Mercenaries

 Xbox
Mercenaries Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

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  • Summary: Inspired by real-world events, Mercenaries begins the search for the leader of a North Korean military coup who threatens the world with nuclear war. As one of the top operatives for a private mercenaries company, you have been called in to execute the general and his top military andInspired by real-world events, Mercenaries begins the search for the leader of a North Korean military coup who threatens the world with nuclear war. As one of the top operatives for a private mercenaries company, you have been called in to execute the general and his top military and scientific advisors. Hunt down all 52 targets--depicted on a deck of playing cards--with a variety of military weapons and vehicles. Earn cash from different missions to buy better weapons and vehicles, or sell your vehicles and weapons on the black market.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. AceGamez
    100
    The replay value of this game is huge, with hundreds of things to find, do and complete. Since all the contracts can be beaten in dozens of different ways, the fun factor in replaying the game just goes up and up, plus there are more than three different characters to do it with.
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Game Chronicles
    94
    While the story might be a bit light, there is so much to do that just finding those missions that advance the story becomes a mere afterthought as you lose yourself in the dozens of challenges and cash-op mini-games.
  3. Into Liquid Sky
    91
    An excellent offering that takes the sandbox gameplay and makes it work without taking Grand Theft Auto's formula and repackage it's theme.
  4. The Sydney Morning Herald
    90
    While it's not quite as epic as "GTA:SA," the combat within Mercenaries is more focused and polished, thanks to tight controls, amazing graphics and clever physics.
  5. Extreme Gamer
    85
    If you love explosions, feeling like a one man army, car jacking, and 40 hour gameplay do yourself a favor and pick up Mercenaries, the first must own game for the Xbox in 2005.
  6. GameShark
    80
    A game that truly is a playground for the arsonist-at-heart. The storyline is actually decent, the amount of background information is very impressive (the manual is actually handy for a change too), and the large number of weapons, vehicles, and gameplay styles available make for a significant amount of replayability and flexibility in choosing how to play - always a plus.
  7. games(TM)
    60
    Explosions certain are fun, to a point, but when that point is all a game has to offer we just can't help wanting something else. [March 2005, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 65 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. MercenaryForHire
    Jan 11, 2005
    10
    It looks like this game delivered what it promised. It's like what GTA would have always been if it let you demolish EVERYTHING in a It looks like this game delivered what it promised. It's like what GTA would have always been if it let you demolish EVERYTHING in a military atmoshere. Open-ended, fun and plenty of action for explosion freaks is a start . Graphics look like Full Spectrum Warrior and Battlefront, but with better soft, bloom lighting and a long draw distance, something GTA has never had. Sounds, control, and animation are spot on. I always thought it was fun to run around, do what I want and shoot people at my leisure in an open game like GTA, but now I can do all that while at the same time playing a military game, getting help from my CPU allies with surgical airstikes and watching things go boom like in Mechassault 2. Having 6 or 8 other CPU characters jump in your cargo truck and help you out at any time you want is just too good to explain in words. Tons of vehicles to jack and drive, many weapons, hidden items, bonus objectives and extra challenge missions round out the package. Airstrikes never get old, neither does jacking a helicopter, jeep or tank. If you can't find somethig to do here, then you must have leveled all of Asia and completed 100% of this gargantuas game. I think this will sell well, since the commercials have worked, and all I can think is that most should or will probably say goodbye to GTA once they try this new style of military/free-roaming game. This game takes what the GTA series established, adds in military environments and atmoshere, a BUNCH of Mechassault 2 building and vehicle leveling and completely re-invents the genre. I have already said goodbye to GTA and I've only played this for 1 day. Yes, it's just that fun, plain and simple. If it only had MP or online, I would say "blow you up later", but since it doesn't, I'll just say have fun with your new free-roaming king. Who said a game has to be online to be at the top of the pile? Certainly not this one. Playing by yourself couldn't be more fun, even it had Rockstars logo at the bottom of the game case.… Expand
  2. 0007
    Jun 15, 2019
    10
    Best game ever. Other than the dates driving and lack of fast travel, it remains a masterpiece. I truly hope there will be a remake or anotherBest game ever. Other than the dates driving and lack of fast travel, it remains a masterpiece. I truly hope there will be a remake or another sequel soon.… Expand
  4. LeifR.
    Jan 13, 2005
    10
    BAM!!! gta on crack...good crack two words bunker buster someone upsets you do you steal a car pick up a prostitute shoot random people ? No BAM!!! gta on crack...good crack two words bunker buster someone upsets you do you steal a car pick up a prostitute shoot random people ? No you annihilate the entire area with a bunker buster bomb the missions in this game are insane played for 8 hours now and just about 15-20% throughdon't know if i can sleep anymore, or work for that matter i dont even know why I'm still on my computer… Expand
  5. ChristianM.
    Mar 7, 2006
    10
    this game is like GTA SA only military wise. i think lucas arts should make another game like this just make it more like star wars battlefront 2.
  6. Mercenary
    Sep 4, 2008
    10
    This is not a GTA clone. GTA is about making out with ladies and stealing cars. Mercenaries is about fighting against not just NK soldiers This is not a GTA clone. GTA is about making out with ladies and stealing cars. Mercenaries is about fighting against not just NK soldiers and blowing up cities, it also has a very good story and the characters all have their own personalities. The ONLY problem I had with this game was that if ou used a code (unlockable by collecting enough little trinkets and junk) to change your appearance, there wasnt a code to change it back. Besides, all sandbox games that let you steal cars are called "GTA Clones" now. Personally, I think if you play games about playing with ladies, there is something wrong with you. But Mercenaries isnt that kind of sandbox game, it is a story about a mercenary who wants to get paid, and you just so happen to be able to blow things to smithereens in the process.… Expand
  7. BlueFalcon
    Jul 18, 2005
    9
    I would liken this game to freedom fighters more than grand theft auto. Either way, it's definately great fun. There's a lot of I would liken this game to freedom fighters more than grand theft auto. Either way, it's definately great fun. There's a lot of freedom to finish goals how you want, and in the order you feel like. It's great.… Expand
  8. ChrisB.
    Apr 17, 2005
    3
    Not Bad, Gets Boring Too Quick For My Liking.

See all 39 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best Xbox Game of 2005
16
#16 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2005
77
#77 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2005