Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 161 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Shadow Ops: Red Mercury Game Cover
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In Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, become a Delta Force operative tasked with preventing a terrorist from acquiring a nuclear device. Engage in intense firefights and strategic stealth missions across Middle Eastern and European locations. With over 20 authentic weapons and international special forces at your side, experience a thrilling first-person shooter adventure.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 161 reviews
story20 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience with a cheesy action movie plot and fun gameplay mechanics.
  • The variety of environments and intense firefights keep the gameplay engaging.
  • The sound design and voice acting, particularly by Steve Blum, enhance the overall experience.
  • The lack of a checkpoint system can lead to frustrating gameplay, as dying means restarting the entire level.
  • Enemy AI can be frustratingly accurate, often leading to cheap deaths due to poor enemy placement.
  • The graphics and overall design feel dated, which may deter modern players looking for a polished experience.
  • story124 mentions

    The story of the game is often described as a cheesy, cliché action movie plot centered around a special forces operative tasked with recovering a stolen nuclear weapon, featuring over-the-top dialogue and predictable twists. While some players find the nonsensical narrative amusing and reminiscent of 90s action films, others criticize it for being poorly written and lacking depth, with minimal context for missions. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for solid gameplay, with some memorable missions, but it is not a strong point of the game.

    • “The story is cheesy, cliché, and you can see the twist from a long distance.”
    • “The single-player story is good as a James Bond / Die Hard-style adventure, with great pacing, momentum, and environments.”
    • “The story is mainly that the theft of 'red mercury' around the nuclear weapon has caused panic in the world and that we will join the special forces of the United States as 'the Delta Force' to become one of them and recover the stolen nuclear weapon 'red mercury' as mission objectives, in the search process will be to complete a variety of dangerous and arduous tasks.”
    • “The story is so bad that it is funny, and some of the one-liners are super funny; I liked the 90's action movie cheese fest.”
    • “A minor issue with the levels is that there's no real context for them besides a few lines of dialogue and the occasional cutscene, so you have little reference for exactly where you are, who you are shooting at, and how this all ties to the villains and the plot.”
    • “The story is standard boring stuff and the game does not support modern resolutions, though one can edit the rm.ini file.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, with many reviewers noting that they were subpar even at the time of release in 2004. While some appreciate the visuals for their era, citing decent scenery and well-done cinematics, others criticize the low-quality textures, stiff animations, and blocky character models. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, the gameplay remains enjoyable and compensates for the visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are beautiful for its year (2004), the scenery in Paris arouses the memory of Splinter Cell.”
    • “A very good game with impressive graphics for 2004. I would recommend this for anyone with a low-end computer or super powerful computer; it also has a good story. I give the game a 10/10.”
    • “It has some grand set pieces and stylistic cut scenes with not bad graphics for the time; feels like an action movie.”
    • “This game suffers from poor voice acting, bad graphics, and just abysmal writing in the story...”
    • “It has low quality textures and bad graphics even considering its age.”
    • “In part, this was a failing of the technology; the graphics engine just couldn't produce the necessary quality of visuals, still being stuck with the 'real is brown' graphics and blocky polygonal characters that seemed just a step above Quake's monsters.”
  • gameplay48 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its solid mechanics and tactical elements, while others criticize its linearity and outdated graphics. Many players appreciate the shooting mechanics and the effective use of cover and leaning, though some find the lack of checkpoints and simplistic combat frustrating. Overall, while the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, it offers a nostalgic experience that can be enjoyable for fans of classic first-person shooters.

    • “The gameplay is solid and the production value in its cutscenes and music is unbelievable.”
    • “Finding cover and using the lean function is essential to gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay wise, the shooting mechanics are tight and the controls are responsive.”
    • “It's a COD ripoff (100% linear game) combined with the most generic visuals and gameplay of all time.”
    • “Really dated gameplay, shitty story, weapons feel like they were found on a scrapyard and also no checkpoints or saving; don't waste your time, just buy the original Half-Life instead or another better retro FPS.”
    • “Gameplay was too frequently interrupted by video cut-scenes (because in-engine graphics couldn't cut it), and the inability to drop or pick up new weapons seems a baffling choice.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the orchestral soundtrack composed by Inon Zur for its ability to enhance gameplay and fit various environments seamlessly. While some players find the music to be bland or unremarkable, others highlight its quality and effectiveness in creating atmosphere, particularly during key moments in the game. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and sound effects, is generally well-received, contributing positively to the gaming experience.

    • “I really wish the soundtrack was on YouTube or something because it is great, mostly being sweeping orchestral pieces that fit each stage so well.”
    • “Audio is great, with an amazing soundtrack and great sound effects.”
    • “The soundtrack, sounding like it was heavily influenced by Hans Zimmer, accents moments like these perfectly.”
    • “The music is what one would expect, pretty bland.”
    • “The environments are dull, the music is boring, but the voice acting is okay.”
    • “For some reason, music is off by default, so crank that music to the max, because it's awesome.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its intentionally cheesy story and dialogue, reminiscent of 90's action movies, which some players find amusingly bad. The combination of corny clichés, ridiculous ragdoll physics, and low-quality graphics contributes to an unintentional comedic experience, making the game a source of "hilarious dumb fun" despite its forgettable plot. Overall, while the humor may not be intentional, it adds a unique charm that resonates with players looking for a lighthearted experience.

    • “The story is so bad that it is funny, and some of the one-liners are super funny. I liked the 90's action movie cheese fest.”
    • “Story-wise, the plot is pretty forgettable, but ironically, it is saved by corny clichés that make otherwise bad dialogue unintentionally humorous in hindsight.”
    • “This, coupled with the ridiculous ragdolls and giggle-inducing death squeals of fallen enemies, gives the game an unintentional humorous edge.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is inconsistent, with reports of various bugs affecting enemy AI, such as enemies appearing unexpectedly and floating or falling through terrain. While some players experience no issues, others find the presence of major and minor glitches detracting from gameplay.

    • “The enemy AI is weird and sometimes buggy. There are some major bugs in this game, such as enemies appearing out of thin air, annoying audio bugs, and minor issues like enemies falling through terrain and floating enemies. Additionally, the enemies are bullet sponges; you can shoot them with your best weapon, and somehow they are still able to hit you.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy, which includes ads for weapons, is met with mixed feelings; while some players appreciate the ads for their impact on gameplay, others find the overall experience frustrating. The integration of ads seems to affect game mechanics, such as aiming and movement, leading to a less enjoyable experience for some users.

    • “The monetization strategy is frustrating, as it feels like the game is constantly pushing ads for guns instead of focusing on gameplay.”
    • “The ads interrupt the experience, making it hard to enjoy the game without being bombarded by constant promotions.”
    • “The walk speed never feels right, and the frequent ads detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, though some players appreciate its enduring appeal even after many years since its release.

    • “It makes me feel old, but it's nice to see the replayability even after 13 years (in my case).”
    • “The replay value is disappointingly low.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users report that the emotional experience of the game is negatively impacted by excessive recoil, which can lead to feelings of discomfort and sickness.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development has received criticism for its poorly executed comic book-inspired designs, which detract from the overall experience and fail to resonate with players.

    • “They tried to go for a slight comic book vibe with the character designs, but it translates really painfully in-game.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or surprise.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game performs well with smooth gameplay; however, there are notable issues with sound effects that are frequently bugged.

    • “The game runs smoothly, providing a seamless experience overall.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, allowing for high performance even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by various elements within the game, contributing to an immersive experience for players.

    • “It contributes a lot to the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
    • “The game's atmosphere draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

78hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
10-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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