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Game Information

Release Date: August 31, 2008
Developer: Pandemic Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Players: 1-2

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Synopsis

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is an explosive open-world action game set in a massive, highly reactive, war-torn world. A power-hungry tyrant messes with Venezuela's oil supply, sparking an invasion that turns the country into a warzone. But for you, international crisis is all upside: You are a mercenary, and you profit from chaos. These are world powers with deep pockets, deep grudges, and enough arms and ammo to start World War III. This is your kind of environment.

Mercenaries 2 features the latest and most dangerous in civilian and military tech, everything from shiny new sports cars, to the future-tech satellite-guided bunker-busting mini-nuke. Tanks, APCs, boats, luxury automobiles -- you name it, you can have it delivered to you in real time. And if you run out of cash you can always 'acquire' the gear you need in the field. You are not a soldier. You don't have to play by anyone's rules. You have your own code: you will fulfill the terms of the contract, no matter what.

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Story

The game takes place in Venezuela during the year 2010. At first a rogue mercenary by the name of, Mattias, works for a very powerful and rich man, Ramon Solano, who failed a coup on the Venezuelan government and now has to free one of his generals who worked for Solano as well. He has been capture by government forces and is being kept in an isolated island off the coast in a highly fortified castle. Once he has freed General Carmona, Solano gives Mattias a million dollars, weapons, and supplies and is given a ride back to the main land.

Once back at the mainland, Mattias realizes that there has been a war going on in Venezuela. He then exploits the war to his advantage by working with numerous factions that are trying to control certain parts of the country to their benefit. Universal Petroleum wants to control the coastline along with some land for the oil, the PLAV, or People's Liberation Army of Venezuela, just want to get their country back and get rid of corruption, the Pirates want to control the vast wealth and resources on the islands just north of the country, the Allies want to restore total peace, and the Chinese want to annex Venezuela or make them their puppet state.

Once every faction is satisfied, Mattias must go to the other part of the country, Maracaibo, where the Allies and Chinese are fighting. His mission now is to retrieve a nuclear missile from either faction and bring it to Solano. There is only one problem, once he retrieves the nuclear missile, the other faction will use one as well to destroy the faction he works for. This leaves half of the city a waste land and forces everyone to evacuate, including the the opposite faction. By this point, Mattias learns from the faction that Solano is actually the "bad guy" and must be killed or captured.

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Gameplay

In Mercenaries 2, the player gets to choose between three different characters to go on this adventure with: Mattias Nillson, Christopher Jacobs, and Jennifer Mui. Each character plays exactly the same and there really isn't anything special between one another, besides looks of course. Once the player has chosen a character, they will get dropped via airplane onto the isolated island where the general is being kept hostage. Once that is finished, the player will be back in Venezuela with an objective to meet the head of Universal Petroleum. Once a few missions for UP has been completed, the PLAV will pop up allowing you to do contracts with them. After a few of those the Pirates will pop up and so forth. All four of these factions take place on one side of Venezuela and all fight each other throughout parts of the city. The player can sign a contract with any of these factions at any given time and is free to do whatever. You can kill random people, though it will hurt your reputation and cost money, blow up buildings, call in air strikes, explore the country, or locate high-valued targets.

Once enough contracts have been finished, the other side of the country will be opened through a mission. On this side are the Allies and Chinese. The player can work with both for a short time until one offers you a contract that requires you to destroy the others headquarters. Once this is done, you can no longer do contracts with them and they will always shoot at you when sighted. At this point during the game, extreme weapons will be unlocked such as high-powered rifles, tanks, heavily armored attack choppers, cruise missiles, and anti-tank weapons. Just like the other side of the country, the play is free to do anything at any time.

There is also a multiplayer mode that allows for online play. Although you can't do contracts with factions, it is just free-roaming.

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Graphics

Graphics are exceptionally well in this game, with a few bugs that will greatly effect the game play. The characters, vehicles, environment, buildings, weather, and everything in general is very well detailed and extremely sharp. Lighting is very on point and shadowing is perfect. The only problems are the extreme lag that will happen if too much is going on or if you are going very fast in any vehicle, especially airplanes. Another thing most players will notice is the blank and pixelated spots located throughout the city (they're very hard to miss) and the bland background in the distance even though you can reach it. Besides those problems, the game runs very smooth for the most part and looks almost like a movie.

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Controls

Controls are very basic in this game just like most shooters. Triggers will shoot and aim, buttons control the actions of the character such as jumping, ducking, crawling, going prone. Analogs control the movement and camera angle of the character and the D-pad is used for calling in support, airstrikes, and supplies (vehicles, weapons, etc.). Vehicle controls (mainly tanks and helicopters) may be a little tricky as the analogs control the camera angle and triggers control it's movement. Everything else though is the same as it is on foot.

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Ratings

Gameplay: 8.5/10
Graphics: 9/10
Controls: 8.5/10
Overall: 9/10