M.E.R.C.
- January 17, 2017
- TinyMob Games
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamM.E.R.C. is a strategy game set in the last surviving city, Neotopia, where you must recruit and train a squad of mercenaries to neutralize the Manta threat. In this real-time tactical game, you can control a 4-person team, use special abilities, and upgrade units, weapons, and gear. Play in single-player, co-op multiplayer, or PvP modes, teaming up with other players to save humanity from Manta's suppressive force.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a great concept and offers interesting tactical gameplay with a real-time combat system.
- Graphics and visuals are impressive for an early access title, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
- There is potential for fun co-op gameplay, and the game features a variety of missions and character classes.
- The game suffers from poor performance, frequent crashes, and has been largely abandoned by the developers.
- Gameplay is hindered by a lack of save options, repetitive missions, and limited character variety, leading to a frustrating experience.
- The controls and camera mechanics are clunky, making it difficult to effectively command units and navigate the environment.
- story96 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is considered interesting and engaging, with players appreciating the narrative elements present in the missions. However, the lack of difficulty options and the inability to save mid-mission can lead to frustrating experiences, especially when combined with bugs that disrupt gameplay. While the main storyline and side missions offer a good amount of content, some players feel that the story could benefit from further development and clearer guidance.
“I think the story for the game is interesting.”
“Not sure how much it gets developed as I've only finished the first few 'storyline' missions, but I felt it was worth reading instead of skipping all the time.”
“The gameplay is fun, it has a decent story and is a shooter now for pros and cons.”
“I really like this game, but it is so buggy that I often can't finish missions due to the camera going crazy, and my save games are sometimes trashed with bugs that prevent advancement.”
“You go from a very simplistic tutorial into a hard-core, very unforgiving story mode/side missions.”
“Can't save the game during a mission; it's frustrating.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it overly simplistic and lacking depth, while others appreciate its tactical elements and engaging mechanics. The controls are generally easy to learn, and the game features a blend of squad management and real-time tactics reminiscent of titles like XCOM and Dawn of War 2. However, there are calls for better introductory missions and tutorials to enhance the overall experience.
“Co-op gameplay for side missions.”
“The controls were quick to learn, though I can see how you could make gameplay as simple or complex as you like.”
“There is good tactical gameplay that feels punishing but fair that had me coming back even after getting a game over after just a week of in-game time.”
“Gameplay is too simplistic and brainless, as well as having quite a few issues.”
“This is the same critical error in gameplay design that similar game Satellite Reign makes, which reduced much of the combat to left-clicking on enemies, giving you less time to focus on actual strategy.”
“No in-mission healing mechanic available from the start, leaving it up to random drops until a soldier with the right class and talent appears on the hiring screen.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their quality and visual appeal, often highlighted as the standout feature. However, some players note that the impressive visuals serve more as window-dressing, with limited interactivity in the environment. Overall, the graphics are considered above average, especially for an early access title, though comparisons to other games like XCOM suggest room for improvement.
“Best part of the game is the graphics, although it's simply window-dressing as you cannot enter buildings or open doors unless they are specific to the story.”
“Really impressive graphics for an early access game.”
“Wow, really loving this game, starting from the load screens, sound, graphics, and straight on to all missions.”
“Graphics not a patch on XCOM”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report significant bugs that hinder mission completion and corrupt save files, others have experienced no major glitches or lag, praising its performance for an early access title. Overall, the game appears to have a range of stability issues, with some players encountering frustrating problems while others find it relatively stable.
“No lag, no glitches - awesome for an early access game.”
“I really like this game, but it is so buggy that I often can't finish missions due to the camera going crazy, and my save games are sometimes trashed with bugs that prevent advancement.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly inconsistent, with some users reporting poor performance and a lack of developer support, while others note that they experienced no performance issues. Overall, the mixed feedback suggests that potential buyers should be cautious.
“No performance issues to note.”
“Poor performance and abandoned by the devs. Don't waste your money.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being repetitive, leading to a lack of variety and engagement for players.
“I feel the music is very repetitive.”
