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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Battlefield 1943
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
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. Mercenaries 2 features a slew of potential clients, all willing to pay you to do their dirty work. Dirty deeds, done for exorbitant fees. 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. If you see it, you can buy it, steal it, or blow the living crap out of it. Play your own way, or play with the help of a friend in the new cooperative multiplayer mode. 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. Not everyone in the world of Mercenaries is as honorable. Everyone will try and screw you, given the chance. They think they can get away with it, because they don't know rule #1: EVERYBODY PAYS. [Pandemic Studios]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 90
Variety
Innumerable games strive for a cinematic vibe, but most fail to pull it off when they take themselves too seriously and overburden the gameplay with content better left in movies. Mercenaries 2 is the rare videogame that gets the balance just right.
 83
1UP
It won't light the world on fire, but this next-gen playground of destruction offers you tons to do (well, tons to explode), it's always enjoyable, and I dove right back in after the credits rolled.
83
GameZone
There are not many surprises here, but there is a lot of action and a great deal of entertainment value. Bigger and more robust than its predecessor, Mercenaries 2 is a solid action-adventure ride that combines role-play elements, solid characters and a sense of fun.
83
Game Revolution
Occasional hiccups or no, having this much open-world freedom to come at the enemy any old way you see fit is just too much damned fun.
82
Worth Playing
It's a good game that's prevented from being great by sub-par graphics, a few too many bugs and an overall lack of any serious challenge. If you can look past these shortcomings, however, Mercenaries 2 offers a great deal of high-energy explosive thrills and seriously satisfying action gameplay that is well worth your attention.
80
IGN AU
A heap of fun.
80
GameSpy
Mercenaries 2 is a lot of fun if you don't get bogged down by its rough-hewn minutiae and relish the simple pleasures of blowing things up.
80
GameDaily
World In Flames has a satisfying amount of destruction, whether you blow up an oilrig with a well-armed helicopter or bring down a building with C4 and gas tanks. It's engaging and exciting, especially if you play co-op.
80
Game Over Online
All considered though, Mercenaries 2 isn’t a complicated game to assess. It’s a stupid action game in a long and storied tradition of stupid action games.
80
Gameplanet
While a disaster on the PC, this game shines on the next-gen consoles. It's a back-to-basics title that allows you to destroy pretty much everything around you, and you'll have no end of fun doing so.
80
Playstation Official Magazine Australia
Fun. It's three little letters that seem to have been lost - Mercs 2 has it in spades! [Nov 2008, p.98]
79
Gamers' Temple
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is a good game if you like to watch things go boom.
79
GameTrailers
World in Flames delivers on what it tries to be--a high octane playground of destruction.
79
IGN
For every time I cursed the stupid AI, I cheered at the demolition of another building. For every bug that got me stuck in some bushes, there was an attack chopper waiting to be jacked. If Mercenaries 2 had more polish, it would have been a great game. As is, it’s still worth playing – and enjoyable – but falls far short of its promise.
78
Play UK
It’s a game with great intentions, but one that never lives up to its full potential. Nothing feels of suitable quality to really make the game world feel fantastic, and as such it falls short of all expectations.
77
Gamer 2.0
The game is worth a rental and a purchase if you want to keep your destruction going. So if you’re looking for a fun game, check out Mercs 2.
77
DailyGame
Blowing stuff up with a buddy absolutely rocks, but the AI is anything but intelligent and the graphics are a bit disappointing.
76
PSM3 Magazine UK
Technically weak and slightly scrappy but tons of simple fun. [Nov 2008, p.83]
75
Meristation
Mercenaries 2 states itself as a third person shooter with a heavy destructive component. Venezuela is the chosen scenario where each and every weapon available will be put to a test to destroy everything in our sight. Freedom of movement, driving and destroying is total. Despite the in-game missions and assignments become repetitive over time, the enjoyment the game provides is high. Technically a run-of-the-mill, has some memorable scenes nevertheless.
75
Electronic Gaming Monthly
It won't light the world on fire, but this playground offers plenty of things to do and destroy. [Nov 2008, p.69]
75
Gaming Age
Mercenaries 2, much like their in-game avatars, succeeds by getting the job done with no frills and nothing more. To many gamers that just may be enough.
73
Game Informer
I suppose it’s fitting that Mercs 2, like most topics bearing the weight of political posturing, is ultimately flaccid. But that doesn’t stop me from expecting more.
72
Cheat Code Central
Having to muddle through numerous menus to use the game's impressive airstrikes, travel all over the map to find work and shops, your inability to find a gun that fires straight, and a serious lack of challenge hamper what would otherwise be a fun and destruction-filled romp.
70
PSW Magazine UK
Mercs 2 is disappointing because its execution doesn't live up to its ambition. Though big and bold, There's a feeling that you've played it all before. And you have.
70
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Mercenaries 2 is arguably a bigger and more ambitious game than the original, but it feels less polished and less satisfying.
70
Playstation Official Magazine UK
It's not brilliant, and it's not terrible. Instead, it hovers in a murky region between the two. [Oct 2008, p.90]
70
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Non-stop action and an amazing destruction engine are the key elements in this sequel, even more ambitious than the original. And it’s true that a few flaws, especially in the graphics and AI, spoil the final result, but the mindless fun it’s all there. [Sept 2008]
70
ZTGameDomain
Mercs is all explosions with little care given to the wrappings. The lack of real story actually keeps the game playable and in the future Pandemic may be better off forgoing the pretense of plot.
70
Cynamite
If you’re a big a fan of blowing things up, then you’ll love this game. Literally everything can be turned into flames, but the longer you play the more you realize that Venezuela is not the real deal when it comes to “virtual paradise.”
69
PSX Extreme
It doesn't offer the most robust multiplayer experience, the visuals aren't sparkling, the audio is a mixed bag, and the gameplay isn't exactly cutting edge. But the scope of the game is commendable and there's certainly a ton of potential here - I just wish that potential received some polish before it was given to us.
69
3DJuegos
Only the unconditional fans of the most frantic and brainless action will find joy in World in Flames. Mercenaries 2 fails in its work to jump into the Next-Gen, and it´s because of repetitive and clumsy gameplay. Abundant Bugs, little difficulty and short term boredom are the main negative points of a game that only shines in the destructive way.
68
Game Chronicles
While the games action and explosive atmosphere are fun to behold the repetitive nature of the missions and mainly the glitches keep happening so repeatedly that enjoyment is fleeting.
60
Edge Magazine
The good news for fans of 2005’s Playground Of Destruction is that Mercenaries remains an absolute blast. [Nov 2008, p.92]
60
Gamer.nl
Killing for money is almost as good as gaming for money. That's why Mercenaries 2 is in theory a great game. But three and a half years after the first Mercenaries there hasn't been much of a change. Even the same antique design flaws are still present. Nevertheless the sheer size of the game and ability to destroy almost anything makes up for a lot of ground.
60
Play.tm
You can see the core of a decent game in here if you ignore the problems, albeit one that would be let down by uninspired mission design and a dodgy plot.
60
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
It's an overly ambitious game that falls tragically short of its goals. [Nov 2008, p.76]
60
VideoGamer
Once you get past the terrible opening missions and start blowing things up with massive explosions there's a game here that is worth a look, but it's criminally unpolished and as such will leave many gamers rather unsatisfied.
60
G4 TV
Mercenaries 2 won't entice those expecting glitch-free gaming, diverse missions, gritty realism, and cerebral combat. Yet for the run-and-gun crowd, it's escapist entertainment worth seeking out just for the sheer amount of chaos you can create within the colorful jungle setting. It’s not long, it's not deep, but it's never boring, especially with a friend.
60
AceGamez
To both its benefit and its detriment it's an unrefined concoction of so many volatile parts that you're never sure whether it's going to blow your mind or blow your head clean off.
59
Extreme Gamer
Overall Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is disappointing. There are a handful of noticeable bugs and glitches in the game, both in the cinematics and gameplay.
50
PTGamers
Mercs 2 turns out as a disappointing action game, weak in all technic departments, be it graphics, AI or the dead at birth multiplayer. So much wasted potential.
50
GameSpot
Mercenaries 2 is filled with bugs and glitches that are unacceptable in a retail release. Even if it were possible to overlook the broken elements, you're still left with abysmal AI, repetitive mission structure, unsatisfying weapons, and a huge world without much to do.
40
NTSC-uk
It’s unfortunate that so much of the game world is so irredeemably broken.
Sebastien M. gave it an8: R B gave it an8: AJ K gave it a10: Andy P. gave it a7: Mark W. gave it an8: flargman4 a. gave it a10: Daniel P. gave it a10: |
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