Another great title that gets overshadowed, by a "Big Release"
User Rating: 9.1 | Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction PS2
Thanks to an error on my Merceneries Disc for X-Box, and a lack of X-Box Stock, I am now the proud owner of Merceneries for PS2, I will admit after hearing the loading time and graphics horror stories of the PS2 version I can say without a doubt that alot of them are simply falsehoods. I would even go as far as to say this game was made for a PS2 controller. For starters I can't stress enough that this is a MUST own title, it is just simply worth the purchase price, it is entertaining on a whole new level. Play it for the sake of completing the mission at hand (IE Eliminating the "Deck of Cards") or just run around and blow stuff up. Its alot like GTA in that regard. From a Gameplay standpoint I would it was very smooth, I played all of the GTA's on PS2 first and therefore found that I was able to really snap right into the game without missing a beat. I would go as far as to say that the PS2 version is as smooth as the X-Box and any of the "Hiccups" are the same sort of "Freezes" and slowed reactions that I faced with the X-Box version. The flow of the game is excellent and storyline and the opition for you to do what you want in chosing most of your missions is a really solid concept, but it did make for me having lots of save files, so I could go back and try another route. Loading time was noticable, but forgivable. Some of the Maps are simply massive and the lack of in game loading makes these few moments worth it Graphically the game is good, for a game of its kind, I wouldn't walk into this expecting RE4, but for a game of its type it is well done. The Characters are all detailed along with any major players you deal with, although some of the random thugs scream "Generic" The levels were still very similar in comparison to X-Box the ONLY thing you are losing is some of the colors, but even with that it took me a few minutes to realizes, and unless you are side by side comparing you will not even notice. Some of the explosion effects seem a touch tacked on, but all and all it was pretty solid. Sound, I did notice a difference here, and I will say this, in this RARE case where you are a Duel X-Box and PS2 Owner and you have a solid 5.1 system and you are a VERY picky gamer when it comes to distant sound detail, the X-Box version does have an edge, but its such a none issue for me, I did notice the difference but it DID NOT take away from the game play at all, And I would be hard pressed to find even the MOST picky gamers who would say that it effects gameplay in the least. As a whole its well done, voice acting was first rate and for the most part any sound effects were well done, I did find however that the issues with weapons fire upclose sounding off I had with X-Box is corrected for PS2, The Value to this game is through the roof, I could play it start to finish ten times and I don't see me ever playing the same "Game" as the last, it is worth it for the price just for replayability. And the game is so well done from a story standpoint it sucks you in from the very start. Overall, I can't stress this enough its just excellent, be it on PS2 or X-Box. If you liked the GTA series you will like this no question. -Z
