Okay first off let me say I do love this game.

And no dephect, it wasn't a fucking pirated copy..lol.

I was a little bummed about some things, upon initial play. There is just some shit you don't pick up on until you get the game in your own little grubby hands.

Quite a few of you guys have been saying how it's like a cheesy cartoon or comic book. It is. I like this aspect because it's not taking itself TOO seriously..but the story is cut and dry just like the first Mercs. In fact it feels like the exact scenario was kept intact, just refurnished and repainted. You definitely get that familiar Merc's feeling 2 hours into the game:

"Why the hell am i driving around in a lame ass jeep doing shit with listening posts..fuck."



Why can't I play as you, naked..

Let me stress, sandbox lovers play a game like this for the game play, not the story. I was playing co-op with my friend, and he couldn't stand the fact that I wanted to watch the cutscenes. I can't *SKIP* them, I need to feel that attachment to the world, I need to know what situation I'm getting my character in to. It's all the more fun that way.

Co-op..that's another thing. Yeah it's the fucking shit, but it's also a double edged sword. If your buddy fucks something up, it affects you as well. My friend was killing mad civilians, beating up PMC dudes with his melee attack, and shooting RPG's in to the facades of residential buildings. This is all well and good, and I had a few good cackles over the mic..but any negative action results in money detraction (just like the first game). I kept saying shit like:

"Yo man, be easy be easy"

"chill"

And he kept ignoring me. He also kept taking ALL the fucking money enemies left behind, and because I had friendly fire on, careless RPG or grenade attacks would fuck me over.

In other words, this extreme take on sandbox with two players can encourage psychotic scenarios that even Heath Ledger's Joker would deem taboo. It's played best when both people stick close and take a tactical approach to the game play. Many times I just got fed up and dipped quick in a motorcycle, just to be a dickhead to my friend...lol.



It's not this bad..but it can get damn close

Graphics. This is a big problem. I totally understand that this game was multi-platform and so sacrifices had to be made..unfortunately it just looks kind of ugly on PS3. How can I sum it up for you tl;dr's...it's tough. Think of it as Mercs 1 with a really shiny coat of paint. The physics and all that shit are the same. BahamutZero's right, the explosions are pretty fucking awesome...but the way shit like walls or buildings crumble kind of look choppy and rough. I think I've seen better water effects on the Gamecube, too...but when you're in the thick of a firefight, or exploring the jungles of Venezuela, you won't really complain about the graphics.

The game itself is very smooth running, especially pick up/drop out co-op. Mercs 2 succeeds in many departments where GTA4 failed, but I have to say, Rockstar beat them in the physics and graphical department. Then again, the Merc 2 maps are enormous and the level of interactivity is just as large..so it balances out. I told my friend not to concentrate so much on the Ps2-esque visuals, and it became much more pleasurable.



So, for you ADD kids:

-fun shit, blow up is satisfying
-graphics like a pretty ps2
-co-op smooth and 2x fun
-still a lot of the same old merc's
-don't rush, battles should be methodical and savored