Intravenous 2: Mercenarism

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 847 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Intravenous 2: Mercenarism Game Cover
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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,…

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 847 reviews
gameplay50 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a lot of replayability despite only having two campaign levels, making it a great free demo.
  • The improved AI and tactical gameplay mechanics provide a satisfying experience, allowing for various approaches to missions.
  • The weapon customization system adds depth and personalization to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Some players find the level navigation unclear, making it difficult to know where to go or what to do next.
  • The game can be frustratingly difficult, with many players feeling overwhelmed by enemy AI and combat scenarios.
  • There are minor bugs and issues with controls, particularly with interactions and the responsiveness of certain actions.
  • gameplay118 mentions

    The gameplay of the sequel to Intravenous has been praised for its significant improvements over its predecessor, featuring new mechanics like bullet time, weapon customization, and a blend of stealth and combat reminiscent of titles like Metal Gear Solid and Hotline Miami. Players appreciate the strategic depth and personalization options, although some express frustration with certain mechanics and enemy AI behavior. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience with a variety of approaches to missions, enhancing replayability and enjoyment.

    • “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.”
    • “I really really really really really want to like this game, but the mechanics are so frustratingly fiddly that there is no way in hell I'm ever going to even finish the demo.”
    • “A top-down shooter take on Hitman but you do everything 10x 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.”
    • “On the surface, there is a full set of infiltration gameplay like 'Splinter Cell' (even with the same light and sound HUD), but the infiltration experience is completely destroyed by the outrageous enemy alertness, and the enemy is too alert and even neurotic.”
  • story79 mentions

    The game's story is described as compelling and immersive, with players appreciating the lore and the various ways to approach missions, whether stealthily or aggressively. While some reviews highlight the narrative's depth and potential for expansion, others criticize the pacing and character development, suggesting that the story could benefit from more context and foreshadowing. Overall, the prologue serves as an engaging teaser that leaves players eager for more, despite some mixed feelings about the execution of the plot.

    • “Apart from this, its story is quite compelling, and this is just a free sneak peek of what the other games have to offer.”
    • “Much more compelling story compared to the original and amazing mechanics.”
    • “Great game, easy to learn and play, story is great, Hotline Miami vibes.”
    • “My only complaint is that the story, told through dialogue cutscenes, is bad.”
    • “Story is meaningless (no seriously I have no idea who or why I should care about the main character).”
    • “The ensemble cast style's plot always has two weaknesses: one is that many supporting characters are not attractive enough, and one is the progress of the plot is too fast and lacks basic foreshadowing, making it much harder to arouse the empathy of players.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the pixel art style and visual clarity, describing it as both beautiful and immersive. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and smooth gameplay, others express a desire for improved visuals, noting that the graphics can feel outdated. Overall, the art style and sound design contribute positively to the gaming experience, despite some concerns about optimization and consistency in sprite quality.

    • “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.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised 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, featuring contributions from notable artists like Xtrullor, is described as both immersive and adrenaline-pumping, elevating the game's atmosphere significantly. However, some users have pointed out issues with the music volume control, which can be inconsistent.

    • “The music is spot on and amazing for the vibes of the game, perfectly capturing the 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.”
    • “Whoever made the combat soundtrack for this game, you deserve a medal; I love it.”
    • “The music is much darker and more emotional, and is a step up from the previous game.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Despite its limited content of only two campaign levels, the game offers high replayability through multiple approaches, challenges, and achievements to unlock. Players appreciate the strategic depth and freedom of gameplay, enhanced by weapon customization and various difficulty options, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Overall, the replayability is considered impressive, especially for a free game.

    • “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.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “This replayability somewhat makes up for the limited content.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game 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 cruel atmosphere that keeps players engaged and entertained. Overall, the game's humor enhances the immersive experience, making it a standout feature.

    • “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.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, describing it as a heartfelt tribute to beloved titles, 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.

    • “Made me feel like John Wick 10/10”
    • “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 and so I'm probably biased.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    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, likening it to a blend of various genres while maintaining a dark and cinematic tone. Overall, the atmosphere is described as realistic and consistent, enhancing the gameplay experience.

    • “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 of Tarkov inspired, Hotline Miami-like top down shooter, dark souls of Metal Gears, with RPG and roguelike elements, kino.”
    • “- atmosphere is much darker”
    • “The atmosphere is much darker than I expected.”
    • “The game fails to create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “I found the atmosphere to be bland and uninspired.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is noted to be quite intense and repetitive, requiring significant daily playtime, which may deter casual players. While some fans appreciate the grind for achievements and the game's narrative, it is generally recommended only for dedicated players or series enthusiasts.

    • “If possible, play the former work, Library of Ruina, to see if you can endure this kind of gameplay. Due to the relatively high daily playtime required in its genre, I would only recommend this game to series fans or those who really enjoy the game's worldview and plot style. Compared to in-game purchases, the highly repetitive and high-intensity daily farming is more acceptable.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is viewed critically, with users suggesting that it relies heavily on repetitive daily farming rather than in-game purchases. Players recommend experiencing the previous title, "Library of Ruina," to gauge whether they can tolerate the gameplay demands, indicating that the game may primarily appeal to dedicated fans of the series and its narrative style.

    • “If possible, play the former work, Library of Ruina. It could let you know whether you could suffer this kind of gameplay. Because of the relatively high daily playtime required in this genre, I would only recommend this game to series fans or people who really enjoy the game’s worldview and plot style. Compared to in-game purchases, I find the highly repetitive and high-intensity daily farming more acceptable.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    While the game offers a unique listening experience and impressive visuals, players have noted that optimization is lacking, resulting in uncomfortable gameplay even at low frame rates, a stark contrast to the smooth 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 optimization could use some improvement; even at low FPS, it can be uncomfortable, especially since 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 mess; the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “Despite having decent hardware, the game runs poorly due to terrible optimization, which ruins the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    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 kind of 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 ruined the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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