It has been far too long. As always, with me, there was just too much going on and not enough time to spare detailing what little gaming I was doing. But the other trend is that I always come back and try to catch-up.

So let's get on with that...

The easiest place is looking over my GameFly history and playing "Remember When...", hopefully memory provides something of worth:

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

An idea of pure, perfect insight. Watch people play GTA. What do they always end up doing? Right. They cause random havoc while giggling at the chaos they cause. No matter who they are or how dedicated to completing the storyline, they will always end up in moments of grinning devastation. Now, I can't say that Pandemic saw this trend and acted on it, but Mercenaries 2 ended up delivering far more satisfying ability to revel in that sort of thing while still providing a fun progression to follow between your moments of mayhem.

Let's start with the GameSpot Review. I don't understand some of these "professionals" sometimes... I really don't. An absurd quest for vengeance? If that's a bad thing then why is it a video game staple, the basis upon which a great many supposedly successful games are built? There is nothing wrong with Mercenaries 2's story that hasn't been seen elsewhere, including GTA IV where ole Niko's absurd quest for vengeance and resulting hijinx earned him an Editor's Choice. Bad voice acting? Where? Sorry, Aaron, but the voices were just fine.

While the gunplay isn't extremely satisfying, this is an Action/Adventure game and not a Shooter, so why would you expecting stunningly accurate depictions of weapons? And, contrary to what is stated, it isn't that hard at all to follow and take down targets. Inconsistent damage? Gameplay was comfortable enough for me not to be troubled to do a statistical analysis of the damage I was dealing. And, go figure, military vehicles aren't a snap to destroy. Who would have guessed? While I love the tear-jerking commentary on the lack of high-explosive ordinance, because how DARE the game not let us just use rockets to kill EVERYTHING, that last bit with the complaints about shops is my favorite. Is he for real? Can he DO that? I mean... to follow complaining that the weapons aren't realistic enough with a complaint that you can't just walk into a store to buy them quick and easy?

Next, and let me get this straight, we complain about the size of the world and there not being enough in it? I hate to keep comparing to GTA IV but the games really are too similar in features to just pass these examples by. News flash, folks, there is just as much to do in one as the other. In terms of moving around the world, playing in the sandbox, and finding missions... the two games are identical in function. Even to the point of it being the player's prerogative to go run amok in the sandbox rather than make the sometimes lengthy and poorly directed drive to their next mission objective. In the end, World in Flames' rendition of Venezuela is much smaller and easier to navigate than most of the GTA cities. It takes more than a stray bullet to destroy your relationship with any of the game's factions, not sure where Aaron gets that or that random friendly soldiers shooting at you bit. Doesn't happen.

Unless you are an idiot and rolling around in a rival factions vehicles, pretending to be them.

As for the information about the NPCs... I never had any difficulties dropping airstrikes that were not easily (and reasonably) explained by having drawn attention to myself before trying. It is insanely hilarious that there are complaints that you have to gather parts for the mechanic. Because things should just come for free, right? No need to put forth any effort to earn them? What's more... you have to find and acquire munitions for your airstrikes and fuel and money just the same way. Why no complaints about those things?

I love this next part so much, I have to directly quote it: "Mercenaries 2 purports to give you all sorts of freedom when it comes to how you exact your revenge, but in reality, your choices are few. Yes, there are different factions and groups spread out across the map, but typically only one of them has a contract that will help advance the storyline, and you can get nearly to the end of the game before having to pick one side over another"

So... he is implying that the game claims to give you freedom but actually doesn't right before he makes a statement that tells you that you can do whatever you want before you have to lock into a path. Are you with me here? How can you have few choices whenever you can take whatever action you like? The statement isn't blatantly contradictory, but man how ridiculous...

While the AI is not particularly gifted, I have never had them not search me out or just stand there. I have never experienced most of that paragraph describing the bevvy of bugs and problems. Yes, I have seen some odd things happen with clipping and objects doing goofy things in the world but I can say the same of GTA IV and many other games too. Is it acceptable? Not if it happens all of the time, which Mercenaries 2 does not. Again, there isn't anything in this aspect that World in Flames does not share similar games and it wasn't the end of the world with those, so why so much attention and importance here?

Bottom line, it isn't a massively impressive game and it doesn't deserve kudos heaped upon it. For all of my comparisons to GTA IV, it is the lesser game in every measurable way. The engine is weaker, the imagery less impressive, the sound quality not a high, the story not as immersive, and the overall gameplay not as satisfying. But being less than a great game doesn't mean that it is a bad one and many of the complaints leveled in the GS review are unsound at best.