Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Hands-On Preview
Last week I headed out to LA to Pandemic Studios for the Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Community Event. Xboxsolution got invited along with several other community sites. I was a huge fan of Mercenaries when it first showed up on the original Xbox console. I was hoping the sequel would keep the great gameplay that worked in the first one but also add Co-Op play and a larger game with more action and missions. In case you never played the first game, it was the type of game where you could complete a mission several ways. The game became a sleeper hit and a title that had a cult following. So expectations were high. What you are about to read is what I experienced. I specifically waited to write this review until it was cleared that all the information on the game could be communicated. I did not want to write half of what I learned about the game and leave you in the dark about certain things. I wanted to be able to talk about everything. After having time with the game, it left a great impression on me and the group so let me get into the game and what to expect.
Jennifer Mui, Mattias Nilsson, and Chris Jacobs have all returned but this time they not only are hired Mercs, they have revenge on their minds. The story is set in Venezuela and, much like the first game, has clear undertones of what is happening in our headlines today. You will still need to keep things friendly enough to buy weapons from each group and not to piss them off or prices will rise. If you are considered a major threat, the groups will not supply you with weapons, ammo and other things. It has the feel of the first game but is on a much larger scale. In fact this one is huge and has over 165 vehicles, 40+ weapons and 20 or more different airstrikes. The team talked about wanting to keep the feel of the original game in tact while upping the ante and making the game bigger.
While the game is a free-roam style, it’s not a rip-off of GTA. It’s a sandbox game but offers plenty of action. You take a contract and can go about finishing it anyway you want to. While there are no set rules, you will have to pay collateral damages for hurting civilians and since you need money to buy weapons and support, you need to be careful. Pandemic also included the 52 again but this time they are in the game in a little different way. And yes, the hidden packages are back, 100 of them to be exact. You can complete a contract and get another or explore the area and find one of many mini- missions. It’s your call.
The vehicles do have a GTA-like feel in the way the control and while I would have loved to see each having the standard control scheme. I know it would be almost impossible to pull this off since you will need to leave a vehicle at times fight and then return back to it. While the controls are a little tricky to get used to, after a few minutes anyone will get used to them and they handle very well. Based on questions I had from our community, let me answer a few about the vehicles. Yes, you will fly helicopters, bikes, tanks and some awesome tactical buggies with sidewinder missiles. Sadly, there will not be a chance to fly or hijack airplanes. (Sorry Rough) You will also see an advanced hijack system that plays out like a mini-game. The difficulty is determined by how much of an advantage gaining the vehicle gives you. You will have a few seconds to hit the button that pops on the screen and then have another keep hitting the right buttons and the vehicle will be yours. At first I grimaced at this new style. After the Bourne game and others that used this style, I thought oh man this is not going to work. After playing the game and talking with the team, it works fine and I understand why they went with this style of hijacking a vehicle and it looks very cool.
Airstrikes have a new system as well and it’s like a mini-game. Hit the A button in the right order and the blast well be deadly. Miss a few and the blast will not have the full power. Again if you played the first game, then you know how powerful the strikes were. I think they wanted to make you earn things more this time around. Another question was about the destruction in the game. Let me just say if it’s there, it can be destroyed and the team wanted to make it this way. Taking a game and making it 3 times as large is a risk but the team wanted to pull everything out to make Mercenaries 2 a great game.
The weapons are great and you will find some new toys to get the job done. Of course with a bigger bankroll, you can buy the biggest toys. Each weapon has a use and sounds very realistic. There are no flamethrowers in the game and you can’t plant C4 on an enemy. After all, it’s a T rated game so while I wanted to tell the truth, I don’t want to debate this. I think the team wanted to push the game to the next level without leaving out a core of the gamers it appeals to. I have to agree after playing the game.
Now on to the biggest question and the only thing we were asked not to reveal until today. Online is Co-Op 2 player-style. The online play is very smooth. You can invite someone and use your save, but they can also choose to load their saved game. I like this. One thing they added was a limit of how far you can be away from your partner. Go too far and you will get a warning. Ignore that warning and you will need to restart the area. Another question I was asked by our community: is it possible to pick the same character? Yes it is but I suggest changing outfits just to make things easier for your teammate. Oh, if you remember the fact you could not swim in the first game and that caused you to become frustrated, you’ll be able to swim this time.
Pandemic did not set out to reinvent the game. They wanted to bring it to a grander scale and they succeeded. I noticed no glitches or issues with the game and graphically it looks fantastic. The game’s eternal clock does not go by day and night although certain areas will look like night. It’s more of a lighting issue and works well. Co-Op adds a lot to the game and the free-roam style allows you to explore and not feel like you’re on a rail or leash like some games out there. I know many of you wanted to know about DLC from the marketplace. While the team answered everything they could, they could not talk about plans for DLC. The reason is that all content needs to be planned and approved. For those who live by cheat codes, I have bad news. There are no cheat codes at all. I may be the only person happy about this fact, but I waited too long for the game to have it ruined by some quick cheats. I respect the fact they did not add any. I walked away from the event impressed and anxious to get my hands on the game. It looks incredible, has a great story and you get destroy everything in the game.
I would like to thank everyone at Pandemic for answering all my questions and showing me everything I wanted to know. Jon Long at EA and Dan for the invite and for the clean audio of the event. I will try and get the audio up from the event. Stay tune for news about a post-event podcast with Unscripted360. Please post any questions or comments in our forums in the official Mercenaries 2: World in Flames thread and I will be more than happy to reply.
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It has the look and feel of CrackDown to it, which means it looks pretty Fun. I wish they would include the weapons cheat…I can’t remember the cheat code now but it gave you a little gun that would fire off those big ass missiles. It was fun to use after the game was beat, just to go and blow stuff up.
The gun that fired off the “big ass missiles” in Mercs 1 was called the Portable Air Strike and was part of the Cheat Weapons Crate. The crate could be accessed either through a cheat code or by capturing all members of the Deck of 52.
Did I say “capture”? I meant “verify”.
@Tomas,
Yes I remember the crate The new game has the 52 back in but I do know it was stressed that no cheats are in thae game at all. Until I get through the game I won’t know if you unlock any thing special you may though.
So hijacking a helicopter is going to be like hijacking a mech in mechassault 2 right? I like that, it makes it more of a challenge. Looks great and good article rich. but sadly I am going to have to wait a bit before I can buy it. I may rent it though for now.
@roughneck
No It’s not like the jack a mech you just have to play it and see.
We intend to have a written and podcast review for this, so keep your eyes peeled to XBS over the next week, should be posted by Friday.
ihave the game and im a little disappointed that they didnt include the old cheat system, it saved my butt several times on those extrememly difficult contracts in Mercs 1, and with the contracts in Mercs 2 being harder to complete (in my opinion), it gets more and more frustrating doing them over and over.
@Zack I pointed out that there would be no cheats in this one. Slow down a little there is always a way to beat every mission. To be honest several ways you may want to try another tactic.
I will not buy this game for the simple fact they removed cheat codes. If you don’t like them, don’t use them – but why punish those of us with a God complex that just like walking around blowing things up with impunity? You lose nothing by incorporating cheat codes and you lose me (and I suspect MANY others) by removing them at least by keeping them you give people the option. Way to take yourself too seriously and ruin the experience…
@Aaron,
I can understand your point but I also understand the teams point. They worked hard to make a game that is fun and long giving more value to the player who buys it. I think codes are fine but they can also make it too easy to beat a game or rely on them. Cheats and code use has always been a heated topic and it’s sure to continue when companies remove them all together in a big title.
I was very exited to play it on PS2.Good thing I rented it first.The game is just horrible,the storyline,Ive seen better.The fat that there are no cheatcodes sucks.The developers had to see this coming,seriously.They better hope that not many people rent the game before buying it.
Well Like I said before rich, they can make the cheat codes available after you beat the game as a reward to go back and reek havoc. either way the game is good Aaron and your robbing yourself if your not going to play it because you need a cheat to win it.
I bought the orginal mercs about a week after it came out.got around to finishing it in nov 2007..it was the most played game that i own…..the mission were like a quater of the game for me always felt too much like work……the fun the fun for me that is…..was “blowing stuff up and blowing up again” the cheat codes made this way more enjoyable….just a little about me and my simple ways……the first time i used the cheat codes i spent five hours planting c4 on nk jeeps blowing em up and seeing if i could catch the burning wrecks before they hit the ground……without cheats this game gets one play through and off to ye olde box of games never to be played again …with cheats years of nonstop explosive fun….and if the orginal did not freeze every time i went to unleash my masterpiece of destruction…..guess i have to get a ps2 thanks i needed to rant a little…still give the game an 8 btw ….when i see all things i could be nonstop fuel bombing:(((((
@Timmy,
I can understand what you are saying but the game is a sanbox game! This means while you can complete the missions and follow the story you can also go off on your own and create havock blow stuff up etc. The only change is the code and no one here has any say in this.
I also disagree to those saying the game looks like a PS2 title. At forst I thought people just pade a mistake and meant PS3. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are nice looking and while the graphics may not be as impressive as some other games out there its also the total game that matters.
I am not going to go on about the code because I can’t make it happen. I would hope people play the game even if it means renting first and trying it. You can still do a ton of wild things but if you judge the game by if it has a cheat mode or not that is pretty closed minded IMO.
i think it looks great …..but the ps2 version has cheats….cheats make just stress free no frustrations simple minded not closed….nothing better than after a busy ten hour shift then coming home and puching in a few codes a leveling a few cities…theraputic…….imo
@everyone
I understand people not liking cheat codes, but think of the replay value now… I can’t STAND waiting for a c4 crate to come, and then you only get 5!!!! I’d be calling in crates left and right, then after burning through my fuel, I’d have to run around stealing it. I’ve already beaten the game without codes, now I want to destroy everything. Good thing I only rented it at first. I’d DEFINITELY not buy this game without cheats to liven it up post-completion. It has already gotten stale, and I still have one day left to rent. If I had codes, that’d be a completely different story… tsk tsk EA… I’ll think twice before buying your products now…
-Joel
@Joel
I am sure EA will miss your $60.00:P
its a bunch of bull that they got rid of cheats, it was a major downfall on my perspective of the game, and to many other people i know. In Mercs 1 after i beat the game, i started using cheats and i never got bored of the game. i have a feeling when i beat this game im gonna get bored of it, knowing that i can go blow stuff up, but only to a limit. and also knowing that i will be having to go get fuel every 10 minutes which slows down the fun and havoc. I was very disappointed but i guess i will have to live through it.
I first bought the game, thinking there would be cheat codes. When i brought it home only to find out that there are no cheat codes. I was dissapointed, but not to waste my $60 dollars i played it anyway.
And I must say even without the cheat codes, the game rocks. I thinks its one of the more challenging games out there. No cheat codes is a bummer but the level of detail and the myriad of things to do makes up for it. It would have been nice to have cheats when you beat it but i guess it works out ok.
The storyline so far is ok. Jennifer Mui’s story line is pretty funny. I dont know if theyre all the same but I find myself laughing at most of the cutscenes.
And i love the way the airstrikes and hijackings play out. Makes it much more challenging.
My girlfriend who doesnt play any video games played it for 10 minutes and said “I could get used to this” Needless to say she wouldnt give my back the controller.
I say Mercs 2 is a great game and those not trying or buying it because it has no cheat codes are really just pathetic. If you get enough money, you wont need cheat chodes.
The fuel idea is great. Another challenging aspect to the game that makes it worth while.
i liked the game im not done with it yet but im ok with there not being cheats it makes it more challenging. and besides its better that they got rid of cheats for the Co-op. it would be kinda lame walkin around with the portable air strike in co-op.
the only thing i wish was sometimes when im in veichals i wish it was 4 player instead of 2. but its still a good game with 2
I also agree that losing the cheats was a downfall for Mercenaries 2. But i’m not going to get pissed and cry about it, yeah it sucks that they dont have any cheats in it but it is still a very good game. And by making it the way they did it makes the game more realistic, isnt that what everybody is going for anymore? Yeah cheats were cool but Mercs 2 is way cooler than Mercs 1 ever was, and i’m going to whine and cry because of it and just enjoy the game for what it was meant to be.
They are bringing cheats with the update for the game, it will also include some other things, I forget now, but google it.
Mercs 2 is overall a wonderfully unfinished game. Good fun, too frustrating. Lost cheat codes and certain weapons from Mercs 1 are a shame, I was looking for them to evolve not discard? I’m halfway through the game and tired of the same old missions I can’t complete. With just a little cheat available this game would be far more enjoyable. I purchased, not downloaded so I assume if cheats are released I won’t be privy. Poor decision from a seasoned team. I would definitely not rush to buy a Mercs 3.
@John
One could read the comments from you and say perhaps the game is finished and you rely on codes to finish games? I am not saying that but to say a game is not finished just because they went with a non cheat system you find it unfinished is unfair. As a matter of fact it seems codes will be available to download for free soon. I wonder if they do put this out will people than think it’s a great game just because they added cheats? Just something to think about.
@Rich Reed
I saw your comment to Joel above about EA missing his $60.00. I thought it was funny but at the same time EA is in the business to make money and not to make video games that die hards think are cool because they don’t have cheats.
Just off the top of my head I know quite a few people who didn’t buy the game as a result of no cheat codes. So if that is just based on the ppl in my area, imagine when you apply that to the rest of the country.
I think it was an idiotic move by EA to remove the cheat codes. If you don’t like them, then don’t use them. And going back to the $60.00 comment. When EA looks at their quarterly sales on the game and notices it was way off base, I’m sure they will realize that it is smarter to appease the masses instead of having the small niche of hardcore gamers be happy with the game.
But what do I know. I mean why would EA want to have a free roaming game with cheat codes that resembles GTA? Its not like GTA is one of the highest selling/best games of all time or anything.
@Robert
The only way to get EA to listen is by emailing or calling them. My point was plain and simple they went with no cheats I have heard that they are going to offer a download but have not recieved any word from EA confirming this.
I really think today’s gamer thinks every game should have a cheat or cheats and that is a real shame. It’s not that I am knocking it but do we need each game to offer a cheat? If you want to complain and you have a right to do so then email EA they do read and take feedback. thanks for the comments.
Since when does EA ever listen to any customer? we got their attention with battle field bad company though.
@Rich
No, you misinterpreted my comment. It’s consider the game unfinished because gameplay is riddled with flaws. As for the cheats I feel they should be available to all users, especially the ones who don’t play the games enough to become a pro. If I paid full price I’d like to see all the weapons, content etc. that the programmers and artists designed. In fact if I was a designer, programmer, producer of the game I’d want anyone and everyone who purchased the game to see and play it from start to finish… even if they need a bit of help or don’t have the time to devote.
mercs 2 does have cheats you people must not be looking to good and i dont always use cheats but their are cheats for this game i’ve beating the game without cheats playing a second time now with cheats i found cheats for the 360 and cheats for ps2 and the ps3 so i dont know where you people are looking at but look in gamefaqs.com and yes i will use cheats after i have beatin the game once or twice to see if there is any diff. with the game and by the way they dont remove the cheats they just dont tell you about the cheats other people get the cheats for the games and sometimes the comps. will release the cheats but not always and its a good game
@justin,
You are reading old material the cheats were not there on the Xbox 360 version when first released once again we do not post things that are not true. There has been a title update and yes now there is cheats if you want to use them enjoy. Sorry but we do not post cheats on this site as a rule if you would join the forums you would have acess to cheats from Jason over at (VGS) about.com.