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People say Mercenaries is good, smarmy Mojo readers and staff feel put out 12 Jan, 2005 / Comments: 12

By Jake


So Mercenaries looked pretty shit when it was first announced. We pissed on it a lot. Then we saw it at last E3, and we were actually pretty amused. The game didn't look too bad, though we thought it might have only seemed cool because the guy demoing it kept dropping dozens and dozens of jeeps from the sky and blowing them up, to show off the engine, and because it was awesome. Well, maybe Mercenaries isn't shit after all.

The game got a 9.1 on IGN and a 5 out of 5 on GameSpy. If that isn't enough to at least make you question your assumptions about how the game is guaranteed to be a terrible waste, take a look at its page on GameRankings, where it's averaging 90%. I have no clue if the game is genuinely good or not, but we were obviously a bit too hard on it when it was initially announced. First impressions are a bitch.

In other Mercenaries news, there are two tongue-in-cheek TV ads for the game (one, two) which some may find amusing. They are at least trying here. I suspect Mercenaries will do pretty well.
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12 Comments

  • Trunks on 16 Jan, 2005, 13:15…
    According to a GameFAQs thread (http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=919925&topic=18733283), the following news ticker line is in the game:

    "Cancellation of Sam and Max causes prison riot."
  • Guyfrench Threepwood on 15 Jan, 2005, 04:27…
    Errm first impression a bitch ? It still looks like some massive waste'em all.
  • Murray the Chao on 12 Jan, 2005, 18:31…
    I miss the good old days when we still had stuff like Sam & Max,Monkey Island and even the Super Star Wars trilogy(which is prime GBA material, but instead they HAD to go and do Apprentice of the Force)

    At least we still have AGDInteractive(formerly Tierra)for remade Sierra adventures and Cyan for the MYST series.

    I believe The Longest Journey is also quite popular, though I haven't even seen it myself.
  • Udvarnoky on 12 Jan, 2005, 16:58…
    Luckily I'm still very bitter about what LEC has done, so I don't have to worry about pesky things such as "being fair" and shit.
  • Jake on 12 Jan, 2005, 15:48…
    The fact that Mercenaries is intentionally a bit over the top and a bit comedy seems to be beyond the complainers. That is disappointing.

    I do agree (since it's blindingly obvious) that things like Mercenaries are beneath what LucasArts used to be, but I'm not beneath giving them credit for publishing a game that many say is quality entertainment. Baby steps.
  • Remi O on 12 Jan, 2005, 16:10…
    It also seems that most people only remember LEC's old adventure games, and completely block out the other half of games they released. Sure, "Mercenaries" is more over the top than "Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe" and "Super Star Wars" were, but those games are probably a better comparison than DOTT or whatever.
  • Jake on 12 Jan, 2005, 16:47…
    Let us not forget Masters of Teras Kasi, Big Sky Trooper, etc etc. The list of dubious LEC titles, even during the "good period" is very very long.
    ,br>Pandemic seems vaguely trustyworthy as a studio - even if their overall high concept design ideas, and their writing, aren't all that great - they're clearly a really talented group of game developers. I hope LucasArts publishes more of their titles, and maybe lets them run a little more loose.

    Considering Mercenaries seems solid, and considering Pandemic is also the studio making Destroy All Humans (for THQ), I suspect that if given enough time Pandemic will deliver a classic game-for-the-ages or two, even if Mercenaries and Destroy All Humans aren't the ones yet. I'm giving them time, I hope publishers do too.
  • Jake on 07 Apr, 2005, 02:24…
    "Trustyworthy." Good work, me from a few months ago.
  • grogmonkey on 12 Jan, 2005, 15:35…
    The game may be OK but I am still morbidly depressed at what Lucas has become. Has anyone else seen these TV adds?! One goes something like...

    "Blow things up.
    Blow more things up.
    Blow the crap out of things."

    Keep in mind that this is the same company that once brought us the subtle comidic brillance of Sam and Max and DOT! I thought LEC was above this mindless horseshit. How far the mighty have fallen
  • Metallus on 12 Jan, 2005, 11:45…
    Greet the cultural elite, beeyatch.
  • Shanty on 12 Jan, 2005, 09:48…
    I find it amusing how fast the guy in the commercials is able to say "rated T for teen". At least, that's what I *think* he's managed to cram into that one milisecond.
    Oh, and Gamerankings is not God!
  • bgbennyboy on 12 Jan, 2005, 08:45…
    Hmm, reading those reviews it does sound like good fun, it looks a little drab though.

    It's a sad situation where we now give lec credit for trying :~