if you're a fan of the first Mercs, sandbox games, or just games where you raise hell you'll probably enjoy it.

I don't think is fair to review this game without saying anything about coop or split screen playing (both supported btw)

there is no split screen coop or any sort of local multiplayer.

>there is no split screen coop or any sort of local multiplayer.

The 360 box says 1-2 co-op players local and online.

Wow what a terrible review. It's not surprising, though, since Eurogamer is known well for loving little kids games, and Mercs 2 is not for little kids. Also, the fact that they had to get a female to review this is sad..few chicks are going to appreciate a game like this. that's why reputable sites wont have chicks reviewing them. were you not available to review Viva Pinata 2?

I've played the game...and I'll let you know the facts.

First off, there's nothing wrong with the AI. People complain about it but what they don't realize is that "better" AI does not mean a better game. What's good AI anyway? Did GTA have good AI where enemies just drove vehicles on rails and shot you as soon as they saw you? Or how about cop cars spawning out of thin air. Is that good AI?

The graphics DEFINITELY look last gen, but for a site that loves the Wii they shouldnt be crying over graphics.

The reviewer claims you're invincible and made a reference to constantly going and hiding to heal. That just proves she had no idea what she was doing. She said you didnt need to use any of the drops. Yeah, probably not, if you want to spend a year on a mission since you take one shot and then go heal. The drops are useful so that you can eliminate tough to kill enemies. That's why they're there. Since you couldn't figure out how to play the game you're damn lucky you can heal yourself by hiding constantly.

Also, you die in just a few hits, so she's WAY off in claiming the game is easy. It's quite a bit easier in co-op but it's not an easy game at all.

Mercs 2 is a lot of fun. If you're a GUY then you'll like it. Reviewers have a checklist of things they feel they have to cry about. They always have to mention story, graphics, gameplay, longevity, etc. They cant just say whether a game is fun or not because most "gaming journalists" dont know anything about gamers. They just couldnt get a real job in jounalism.

Kristan Reed is clueless. But should we expect anything less from a chick at Eurogamer?

Wow what a terrible review. It's not surprising, though, since Eurogamer is known well for loving little kids games, and Mercs 2 is not for little kids. Also, the fact that they had to get a female to review this is sad..few chicks are going to appreciate a game like this. that's why reputable sites wont have chicks reviewing them. were you not available to review Viva Pinata 2?

Kristan Reed is clueless. But should we expect anything less from a chick at Eurogamer?

I'm not sure what to say, except... no, wait... I can't.

I'll just let someone else tell you instead.

The first Mercs had a great vibe and some seriously awesome voice acting. The new version is total crap and the whole dark tone they had in the first game is gone. garbage. 5/10 is about right.

@plugmonkey
+1

So far the (XBox 360) Metacritic score is 79, with the second lowest score being a 76. While I already expected this game to be rather flawed - and the other reviews I've read point out those flaws as well - it certainly sounds like Eurogamer is so far the only site that don't find blowing up stuff immensely fun despite flaws and frustrations.

I'm buying this and expecting it to be more like a 7 than a 5. Just like I ended up buying Too Human before the weekend, despite all the low reviews, and actually found it rather addicting.

Are the Eurogamer reviewers becoming all tired and bitter and unable or unwilling to spot the potential entertainment value if there happens to be a few too many flaws? :)

@Miths, yeah I just checked MC too... and 79 is a good score... admittedly, averaging scores that all work on different scales is sort of odd, but it has restored my faith somewhat. I've changed my mind (again), I will pick this up in the near future!

Looked mediocre when I saw the gameplay videos over a year ago so it's no surprise to me that the final game is equally uninspiring. Never pre-ordered the game anyway... always had the feeling it wasn't going to be very good...

unfungames, I salute you, sir.

That was easily the post of the century.

Cretin.

I'm with plugmonkey as well. Pls someone from EG address his questions? I'd like to know as well.

I had a wee look at this the other day and the opening couple of missions suggested that this review is spot on. I had absolutely no desire to experience any more of the game. It's poor enough that I'd feel really irritated if I'd bought it.

@ unfungames

I honestly don't think I've ever seen such a staggeringly moronic post. Congrats, you complete and utter simpleton. Just try not to take it to heart when attempting to castrate you with rusty butter knives becomes a regular pastime for your future girlfriends.

I had an idea this would be crappy when I saw a video of it. Poor character design (I thought the 'viking' hero was the bad guy - never a good sign), bad graphics and suspect moral standpoint.
Bleh, I liked the first one well enough, tho.

@ unfungames

I honestly don't think I've ever seen such a staggeringly moronic post. Congrats, you complete and utter simpleton. Just try not to take it to heart when attempting to castrate you with rusty butter knives becomes a regular pastime for your future girlfriends.

I'd pity the poor girls doing themself a disservice by even contemplating getting in a relationship with that example of Mercenaries 2 target audience.

seems to be getting solid 8's from a good few other publications. if you were really looking forward to this i think it'd be hasty to cast off the pre-order without playing.

i sense that this game is evoking similar emotions to crackdown. i.e. it's just plain and slightly messy fun.

i'm still interested thanks to the proper destructible huge buildings and most welcome co-op.

unfungames' post was pretty surreal. If EG ever started selling merchandise, I'd happily buy a calligrapher-penned print of it. Such grotesque beauty.

I remember seeing that Kristan Reed chick in an MCV magazine in work, she was one hot bitch, she hasn't got a clue about games for real men though...

Haha!

/feels lady lumps.

Ooh, ladyboys. I don't find them attractive, it's just confusing.

Thanks for the review, but I'm getting it anyway.

It's got lots of blue sky, a swedish viking bloke, jamaican pirates, big guns, bombs, tanks, and motorbikes.

/jizzes

I'm getting my copy tomorrow and I'm looking forward to playing this. I really liked the first Mercenaries (better than the overrated San Andreas). There is no mention of co-op because Eurogamer likely used an review debug code to review this game (that means no Xbox Live most of the time). All the big sites have access to this hardware.

I dont care if the reviewer is black, white, male of female or from mars after playing I will post mu own thoughts. But to be honest does anyone take the reviews of Eurogamer seriously? There like Top Gear, entertaining, fun, filled with humor, but there judgement is a joke.

Has anyone here ever really wanted a game (like this one) and then waited for the EG review to come out. The EG review has said pants but go out and buy it anyway. And find out...it's pants! Just wondering.

I was going to get this but due to the massive amount of games coming out over the next few months it won't be a total loss if I don't buy this one. Be interesting to see the review of Facebreaker. Demo was pants and Edge 3/10 (or was it a 4) just makes me hope it gets a highly entertaining critical mauling in EG.

This review really is very terrible.

"Just like the original, it desperately struggles to get going, and the first few pre-sandbox missions are the worst possible introduction to what the game has to offer."

Yes, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, which has been universally lauded by critics as being a huge disappointment, right? Oh wait.

"One level near the start of the game continually respawns jeeps to infinity. The design of said level itself isn't much better, presenting players with arbitrary barriers such as locked gates and shrubbery that's impervious to grenades. This, combined with the aforementioned respawning nonsense, eventually inspires desperate exploration, where, lo and behold, you discover that this supposedly fortified mansion is, in fact completely exposed around the back. This is an extreme example of level design stupidity, but it's a fairly regular occurrence."

You mean the very first mission in the entire game? Sorry, there are no respawning jeeps, unless you were standing in the middle of the road constantly attracting the attention of the scouting vehicles that drive around the island. "Shrubbery that's impervious to grenades"? What, the hedge-maze? I'm assuming you're talking about that, since it's the only foliage that could really be considered an obstacle. Too bad you're wrong. All explosives can destroy it; I've seen it happen with grenades, C4 and the RPG.

"Desperate exploration," huh? "Oh man I can't get in through the front, where am I supposed to go?! I am so confused and frustrated!" Seriously? "Level design stupidity..." that's a laugh. What a hard concept to grasp, that the enemy would spend so much of their resources fortifying the actual paved entrance into the villa! Let's forget that there are several soldiers not only within the back-yard, but watching over it from a balcony. I guess you weren't paying attention. Also, nice caption on the screenshot from this mission, by the way: "What was this tank doing in there in the first place?" The tank drives through the wall into the main room, basically to add some suspense and introduce a control mechanic. That's why it's there and you know that, so why are you trying to make it look silly for those who haven't played the first ten minutes of the game?

"Question marks, too, hang over the wisdom of designing the game in parallel with the PS2 version. In so many regards it bears all the hallmarks of a last-gen title with upscaled visuals, like horrifically low-polygon, low-detail vegetation."

I'll give you one thing: the water effects are pretty bad. So are some of the particle effects. However, anyone reading this can compare any two screen-shots of the PS2 and 360 versions and realize that nearly going so far as to call this game a simple re-skin would be nothing but ridiculous hyperbole. It's pretty obvious they were both built up individually. The graphics are a little rough around the edges. Don't let nostalgia blind you. Remembering that the original Halo was a jizz-worthy sight seven years ago didn't make me scream "last-gen" when Halo 3 didn't immediately impress me graphically. GUN, which you state provided "superior thrills" was almost a direct port of the Xbox version. Did that matter to you? Apparently not.

All in all, you glossed over all the good points of the game (no mention of co-op play?), spending just a few sentences focusing on them, while spouting unfounded vitriol based on your own biased views of what's fun. And since you seem to revel in the supposed greatness of GTA IV and Crackdown (two games that personally disappointed me), I think you've become slightly disillusioned.

"The motorbikes are actually the best thing about the entire game. True."

If you say so. They're also the only reason to buy PGR4. Get over yourself.

5? uuu that hurts
/going back to Crackdown

hm ... thought the game would be decent ... :/

only really know about Boiling Point 2nd hand from a mate, he'd tell stories of leaving a car, coming back after walking away to find that just its wheels remain.

Oh, so it's the opposite of Liverpool then?*





(*sorry Scousers)



I've noticed that both this and the Clear Sky review have attracted a lot of ire. Apparently one man-or-is-it-a-woman-who-knows's opinion is no longer enough to justify a review score, but it is enough to justify saying a review is unjust.

After playing for a couple of hours, I've got to say that I love it.

Very, very similar to the first one in term of control and feel - graphics a little bit upgraded but still look completely fine. It seems like there are loads more vehicles to control (I just took a gunboat out for a spin, with 4 different gun positions - pretty cool).

But one of the missions was just complete anarchy and I loved it - I charged into an enemy stronghold, ran over a few people, shot a few people, saw a helicopter and jumped in - lasted about 10 secs before the SAM got me, got out run and gunned a bit more and finally fought my way up to the top of the car park. Just completely unscripted, make your own fun and it was awesome.

AI is OK, similar to that on Crackdown but the sheer destructability of everything elevates all the missions so it really is up to you how to complete them.

Similar to Crackdown. Similar to Mercenaries 1. Similar to GTA4 but an absolutely great first impression and I recommend you at least rent.

It may get repetitive but initial impressions are very good.

Oh well..will save the money and get GTAIV instead. Or maybe Sacred 2, witcher, or Bully PC.

All I want to know is this: is it basically just the same game? So much of the review is spent nitpicking (as well as pointing out real flaws) that it didn't really answer this.

Wow, glad I didn't pre-order this based on how much I liked the first one.

Erm. I played this at a mates house for a few hours. Now, I loved Mercenaries 1 on my original Xbox, but this.... god, so boring.
Maybe its a poor game or maybe I've been spoiled by better games in the X years since I played the original, I'm not sure.
However I would agree with the review in that its boring, lacks excitement, and looks pretty drab. In fact I might go back to my old Xbox just to see how the original does compare.

Eurogamer has lost all its credibility,sure the ai isnt great and visually the game looks like a hi res ps2 game but its so much fun blowing everything to hell and back.
Im enjoying this far more than gta.
Poor review.

Picked it up. Mercs 2 is extraordinarily fun and an absolute blast in co-op. The sense of empowerment is off the charts, it really feels like playing through a game based on Commando or Rambo or something. Save for the lack of blood, of course.

What a strange promotion for a game: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/londo...

Why did this review not mention the fact that the online co-op play, one of the major selling points of the game, is region locked (ala Army of Two)?

http://www.primegamer.co.uk/2008/09/dont...

@OmagnusPrime: The review didn't mention the co-op once.

Even though we all know this is most likely because it was played on the developer network, it's about time this sort of thing stopped. In these times of ever increasing co-op popularity, games that are so heavily marketed as co-op experiences need to be played that way to gain an honest review. The least EG could do is actually explain why there's no mention of it - at all - in the review. If you had no access to Live, just tell us. And at least do the game justice by putting an addendum on the review when you have actually played it the way it was intended - even if you stick to the score you gave it without all the information to hand.

almost all problems named in the game also occur to a certain degree in GTA IV... so why give this game a 5 and GTA IV a 10?

Eurogamer have lost it, i have the game its much better than 5/10

i look forward to the next fifa/pes review lets see if they mark it down for basically being the same gameplay...;=)

Gamespot gave the game a 5 too. It just sucks kids. Too bad, you bought it and now it sucks and you're hurt.

I like it like a 6, personally. It's pretty terrible for all the reasons Kristan describes - except, perhaps, the invisible boundaries issue, which is negligible - but if you just want to run around inflicting satisfying but unsophisticated destruction it just about holds true.

Spot on about the tie-straightening. After the first couple of cutscenes I wanted to throttle Solano with it (which I suppose could be the point).

As someone who usually agrees with Eurogamer I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I'm enjoying the game. I pre-ordered it after seeing a fourteen minute gameplay video and started to regret my decision after the review was posted. Maybe tempered expectations helped a lot but I don't think I've had this much fun with a game in a long time, just going up to the Skyscraper that an oil company uses as a HQ and levelling it with tank fire is so satisfying and in co-op I've been able to cut a path directly through cities, it's just so ridiculously fun to play.

Dear Eurogamer,

This game is nowhere near only worth a 5 out of 10. It's the most fun sandbox game I've played in a long time, and I just cannot understand why it deserves a full 5 points less than over hyped crock like GTA IV. Oh wai...did the cheque from EA not arrive then? That would explain it I guess.

It really is an unbelievably poor review, Kristan should be ashamed. And no I'm not being sexist, a poor review is a poor review no matter what the sex. All in all it's the site that's at fault here, not the game.