Product Description

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is an explosive open-world action game set in a massive, highly reactive, war-torn world. When a power-hungry tyrant messes with Venezuela's oil supply he sparks an invasion that turns the country into a war zone. But for you, international crisis is all upside: You are a mercenary, and you profit from chaos. 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. 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 co-op multiplayer mode. And remember rule #1 for mercenaries: EVERYBODY PAYS.

• Massively Open World - Play throughout the varied terrains of Venezuela that is larger than all the Mercenaries maps combined.
• Work for the Highest Bidder - You decide which factions to work for and when. From oneoff pick-up jobs to complex multi-objective missions your choices will decide how the game progresses and which faction wins the war.
• New Toys - Over 130 vehicles from civilian cars to tanks and choppers plus all the destructive weaponry you can handle from pistols to rocket launchers.
• Co-op Multiplayer - Whether split-screen or online you no longer have to go it alone. Invite a friend to jump in and help you fight your way to the top.
• Next Gen Destruction - Take down any building and see them crumble with fantastic effects - and they can be used to take out enemy forces and change the landscape of the battlefield.
• Build Your Own Private Military Company - Recruit other mercenaries to build out your arsenal and options until you have the ultimate array of options to play with.
• Playable Water - Fly over it, swim through it, race across it in boats. No longer just something to look at, water is an active part of the game.
  

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1794 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2008-09-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
• Dimensions: .29 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review

If there really isn’t any such thing as bad publicity then Mercenaries 2 is already doing superbly. It certainly already has its fair share of infamy, after being denounced by the Venezuelan government as propaganda for the U.S. Army and even dragging Bono (who part owns developer Pandemic) into a row over its probity. Mind you North Korea weren’t too keen about the first game either and that turned out all right.

The reason poor Bono’s name has been dragged into the dirt is that the game’s plot revolves around a U.S. led invasion of Venezuela after a dictator takes control in a coup. It’s pretty hard to get offended about a game as gleefully silly as this though as its interests are clearly not politics but simply blowing things up as creatively as possible. As before you’re dropped into the war zone and free to ply your mercenary trade with whomever you want. However, this time you’re in charge of your own PMC (Private Military Company) and get to set up your own base and recruit your own soldiers.

Owning your own PMC gives you a lot more control over how exactly you play the game in what is essentially Grand Theft Auto in a warzone. Everything you see can be completely destroyed from innocuous shrubbery to be the biggest buildings. You can now swim as well and there’s lot more vehicles and gadgets, from helicopters to grappling hooks. With an online co-op mode as well even Hugo Chávez couldn’t fail to be entertained (maybe).

Manufacturer's Description

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 war zone.

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 technology â€" everything from shiny new sports cars to the future-tech satellite-guided bunker-busting mini-nuke. Tanks, APCs, boats, luxury automobiles â€" 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: fulfill the terms of the contract, no matter what. Not everyone in the world of Mercenaries is as honorable â€" 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.

Customer Reviews

Give it a chance!
I was a big fan of the first Mercenaries game, and eagerly awaited this one, but I must admit I was a tad disappointed when I fist saw the visuals. I agree with the other reviews that the graphics are lacking a bit, they are probably on a par with the first playstation 2 game to be brutally honest. It also takes a bloody long time for the game to install too, I had time to go for a smoke and a brew and it still hadn't finished, but be patient it will eventually do it's thing.

Ok, so the graphics remain to be desired and it takes ages to install, but this game is incredibly fun to play. The fact that you can destroy pretty much anything in the game is so cool. In Mercs 2 you also need to find your own munitions and fuel to use in airstrikes etc, and call in your helicopter pilot to come and pick them up. This adds an interesting new angle to the game. Other than that it follows a similar vein to the previous game, with contracts to complete and bounties to capture/kill (there's no deck of 52 this time though, which I was quite disappointed about). The game is also free roam like last time.

In conclusion then I would say Mercs 2 is definitely worth a play (go and rent it if you don't want to buy it). If you can look past the graphics, (which in retrospect aren't actually that bad), and see what a fun game it is then you're in for an enjoyable gaming experience. I've not played on-line yet so I can't comment on that, but I can vouch for the single player and say this is probably one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played, so just give it a chance.

Brilliant
Mercenaries 2 is one of those games that is simply there for the fun factor, it's not necessarily there for the storyline or depth. It is just there to give you a hell of a crazy and over the top game that you can just pick up and go nuts with. There's not much to say about it as, like I say it's not very deep in regards to a storyline. Your basic goal is to win the trust of factions and do jobs for them, blowing up buildings, collecting bounties etc. That's basically it and depending on who you are it depends on you carrying out the mission covertly or with all guns blazing.

The main gem of this game is the surprising look and detail of it as due to the size of the map and the destructability, the detail of it is excellent and the displaying of the tropical setting is truly jaw dropping. The vehicles are plenty and range from heavy set high artillery tanks to fast sport cars. Other vehicles such as army helicopters and a range of boats also allow the game to be more flexible and fun.

I must admit that I use the cheats whilst playing the game and just like going nuts and blowing everything up. One of the cooler weapons in the game is the introduction of the Nuclear Bunker Buster. That's right a Nuclear bomb at your disposal. It's not the type of Nuke you'd expect but it's still pretty awesome to target a building and watch the mushroom cloud expel from the grouns with flames afoot.

My review isn't very detailed, but there you go. If I had to tell you one thing that would make you buy this game it would be this. This game is just so much fun I'm not even kidding. Try blowing up an oil rig and then try to tell me that isn't the coolest thing you've done on a game.

Better than it Looks
Ok, this game is no where near as bad as many people are making out. The third person view works great and the game never gets old. In-game you get the chance to hiijack tanks as well as planes and there is no shortage of weapon variety. Also unlike most games brought out nowadays the campaign is more fun than online.
Yes, online could have been better, but most people get used to the ability to fly a plane after a while.
I was not going to buy this game, because I thought it would be another boring shooter/war game, but the surroundings in Venezuela make it worth while.
Yes I got this game on the cheap [£25 in Morrissons] but it is worth a lot more.
Well worth buying.