Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Preview
Ultimate sandbox experience?
by Chris Davis
previewed on PS3
The road to revenge
Like so many other sandbox games before it, Mercenaries prides itself in having a large open world, that allows you to roam freely wherever you want. However, there are few games in recent memory that are as large in scale as World In Flames. While 2001’s Operation Flashpoint introduced the player to entire islands to roam and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas showed off an entire state.
Mercenaries 2 takes the cake, as it lets players roam the entire country of Venezuela. Players will be able to explore (and blow the crap out of) six major cities including the capital of Caracas, as well as the jungle, mountains, and villages inbetween. Taking place in a coastal nation, players can also explore offshore, visiting outcropping islands. Needless to say it is very easy to spend hours entirely focused on exploration.
Mercenaries 1 was a great game that reached critical acclaim as a combat sandbox title. Pandemic, the developer, was tremendously proud of their accomplishment, but several issues were prevalent throughout the experience. The most complained about topic was something that wasn’t technically possible when it made its debut last generation: co-op. Now that broadband internet is becoming increasingly more common, Pandemic has seen fit to have the game built from the ground with hop-in-hop-out two player cooperative gameplay that only requires a simple invite to join in on. Xbox 360 players will be delighted to hear that the achievements will carry over to the co-op play and allows players to help one another raise their gamerscores.
Whatever it takes
The first Mercenaries game prided itself on over-the-top action that never got old. Mercs 2 looks to make good on the same promise and then some, providing plenty of tools to more than just get the job done. Needless to say the most fun part of Mercs 1 was the ability to call in awe-inspiring support that could level anything and everything in sight, ranging from a simple artillery strike to carpet bombing runs and even, if you had the cash, a daisy cutter. World in Flames looks to take this aspect even further with the introduction of the game’s ultimate weapon: the tactical nuke. Players will also be able to call in orders for vehicles and weapons just like the previous game.
Mercenaries 2 looks to be shaping up into a fantastic experience despite what the Venezuelan government wants you to believe. The games arrives on August 31st, so clear a space on your shelf because this one might be with you for a while.
