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Killzone: Mercenary Reviews Thread
- Thread starter DarkLordMalik
- Start date
Yoshi
Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
I think that's a bit unfair, why would you rate a game higher if you are writing for an exclusive publication? I know I wouldn't and didn't do that. Also: The SixthAxis is not an exclusive publication, is it? They seem to review 360 and Wii U games, too.
I've been playing the MP Beta thanks to a recommendation on here, and think it's amazing! Then again, I just bought my Vita and haven't done any handheld gaming apart from my iPhone/iPad..
Will be buying this when it gets a discount. After paying $0.99 for games for so long, it seems hard to accept paying $$$ for a handheld title.
Will be buying this when it gets a discount. After paying $0.99 for games for so long, it seems hard to accept paying $$$ for a handheld title.
I don't think the point is " OMG wtf? How could people possibly have different opinions than me?" Rather," What is it about this game that causes such polarising opinions, and will it impact my enjoyment of the game?".
sechsterangriff
Member
I've been enjoying playing the beta for days now and yesterday I was finally able to play the first mission of the campaign. It seems like a very solid FPS campaign with some good strategy elements to it (stealth, gun blazing, shoot security cameras). I can't wait to play it more!
A Sentient Keyboard
Member
That would be a 1/10 or 2/10. A 5.5/10 is a game that's mediocre, but not offensively bad.
(Unless that was your point and it went completely over my head)
I think that's unfair. I'd definitely see it more as an 8 than a 6.
You have to take into account you can't create a console game on the Vita. There will be limitations to what you create and what matters is how the developer handles the limitions. In Mercenary's case they did a great job. Yes, there's only 8 people in MP at a time, but the maps are just the right size for 8 people, have great design so you don't go minutes before finding someone, yet have enough room to hide and avoid attackers if need be, for instance. Things like that deserve praise, not marking down imo.
Triggerhappytel
Member
To be fair, TSA overscore almost every big heavily-hyped game. They've given tens to Fables and Forzas in the past, I know for sure. Not sure about Halos as their search function on the mobile site is just horrible.
They started as a PlayStation-focused site (hence the name), but they review everything equally (equally generous) these days.
I haven't played, I was just guessing a bit, based on the reviews I read. But ok, fair enough. I really don't think I would view this is a 9 (close to perfect game) if I played it however.
Campaign is pretty short? (one review said 4 hours?)
Oh well, I'm sure they were playing on easy and not getting objectives. I'm not too bothered by campaign length on handhelds. I'll be getting it for the evergreen nature of the multiplayer sort of like LBPV and PSABR I still play those games to this day).
I'm sure I'll enjoy the campaign, and replay it, in spite of the length.
Like, it's an FPS on a handheld, no big deal.
Oh well, I'm sure they were playing on easy and not getting objectives. I'm not too bothered by campaign length on handhelds. I'll be getting it for the evergreen nature of the multiplayer sort of like LBPV and PSABR I still play those games to this day).
I'm sure I'll enjoy the campaign, and replay it, in spite of the length.
Like, it's an FPS on a handheld, no big deal.
Great review, thanks. Friday can't come quick enough!
Yes, it's 9 chapters that personally took me 3 hours (on normal) to beat.
It has those types of contracts though, that means you can replay the mission and have some requirements to meet (ie kill a number of enemies with this type of weapon and do it fast). It's an interesting idea, but the campaign's length is really, really disappointing.
Ruud_Luiten
Member
You really do have to wonder what is considered a 9/10 or 10/10 graphics Vita game.
Duxxy3
Member
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
I think the reason a lot of review sites dont know how to review Vita games or get the whole console gaming on the go thing is because of how they picture handheld gamers.
These are guys that spend a lot of time playing games and have no issues having time to play on a console on a TV etc etc. So to them a portable is for playing when travelling.
In reality there are a lot of people out there who play portables for their portability within the home and the ability to play games without taking up the TV / abandoning your family to go to another room and play games. Its these people that want this sort of game, but they don't understand that and it seems to really effect the reviews.
After all they don't review phone and tablet games this way or even the 3ds really because its never trying to sell the console gaming on the go thing (even though 3ds does that with the likes of mario games).
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I actually like the idea of the short campaign that is replayable. In shooters that try to be film like in some regards I actually prefer shorter replayable campaigns. Just like how I rewatch 90-120 min action movies but convincing my self to rewatch LotR's extended editions takes some convincing lol..
For example I loved gears of wars short 5-6 hour campaign and replayed it a ton. Its sequels were a fair bit longer and because of that it would feel more of a slog to replay. But this is a hugely subjective thing.
These are guys that spend a lot of time playing games and have no issues having time to play on a console on a TV etc etc. So to them a portable is for playing when travelling.
In reality there are a lot of people out there who play portables for their portability within the home and the ability to play games without taking up the TV / abandoning your family to go to another room and play games. Its these people that want this sort of game, but they don't understand that and it seems to really effect the reviews.
After all they don't review phone and tablet games this way or even the 3ds really because its never trying to sell the console gaming on the go thing (even though 3ds does that with the likes of mario games).
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I actually like the idea of the short campaign that is replayable. In shooters that try to be film like in some regards I actually prefer shorter replayable campaigns. Just like how I rewatch 90-120 min action movies but convincing my self to rewatch LotR's extended editions takes some convincing lol..
For example I loved gears of wars short 5-6 hour campaign and replayed it a ton. Its sequels were a fair bit longer and because of that it would feel more of a slog to replay. But this is a hugely subjective thing.
non-generic art
not_so_special
Banned
if anything killzone have one of the best art design on the fps genere
The emphasis for the single player is on unlocking additional objectives for each mission while you play. It's not meant to be played once or twice.
SentryDown
Member
jeuxvideo.com
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00018874-killzone-mercenary-test.htm
You're not dreaming, PS Vita finally hosts the FPS it deserves. Killzone Mercenary offers at the same time a great gameplay, outstandings graphics and a solid multplayer mode. We could blame the shortness of the campaign but seeing the the whole quality, we have pleasure to replay missions in order to unlock every weapon and every secret in the game.
17/20
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00018874-killzone-mercenary-test.htm
You're not dreaming, PS Vita finally hosts the FPS it deserves. Killzone Mercenary offers at the same time a great gameplay, outstandings graphics and a solid multplayer mode. We could blame the shortness of the campaign but seeing the the whole quality, we have pleasure to replay missions in order to unlock every weapon and every secret in the game.
17/20
Triggerhappytel
Member
I wonder whether those who reviewed the multiplayer played the full thing, the private beta (which I understand had three maps?) or the recent PS+/public beta with only one map.
But then i always think.. sure its admirable what they can do with the limitations. But why should i accept them? If i can get the real deal better on a console. I always find it such a shame and waste of time when a developer makes a game like this. Vita has too short of a battery life to play a game like this outside (these types of games are made for long play sessions, since you want to immerse yourself into it). And when im inside... well why should i play the killzone with limitations when i can play the 'full' game on my console? I really like handheld gaming (im talking about vita/3ds not mobile) but i like the type of games who dont try to be a console expierence.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
They should make them because people like me who hardly have anytime to play on a TV still want these types of games. If you have as much time as you want to play on home consoles then sure, but that's not really who the target is.
3 hours..? 9 contracts.. 20 minutes per contract..? did you rush ALOT..? I took my time and used 30-60 minutes per contract.. there are lots od ways to tackle each contract. Stealth, Rambo or whatever.. but 20 minutes seems like you rushed straight through it..
ok I am probably the only person in the world who took his time to find all intel (I got a trophy t prove it).. but that was after I completed the game once.. it took me around 6-7 hurs on my first playthrough.
VGNetowrk.it - Italy - 9
SentryDown
Member
Call me a fanboy but the Sixth Axis review is the more accurate in my opinion. Sure this isn't the best shooter in the world but it's the best handheld shooter ever made. When I see how high-rated are Modern Combat/NOVA with their poor tactile controls, I can't understand why Vita games are so under-rated
Eurogamer gave a 7
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-04-killzone-mercenary-review
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-04-killzone-mercenary-review
Kaisersalsek
Member
I go snowboarding for 2 hours for more money than this game - even if the campaign is only 3 hours, multiplayer is endless and mission replayability looks great - £25 is still better value than the £30 snowboarding sessions I have! Starfox 3ds only took me an hour to beat and cost more (and didn't even have online multiplayer).
Hip Hop
Member
This game is great and all, really impressed but my most important thing here is online multiplayer.
What I found is that there are so many "cheap" stuff in the game.
Flying drones, Portable shields, rockets shooting down from the sky, etc.
The gun on gun aspect is perfect, it's just that I'm concerned about the other stuff. It's game breaking for me.
What I found is that there are so many "cheap" stuff in the game.
Flying drones, Portable shields, rockets shooting down from the sky, etc.
The gun on gun aspect is perfect, it's just that I'm concerned about the other stuff. It's game breaking for me.
DiscoJer
Member
And that's what many PC gamers feel about consoles.
Why are console limitations okay, but handheld limitations not?
Triggerhappytel
Member
Ugh, it's written by Dan Whitehead though. He and Simon Parkin are the two reviewers I dislike most on EG.
There are a handful of different perks like this (three drones that I know of, the shield), but they don't feel unbalanced and they're fun to use. Perhaps you can play multiplayer games where you can disable such things and just have it pure shooting.
Trent Strong
Banned
The Killzones have an awesome art style. Really not generic.
Looking at their graphics scores for GR (8.6) and Escape Plan (8.7), that might be true.
But then there's their graphics score for Luigi's Mansion 2 (9.4) and that just dispels it entirely.
edit: assuming non-generic art is a criteria for getting a high score regardless of the system the game's on.
awesomebro
Member
This is why I think the vita won't be getting games of this caliber anymore. People who clearly enjoyed the beta are making the decisions based on review scores.
I would give this game an 8.5 mainly because it succeeds at what it set out to be, a shooter. I spent about 37 hours playing both the private and public betas and what I experienced was a technical marvel, the likes of which had never been achieved before. The scale and stability of the game beats some shooters on the home consoles.
The game is very accessible and easy to pick up and play. The entry price is low enough at $40 and even sub 40 bucks at some places. $40 bucks for 48+ hours of entertainment is a good deal since thats the cost of 2 90-minute blueray movies. If you enjoyed the beta, you need to purchase this game to show the developers that we appreciate their efforts.
I would give this game an 8.5 mainly because it succeeds at what it set out to be, a shooter. I spent about 37 hours playing both the private and public betas and what I experienced was a technical marvel, the likes of which had never been achieved before. The scale and stability of the game beats some shooters on the home consoles.
The game is very accessible and easy to pick up and play. The entry price is low enough at $40 and even sub 40 bucks at some places. $40 bucks for 48+ hours of entertainment is a good deal since thats the cost of 2 90-minute blueray movies. If you enjoyed the beta, you need to purchase this game to show the developers that we appreciate their efforts.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
See, to this, I think "Why should these types of experiences be tethered to a TV?" I travel a lot, I realise I'm probably in a minority with preferring handhelds but I couldn't be happier with this kind of stuff being on the Vita. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate Nintendo's bite-sized approach, too, and I've loved a lot of those experiences on 3DS as well as Vita. But I do welcome someone doing something a bit more ambitious too. I do feel Vita can't win in situations like this. It's either not ambitious enough, or too ambitious and gets marked down accordingly.
I can understand the console comparisons when it's a multiplat like, say, Rayman Legends or Sonic Transformed, but when it's a standalone game bankrolled purely for a portable I feel it should be compared, if anything, to its peers - ie. other portable shooters like Modern Combat and not penalised for going up against the vastly more powerful home consoles.
Really take issue with so many of them commenting on how this doesn't reinvent its genre. How many games do?
SmashN'Grab
Member
Eh, I'm no great fan of Metacritic myself, but in my experience "killer apps" don't usually sit in the mid-70s. That's quite poor actually.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
Get used to it. It will be very rare for a retail Vita game to ever average above an 85 on metacritic. Sites constantly slam the vita and joke about how little they play it, now when forced to do a review I am to expect a fair review? Ha, expect Tearaway to get all over the place reviews when it comes out as well, and reviewers get stuck with another Vita review.
polyh3dron
Banned
When some of those low reviews are simply bagging on it for being a handheld game like LOL IT'S ON VITA, SMARTPHONES DUR DUR CANDY CRUSH ANGRY BIRDS you really have to reexamine the stock you put into metacritic ratings.
It reminds me of how some reviewers reacted to GoW:A before they have even played it (regardless of the MP being something new and unique). The same with the reactions to KZ:SF until they saw the latest MP footage.
Then a new CoD comes out and well...you know the rest.
CaptainTiptop
Member
Aaaaannndd some reviewers still don't know how to review Vita games.