Intravenous 2: Mercenarism

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Intravenous 2: Mercenarism is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Explosive Squat Games and was released on January 19, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Step into the shoes of Gideon, a ruthless mercenary who cares about nothing but his wealth. Set two months before the events of Intravenous 2, you will take on seemingly simple jobs, the effects of which will ripple out and affect the main game's protagonist. But why should Gideon care? He's just in it for the money. Key Features Stealth or Firepower: the choice is yours. Sneak through shadows,…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 882 reviews

gameplay49 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features improved AI behavior, making enemy interactions more dynamic and engaging.
Weapon customization adds depth to gameplay, allowing players to tailor their arsenal to their preferred playstyle.
The demo offers a variety of approaches to missions, from stealthy tactics to loud, action-packed gameplay.

Some players find the controls clunky and the UI confusing, making navigation and interactions frustrating.
The game can be overly punishing, with enemies quickly alerting others to the player's presence, making stealth challenging.
Progression issues, such as achievements not saving properly, have been reported, leading to frustration for some players.

gameplay
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising its depth and variety, particularly in stealth mechanics and combat options, which allow for a range of playstyles. However, some users find the mechanics overly complicated and the user interface cluttered, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering engaging mechanics and customization, though it may require patience to master.
- “The addition of bullet time mechanics adds an extra layer of strategy to the fast-paced combat.”
- “There is a wealth of great stealth-action gameplay packed in these levels, and a new game+ that allows you to experiment with the nice variety of customizable weapons and gadgets at your disposal.”
- “The gameplay is refined to perfection and the game itself is polished to a tee.”
- “The mechanics and gameplay at first glance seem really complicated, and the UI doesn't help the user as everything is all over the place.”
- “It is one of those games that allows 'realism' to overtake the fun of the game regarding stealth, damage, gun mechanics, and customization.”
- “A top-down shooter take on Hitman, but you do everything 10 times slower. Action menus are made to slow you down drastically, and your basic HUD is incredibly trash... not to mention sometimes obstacles, lighting, and other mechanics make no sense.”
story
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
79%
5%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the compelling narrative and lore, while others feel it lacks depth and coherence, especially in the prologue missions. Many reviews highlight that the gameplay mechanics overshadow the story, making it feel secondary to the action and stealth elements. Overall, while the prologue offers a tantalizing glimpse into the narrative, it leaves players wanting more substance and character development.
- “This game is a really good game; I love the combat, lore, and story.”
- “The plot style of this game is not only absurd and funny but also dark and cruel.”
- “Much more compelling story compared to the original and amazing mechanics.”
- “The story is meaningless (no seriously, I have no idea who or why I should care about the main character).”
- “My only complaint is that the story, told through dialogue cutscenes, is bad.”
- “Based on this short demo, however, it feels like it has less story packed into it.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the pixel art style, visual clarity, and atmospheric design, which enhance the immersive experience. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and smooth gameplay, others express a desire for improved graphics and optimization. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to the game's unique charm and engaging mechanics.
- “Visually, the pixel art style looks fantastic, with good visual clarity.”
- “Love the game; its dark mood and art style are top-notch and totally playable on Steam Deck.”
- “On one hand, the stealth is amazing, the graphics are gorgeous, the enemies are realistic and funny, and when I completed it, I was already thirsting for more.”
- “I hate to admit, when looking at a new game and I see pixel graphics and this top-down shooter style, I've seen it before, and I usually skip it.”
- “Looks old as per graphics but the physics in the game is outstanding!!”
- “I would have preferred the graphics to be better; I'm not a fan of the old style graphics.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game has received high praise for its excitement and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its dynamic nature and mood-setting qualities that align perfectly with gameplay scenarios. The soundtrack is described as both immersive and adrenaline-pumping, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere, while some users pointed out issues with the volume control. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's emotional depth and engagement.
- “The music is spot on and amazing for the vibes of the game, entirely fitting the situation, with a very mood-setting transition from 'you've alerted the guards' to 'they lost you'!”
- “With the main plot's full Korean voice, the excellent music, distinct art style, and outstanding 2D battle performance greatly enhance the player's immersive experience.”
- “A really nice dynamic soundtrack and a game with depth.”
- “The music volume slider shifts drastically while still showing the same percentage; at 100% it's deafening, but you can shift it to the low end of 100% (as in barely moving the slider a pixel) and have a completely different audio level.”
- “The music is much darker and more emotional, and is a step up from the previous game.”
- “Music: decent.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Despite its limited content of only two campaign levels, the game offers high replayability through multiple strategic approaches, various challenges, and achievements to unlock. Players appreciate the freedom of gameplay and the ability to experiment with different weapons and tactics, enhancing the overall experience. This replayability significantly compensates for the game's brevity, making it engaging even after multiple playthroughs.
- “While the prologue only offers two levels, they are highly replayable due to the multiple approaches possible and the various challenges and achievements to unlock.”
- “This demo is only 2 levels and lasts maybe an hour total, but it's replayable enough to where I've done it close to a dozen times now; it gives me a Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes vibe.”
- “Despite its size and length, Mercenarism presents a surprisingly nice amount of replayability, not only because of the open nature of playground level design, plenty of difficulty options and modifiers, and freedom of approach, but also in the satisfying (and expanded) selection of weapons and gadgets to play around with, paired with a slice of permanent progression mechanics in the form of collectible unique weapons and blueprints unlocking additional weapon customization options, that can heavily transform the nature of firearms and thus their viability and possible strategic opportunities they present.”
- “This replayability somewhat makes up for the limited content.”
- “This demo is only 2 levels and lasts maybe an hour total, but it's replayable enough to where I've done it close to a dozen times now; gives me a MGS Ground Zeroes vibe.”
- “For a free game, its replayability is bamboozling; there are many ways to do the mission. Personally, I just genocide everyone.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its absurd and dark comedic elements, with players finding amusement in the chaotic interactions between characters, such as friendly fire incidents and the use of unconventional tactics like microphone luring. The blend of over-the-top scenarios and quirky mechanics, like the hilariously overpowered knife, contributes to a lighthearted yet engaging experience, making the gameplay both entertaining and immersive. Overall, the humor enhances the game's appeal, providing a unique twist on traditional war themes.
- “The plot style of this game is not only absurd and funny but also dark and cruel.”
- “Regular goons seem to get spooked by sounds in the darkness while alert, shooting blindly towards noises they hear, which can cause some hilarious friendly fire.”
- “My favorite part is being able to use my own microphone to lure in enemies to my position; it definitely adds some humor and immersion to the game.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, describing it as a heartfelt tribute to beloved titles and evoking feelings of empowerment and nostalgia. The darker, more emotional music enhances the experience, making players feel like action heroes while navigating choices that impact gameplay. Overall, the game resonates deeply, earning high praise for its ability to evoke strong emotions.
- “It's heartwarming to see the noise and light bars again, to toss an empty magazine, to get your very first 'kill or subdue' prompt and consider a non-lethal playthrough, promptly before remembering the hard way that's something you do on subsequent playthroughs when you know what you're doing.”
- “This felt like a heartfelt love letter to some of my favorite games, so I'm probably biased.”
- “- The music is much darker and more emotional and is a step up from the previous game.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players note that grinding in this game is intense and time-consuming, often requiring significant daily playtime, which may deter those not already invested in the series. While some find the repetitive farming necessary for achievements manageable, it is generally recommended only for dedicated fans who appreciate the game's narrative and world.
- “If possible, play the former work, Library of Ruina, to see if you can tolerate this kind of gameplay. Due to the relatively high daily playtime required in its genre, I would only recommend this game to series fans who really enjoy the game's worldview and plot style. Compared to in-game purchases, they may find the highly repetitive and high-intensity daily farming more acceptable.”
- “Bit of grinding required for the 'Gun Schizo' achievement, but still a fun experience.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a gritty and immersive style that complements its mercenary theme, offering a slow-burn, story-rich experience. Players appreciate its engaging and tactical elements, drawing comparisons to titles like "Escape from Tarkov" and "Hotline Miami," while also noting its darker, cinematic tone. Overall, the atmosphere is described as realistic and consistent with the game's narrative.
- “Visually, the game maintains a gritty, atmospheric style that fits well with its mercenary theme.”
- “Slow burn, atmospheric, story-rich, immersive sim, engaging, tactical, customizable, realistic, ludonarratively consistent, cinematographic, ready or not type gameplay, Escape from Tarkov inspired, Hotline Miami-like top down shooter, dark souls of Metal Gear, with RPG and roguelike elements.”
- “The atmosphere is much darker.”
- “The atmosphere is much darker than I expected.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired.”
- “I found the atmosphere to be quite dull and lacking in immersion.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed as acceptable primarily for fans of the series, as it involves high daily playtime and repetitive farming rather than in-game purchases. Players recommend experiencing the previous title, "Library of Ruina," to gauge whether they can endure the gameplay style.
- “If possible, play the former work, Library of Ruina, to see if you can tolerate this kind of gameplay. Due to the relatively high daily playtime required in this genre, I would only recommend this game to series fans who appreciate the game's worldview and plot style. Compared to in-game purchases, the highly repetitive and high-intensity daily farming is more acceptable.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
While the game offers a unique listening experience and impressive visuals, players have reported issues with optimization, noting that even at low frame rates, gameplay can be uncomfortable, contrasting with the smoother performance of the first installment.
- “With the main plot's full Korean voice acting, you get a unique listening experience. The excellent music, distinct art style, and outstanding 2D battle performance greatly enhance the player's immersive experience.”
- “The only thing that confuses me is the optimization; even at low FPS, it is not very comfortable, although the first part worked great.”
- “The only thing that confuses me is optimization; even at low FPS, it is not very comfortable, although the first part worked great.”
- “Optimization is a major issue; the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Despite having decent hardware, the game runs poorly due to lackluster optimization, which detracts from the overall experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has been reported to have stability issues, with users experiencing bugs and crashes, including one instance where it crashed after just an hour of gameplay.
- “It's kinda buggy; it crashed for me after only an hour of play.”
- “The game frequently freezes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced multiple crashes during my session, which really disrupted the gameplay.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism is a simulation game.

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism is available on PC and Windows.

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism was released on January 19, 2024.

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism was developed by Explosive Squat Games.

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Intravenous 2: Mercenarism is a single player game.

Similar games include Intravenous 2, Intravenous, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, Hitman: Absolution, Sniper Elite 5 and others.

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