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[Drafter-T]

Originally Posted by FATT47

So how are the controls? are they basically like Socom, movement wise and all.
I like most of the button assignments for Socom, but like Splinter Cell, that game had some real strange feelin button action, for me anyway, I never could get use to the way it felt along with some of the button prompts, that pretty much ruined the game for me.

Yeah, it's real similar to SOCOM, but not identical. You move around and aim with the analog sticks the same way and you fire with R1. You switch weapons with R2, and L1 throws grenades. It hasn't been frustrating to switch from SOCOM to Mercs, for me at least.

Up or down on the d-pad lets you do other stuff like call in air strikes or call for more weapons. You can even look up and see the helicoptor dropping in the crate, then you walk up to it and hit square to bust it open with your weapon, pretty cool stuff.

[Drafter-T]

I got the game today! I haven't spent enough time with it to really give it it's due, but I'm really excited about it from what I've seen so far.

One thing that sticks out to me early on is you take a much more active role in things that happen. When you call for extraction, for example, instead of just watching a cut scene, you actually have to pick up the guy you are capturing and take him to the helicopter.

The story line seems to be impressive so far. Could it be possible that this game is better than SOCOM 2?? I'm not saying that yet, it's way too early, but this game is really good, I know that for sure.

[Drafter-T]

Just a bit more, then I'll quit for tonight, lol.

This game has some innovations in it that I don't think I've seen yet. For example in the cut scenes... when you are getting your assignments, you can sit down, stand up, walk around... all while you are listening to what you are supposed to do next, lol. And at the end of the scene you accept the assignment by walking up to whoever is giving it to you and hit triangle.

Kinda small potatoes really, but the cut scene is somewhat interactive and that's a step forward as I see it. Much better than just watching a video and it kinda opens up some possiblities for some future games maybe?

The ability to drive vehicles is big and the whole feel of the game is solid, much like that of SOCOM. It's a bit different, but comparable, IMO. The only way I can think of to describe this game is to say it's a good mix of SOCOM and GTA.

[Drafter-T]

I've got a much better handle on this game today than I did yesterday. It's definitely set up just like GTA, in that you have can choose which direction you go and what you do.

The main object of the game is to capture the "Deck of 52" alive, starting with the "2 of Clubs" all the way up to the "Ace of Spades". You can kill them, but from what I can tell, it's best to keep them alive. You would think every mission would be geared towards capturing these people, but it's not. In fact, it seems that most of the time you just sort of happen upon them as you are doing other things.

You spend alot of time doing missions to make money, since it costs money to call for an air strike or for a weapons drop. You really have to think thru what you want to call for since there's money involved.

The hardest part of the game so far seems to be keeping the Factions that you are working for happy. Just like in GTA, you go work for this guy, then some other guy and you have a few people you have to please. Same situation here, like the South Korean faction wants you to go against the Chinese faction, well you have a decision to make because you do contract work for both of them.

The game is not nearly as structured as SOCOM is and that's a good thing, IMO. AWESOME GAME!!! Woooooo Hoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

[Infernal Mass]

Great impressions overall, this game is highly recommended by me. Pandemic studiosdid a superb job with this project. If you liked the action in games like freedom fighters and the sandbox style gameplay of GTA this is an excellent game to try out.

[Drafter-T]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Mercs is better than SOCOM 2, but maybe it depends on how you look at it. If you compare the offline part of SOCOM 2 to Mercs... Mercs wins easily, IMO.

Now, SOCOM 2 might still be the overall better game just because of the online play. The jury is still out on if Mercs without online play can beat SOCOM 2 with online play, but it's looking good for Mercs, to me at least (so far).

I know it's only January, but Mercs has got to be a strong candidate for Game of the Year, IMHO. All I know is, I'm having a blast with this game. I highly recommend it to anybody that likes shooters... 3rd person shooters in particular.

[Drafter-T]

Originally Posted by Infernal Mass

Great impressions overall, this game is highly recommended by me. Pandemic studiosdid a superb job with this project. If you liked the action in games like freedom fighters and the sandbox style gameplay of GTA this is an excellent game to try out.

LOL, sorry Infernal Mass, I was typing my post as you posted yours. Didn't notice your post until I submitted mine.

I agree with you, this game is superb. Funny thing is, it took me by total surprise. Can't count the times I've looked forward to certain games, only to be disappointed, but Mercs is definitely a diamond in the rough.