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.
Reviews
- The game has a great concept and offers interesting tactical gameplay with a real-time combat system.
- Graphics and visuals are impressive, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
- There is potential for fun co-op gameplay, which could enhance the overall experience.
- The game suffers from poor performance, frequent crashes, and has been abandoned by the developers, leading to a lack of updates.
- Gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, with limited character variety and frustrating mechanics like no ability to save progress mid-mission.
- The camera controls are clunky and can hinder gameplay, making it difficult to command units effectively.
- story48 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 save options during missions and the unforgiving nature of the gameplay can lead to frustration, especially when combined with bugs that disrupt progress. While the main storyline shows promise, players feel it could benefit from further development and clearer guidance on mission objectives.
“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 side missions seem really challenging, but boy they feel good to finish.”
“There is no quick save, so if you are in the middle of a mission and have to leave the game, you will automatically fail the mission and have to start over.”
“You go from a very simplistic tutorial into a hard-core, very unforgiving story mode and side missions.”
“As it stands, I wasn't too certain what to do or where to look on the mission/map screen or what the significance of everything is.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of opinions, with some players finding it overly simplistic and reminiscent of other titles that prioritize basic mechanics over strategy. However, many appreciate the tactical depth, engaging squad management, and the fun factor, particularly in co-op missions. While controls are generally easy to learn, there are calls for better tutorials and introductory missions to enhance the overall experience.
“Co-op gameplay for side missions.”
“The gameplay is fun; it has a decent story and is a shooter with its pros and cons.”
“There is good tactical gameplay that feels punishing but fair, which 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 in the hiring screen.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised, with many users highlighting their quality and visual appeal, particularly for an early access title. However, some note that while the graphics are impressive, they serve more as window-dressing, as gameplay limitations restrict interaction with the environment. Overall, the visuals are considered above average, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“Great graphics and visuals.”
“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.”
“Graphics not a patch on XCOM”
“Graphics and sound are above average”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report significant bugs that hinder mission completion and affect save files, others have experienced a smooth experience with no major glitches or lag, especially considering its early access status.
“No lag, no glitches - awesome for an early access game.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it really enhances my enjoyment.”
“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 corrupted with bugs that prevent advancement.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % 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 experience no issues at all. Overall, the mixed feedback suggests caution before purchasing.
“The game runs smoothly with no performance issues to note.”
“I appreciate how well-optimized the gameplay is; everything feels responsive.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game for various hardware.”
“Poor performance and abandoned by the devs. Don't waste your money.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being repetitive, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
“I feel the music is very repetitive.”
