Unlike the games of old, where progress was usually made in a linear fashion, Tribute’s title extends a sprawling landscape for players. Yet, there are also many ways that Mercenary Kings breaks away from run ‘n gun tradition. And when Kings throws its cavalcade of boss battles at players, everything just falls into place, as you scrutinize elevated enemies for weaknesses as they hurl a multitude of offensives at players. But other than that quirk, dashing across platforms, shimmy up ladders, and firing at any hostiles will all feel quite instinctual, permitting progress with only the briefest of tutorials. Sure, there’s the timeworn habit of foes to respawn once you’ve forced the screen to scroll. Essentially, they’re numerous and dumb, but you’re nimble and destined for dominance.Īny experience with mechanically similar titles will make Mercenaries Kings feel intuitive. As a reinvigorated soldier brought back to life with bionic abilities, you move with an urgency and determination absent from your adversaries, even if you can only shoot in a quartet of different directions. Enemies can fire in eight different directions, others have projectile deflecting shielding, and some like Pike Men can thrust their weapons through the platforms above or below. Like Mega Man, tension stems from asymmetric abilities.
Characters jump with arcade-born athleticism, clearing wide gaps with an instinctive pull of the analog stick and press of the jump button. Occasionally, there are fleeting flashes of comical violence that are destined to delight anyone who has ever enjoyed the Metal Slug series.įor anyone familiar with the genre, Mercenaries Kings Reloaded oozes familiarity. the World: The Game, Wizorb) delightfully drawn spritework channels gaming’s golden era, with every frame of animation radiating effervescent charm. Certainly, Paul Robertson’s ( Scott Pilgrim vs.
Glimpse a few screenshots and you’ll likely assume that the Tribute Games’ title honors classic run ‘n guns like Bionic Commando and Contra.
With Mercenary Kings, looks are deceiving.