Mercenary Kings

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 803 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Mercenary Kings Game Cover
Mercenary Kings hides a lot of content and depth if you can get over the repetition
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Mercenary Kings is a 2D action game where you, as part of the skilled Mercenary Kings team, must stop the forces of CLAW from seizing a top secret laboratory base. With a crew of rogue geniuses, you can craft and customize weapons and armor to take down enemies, either solo or with friends. Your mission: save the world from CLAW's grasp.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 803 reviews
story40 positive mentions
grinding131 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations that capture a nostalgic feel.
  • Deep weapon customization and crafting system that allows for unique playstyles.
  • Fun gameplay with a mix of run-and-gun action and RPG elements.
  • Repetitive missions and environments that can lead to boredom.
  • Enemies respawn too quickly, making exploration tedious.
  • The game can feel slow-paced and punishing, especially with time limits on missions.
  • story470 mentions

    The story of "Mercenary Kings" is straightforward and lighthearted, revolving around a mercenary group battling the villainous organization known as "Claw" to thwart their evil plans. While the narrative is not particularly deep, it features humorous elements and quirky characters that add charm to the experience. However, the gameplay is heavily mission-based, often leading to repetitive tasks and fetch quests across a limited number of maps, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

    • “The story is tight and focused.”
    • “The story was way better than I expected from a game like this, and even if you don’t like it, the story sequences are easy to skip.”
    • “The story, characters, and artwork are all very pleasant, but the game mechanics/design makes most of the game a chore to slog through, unfortunately.”
    • “The missions felt really generic and bland, but all in all it was a cool experience.”
    • “The story is short and fast if you rush through, but like Monster Hunter games, you can replay side missions more to make your character's equipment overpowered.”
    • “The plot is quite simple and common - the player needs to get to an evil antagonist who threatens to destroy the world with the help of a formidable and deadly weapon developed on an unknown island.”
  • gameplay260 mentions

    The gameplay of "Mercenary Kings" is a mixed bag, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Metal Slug and Mega Man, but often criticized for its repetitiveness and grindy nature. While the weapon customization and crafting systems add depth, many players find the reload mechanics cumbersome and the mission structure overly simplistic, leading to a lack of variety and engagement over time. Overall, the game appeals to fans of retro-style run-and-gun gameplay but may frustrate those seeking a more dynamic experience.

    • “The gameplay is really good; movement, jumping, and shooting feels really nice.”
    • “Great game with good mechanics and a fun gun-building system.”
    • “Captures the old-school spirit of traditional run-and-gun games like Metal Slug while adding in a deep crafting and weapon customization system that keeps the gameplay fresh.”
    • “The gameplay is just what you see from the trailers; it's a run and gun, nothing else.”
    • “The core gameplay's fine, but the weapon management is such a chore to handle that it made my experience extremely tedious.”
    • “Sadly, the gameplay is lacking a bit, and the levels are basically the same repeated hills and hallways over and over again; due to the somewhat grindy nature of the game, this becomes irritating quite fast.”
  • graphics140 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art and charming animations, reminiscent of classic titles like Metal Slug and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Reviewers highlight the vibrant art style, quirky details, and smooth animations, creating an engaging visual experience that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game. While the graphics are a standout feature, some players note that the gameplay may not live up to the same standard, with a few mentioning minor graphical issues.

    • “The art style is beautiful, and the smooth animations and characterization add a charm to the game.”
    • “The graphics, sounds, and gameplay all give that retro feel but retain mechanics not often found in older games.”
    • “The graphics are pixelated, but that’s not too bad for a game that’s trying to be an old school, 2D side scroller.”
    • “Some minor graphic issues (i.e., helicopter blades on base are floating, not connected).”
    • “Despite the delicious pixel-art graphics, this game is far from your typical retro game's 'feel'.”
    • “The artwork looks solid, but the game itself is mediocre and entirely third-rate, suffering from a whole raft of fun-robbing design choices.”
  • grinding131 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the need to repeatedly farm materials and fight reskinned bosses. While some enjoy the depth of crafting and the satisfaction of upgrading weapons, others feel that the excessive grinding detracts from the overall fun, making the gameplay feel slow and monotonous. Ultimately, the enjoyment of the game heavily depends on the player's tolerance for grinding and preference for methodical gameplay.

    • “The bosses are fun though they have a handful of moves each and are recycled a bit too much so by the 3-4th time you fight the reskinned boss no amount of bullet sponging will make it relevant, just tedious.”
    • “It's hard for me to be so blunt about it, because I had a great time with all of their other games, but I can't recommend a game which asks you to spend 90% of your time - and I'm not joking - grinding for garbage.”
    • “Every mission I attempt feels tedious, slow, and boring, aided mostly by the fact that most every mission is some sort of completely unguided fetch-quest through samey looking environments that are an absolute pain to navigate through.”
  • music97 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and retro-inspired quality, with many players enjoying its chiptune elements and overall fit with the game's aesthetic. However, some reviewers noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, with limited variation in tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the game's appeal, it may not be enough to compensate for gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The music...oh my lord the music is absolutely amazing.”
    • “The sprite art and animation is amazing, the soundtrack is great and the game is fun to play.”
    • “Firstly is the music: the music is awesome I find myself listening to it all the time even well after I stopped playing this game.”
    • “And the music also never deviated from the same few tracks either.”
    • “The music is a confused mess, unsure of whether it wants to go full chiptune or not.”
    • “Simple, appropriate, though like the art it can get repetitive as you listen to the same level music over and over and over again.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers noting its playful and quirky tone reminiscent of titles like MapleStory and Scott Pilgrim. Players enjoy the mix of funny dialogue, slapstick moments, and humorous character designs, alongside the entertaining gun customization. While some feel the humor can occasionally miss the mark, the overall consensus is that it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.

    • “There is also a lot of humor in the game with, in my opinion, a MapleStory vibe to it.”
    • “Controls are easy, the game has plenty of humor, and being able to mix and match the guns is a blast.”
    • “The story (albeit quite simple) is entertaining, and the character development really contributes to the friendly and funny aspect of the game.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers solid customization options and enjoyable multiplayer modes that enhance replay value, many players feel it lacks variety in levels and missions, which limits long-term engagement. The presence of co-op gameplay and crafting elements adds depth, but some users express disappointment over the lack of additional playable characters and meaningful post-completion content. Overall, the game has potential for replayability, especially for speedrunners and completionists, but improvements in level design and character options could significantly enhance it.

    • “Great replayability for speed purposes.”
    • “This is a solid game with lots of customization options and replay value.”
    • “Co-op is great so the 4-pack might be a good idea if you know you have three reliable friends to keep playing with, and the mission-based setup allows a lot of replayability, trying to achieve secret objectives or beating the times.”
    • “For a game built around such a solid premise (what if Metal Slug had customizable weapons and some additional replayability?), it's really disappointing.”
    • “If the game had more variety in its levels, the replay value would be exponentially higher.”
    • “- Low replay value: after you finish the game you can continue to upgrade your weapon, but there is no point because there are no more missions.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its above-average level and stylish pixel art, contributing to a friendly and humorous atmosphere. While the story is simple, it remains entertaining, and the polished presentation enhances the overall experience, despite some inconsistencies in spritework.

    • “The story (albeit quite simple) is entertaining, and the character development really contributes to the friendly and funny aspect of the game.”
    • “If you like pixel art, the character designs are stylish, both for friends and enemies.”
    • “The style's consistent and the animations are gorgeous, but it becomes clear that some of the sprite work was drawn before they finalized the character designs.”
    • “I think currently the main draw of Mercenary Kings is the presentation - music, graphics, character designs - all very stylish and surprisingly polished.”
    • “Above-average level and character design.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by nostalgic, old-fashioned arcade-style graphics that evoke a sense of childhood joy, especially when played with a controller. The vibrant, cartoony visuals and quirky details contribute to a fun and engaging environment, reminiscent of titles like Metal Slug and Scott Pilgrim, while the accompanying music enhances the overall experience.

    • “I love these old-fashioned arcade-style graphics, and if you have a controller, it's going to make you feel like a kid again (assuming, of course, you were alive back then). The music it provides and its overall atmosphere are fantastic.”
    • “Naturally, the first thing you notice about the game is its look, and anyone worth their government-provided meat substitute recognizes the style as reminiscent of Metal Slug (in terms of tone and atmosphere) and Scott Pilgrim (in terms of art style and visual humor).”
    • “The cartoony graphics are gorgeous, and there are a lot of quirky little details all around, which contribute to a really fun atmosphere.”
    • “Naturally, the first thing you notice about MK is the look of it, and anyone worth their government-provided meat substitute recognizes the style as, as I said before, Metal Slug (in terms of tone and atmosphere) and Scott Pilgrim (in terms of art style and visual humor).”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game impactful, as the mechanics of touching enemies and critters create a sense of vulnerability. The challenges posed by bosses and the climactic missions contribute to a feeling of empowerment and achievement, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

    • “There are some challenges in this game, as bosses come along, and the missions at the end really made me feel like a badass.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been noted to maintain overall performance despite aesthetic changes, with some elements appearing different but offering minimal impact on performance. While humor has been introduced, it does not significantly affect the game's optimization.

    • “It is worth noting that roughness was replaced by charming jokes, but this still does not change the overall performance of the game.”
    • “On top of that, many of the parts look different, but have minimal performance differences.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users noting that while it has some bugs and glitches, they are minor and do not significantly impact the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the quality of the game, especially considering its early-access status.

    • “Although a little buggy, this is a fantastic game.”
    • “Very good game, despite being early access it's very good quality; it only has a few glitches that should be quite easy to fix and don't hamper gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Mercenary Kings

Play time

30hMedian play time
40hAverage play time
20-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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