Project Mercury

About

Project Mercury is a single player platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Raxasoft Games and was released on September 19, 2017. It received neutral reviews from players.

The challenge is Project Mercury. The power is Raxasoft. Make your way on foot, on a hoverbike, up skyscrapers, and down bottomless pits, as you exterminate a threat of unknown origin!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 226 reviews

music24 positive mentions

gameplay12 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic 80s and 90s platformers, reminiscent of titles like Contra and Mega Man.
The soundtrack is catchy and fits well with the retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience.
The game offers a decent challenge, requiring players to learn enemy patterns and level layouts, which can be rewarding for those who enjoy difficult gameplay.

Controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating and difficult to manage.
The level design is repetitive and lacks variety, with many areas feeling similar and uninspired, leading to a monotonous experience.
The game features unfair difficulty spikes, with cheap enemy placements and punishing mechanics that can lead to frequent, frustrating deaths.

gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
70%
20%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it frustrating due to poorly designed mechanics, stiff controls, and punishing difficulty reminiscent of retro titles. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel and solid level design, others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of engaging gameplay, leading to an overall perception of it being average or boring. Despite its retro inspirations, the game struggles to balance challenge and enjoyment, leaving players divided on their experience.
- “The gameplay really emulates well the feeling of playing retro games.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this game is solid.”
- “A short and enjoyable sidescrolling NES-like platformer with a great soundtrack, captivating visuals, and decent mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is especially boring.”
- “Ultimately, the core gameplay and controls kill it.”
- “Stiff controls, punishing gameplay, a few weird inconsistencies, and 'you need to learn what happens in every inch of the level to complete it' make Project Mercury more frustrating than fun.”
music
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
43%
8%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its catchy, nostalgic 8-bit style that fits the retro aesthetic. While some find it repetitive and generic, others highlight it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack captures the essence of classic NES games, making it a positive aspect for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack is simply great if you're into NES-style tunes.”
- “The music is catchy.”
- “With the retro style of visuals and music, on top of the great controls and enemies, it's a great time and very addicting.”
- “Sounds are okay, almost exactly as one would expect, but the music is quite grating, heavily repetitive and very inspired, but ultimately lacking.”
- “This music is basic and bad.”
- “Even the music is mediocre.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The graphics of the game are a divisive topic among reviewers, with many appreciating the nostalgic 8-bit retro aesthetic reminiscent of early NES titles, while others criticize the visuals as bland, uninspired, and lacking creativity. Some players enjoy the simplicity and charm of the graphics, but feel that they do not enhance the overall gameplay experience, which is often described as frustrating and sub-par. Overall, the execution of the retro style is seen as inconsistent, with some praising its nostalgic appeal and others deeming it lazy or lacking detail.
- “It certainly has a charming retro aesthetic, and I'd recommend playing it with a controller, as old style as possible.”
- “The graphics in Project Mercury are fantastic.”
- “One positive thing I have to say about this game is that I think they managed to capture NES-era aesthetics pretty well, both in graphic and sound design.”
- “The art style is too simple to be pretty to look at; I would call it bland and uninspired.”
- “The graphics are very bland, similar to ZX Spectrum, but with no creativity.”
- “Both graphics and gameplay are sub-par even when held to the standards of games from ZX Spectrum and other 8-bit machines.”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
68%
13%
The story in "Project Mercury" is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate its retro-inspired narrative and find it enjoyable, many criticize it for being short and underdeveloped, with a few noting that it resembles classic titles like Metroid and Mega Man. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the story has potential, it does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
- “The story of Project Mercury is that you're a female (android?) commando who's been charged with investigating the disappearances of the missing 4 commandos before you.”
- “The story is short and simple, as these games should be, reminds me a bit about Metroid, perhaps a bit too much for my liking but it does separate itself in some ways.”
- “Story: I love story-driven games, and Project Mercury has a good one.”
- “I still don't know what happened in the story; you are supposed to investigate what happened with the other waifu robots and accidentally ended up killing a space bee civilization or something.”
- “The story is tremendously simple.”
- “There is a basic story in Project Mercury, but it serves as background rather than being a major focus.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game is considered highly replayable, particularly due to its minimalistic graphics and mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. With eight levels that can be tackled in various orders and upgrades that enhance gameplay, players find ample motivation to revisit the game.
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “If a game is going to go for minimal/retro graphics and game mechanics, it better play like a champ and have lots of replay value, because otherwise it doesn't have much else to fall back on.”
- “There are 8 levels, levels 2-5 are playable in any order and offer upgrades as you finish them which do help a good deal.”
- “If a game is going to go for minimal/retro graphics and game mechanics, it better play like a damn champ and have lots of replay value, because otherwise it doesn't have much else to fall back on.”
- “There are 8 levels, but levels 2-5 are playable in any order and offer upgrades as you finish them, which do help a good deal.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating hitbox mechanics, leading to feelings of unfairness and annoyance during critical moments, particularly in boss fights.