Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 111 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Shadow Ops: Red Mercury Game Cover
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Shadow Ops: Red Mercury is a science fiction first-person shooter with a good story and engaging gameplay. As a member of an elite counter-terrorist team, you must race against time to stop a terrorist from detonating a nuclear device, either in single-player mode or with a friend in local multi-player, split screen for up to 2 players. With a variety of weapons and missions, this game offers a thrilling experience in the fight against terrorism.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews
story15 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The gameplay is solid and provides a fun, nostalgic experience reminiscent of early 2000s shooters.
  • The cutscenes and sound design are impressive for their time, adding a cinematic feel to the game.
  • The game features a unique leaning mechanic while aiming, enhancing tactical gameplay.
  • The lack of checkpoints or save options makes the game frustrating, as dying means restarting entire levels.
  • Enemy AI can be overly aggressive and spawn in cheap locations, leading to unfair gameplay experiences.
  • The graphics and overall design feel dated, which may deter modern players from enjoying the game.
  • story85 mentions

    The story of the game is often described as nonsensical and reminiscent of a cheesy action movie, featuring a standard plot about recovering a stolen nuclear weapon. While some players find the dialogue unintentionally humorous and the cutscenes high in production value, many criticize the overall writing as poor and lacking depth, with missions feeling disconnected from the narrative. Despite its shortcomings, the story provides a backdrop for solid gameplay, which many players find enjoyable.

    • “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 a classic action movie script.”
    • “Story-wise, the plot is pretty forgettable but ironically, is saved by corny cliches that make otherwise crap dialogue unintentionally humorous in hindsight.”
    • “The story is nonsensical, but the gameplay is solid and the production value in its cutscenes and music is unbelievable.”
    • “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 nothing worth writing home about (terrorist gets hands on WMD and wants to use it), but the gameplay is what sets this one apart.”
  • gameplay35 mentions

    The gameplay is generally solid, featuring responsive controls and enjoyable shooting mechanics, though it shows its age with dated graphics and some quirks that may require adjustment. Players appreciate the tactical elements, such as the effective lean mechanic and cover usage, which enhance the experience despite a nonsensical story. While some find the gameplay simplistic or frustrating due to a lack of modern conveniences like checkpoints, many still find it engaging and fun, especially for those who enjoy retro-style shooters.

    • “The story is nonsensical but 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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Shadow Ops is a strange mix of arcade-like frantic gameplay and tactical shooter mechanics.”
    • “Shadow Ops: Red Mercury is one of those shooters that a lot of modern shooters trace their lineage from, but relied on mechanics that are just too old and unrealistic enemies to provide 'challenge', resulting in a game that just doesn't accommodate casual players at all.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game, released in 2004, are generally considered outdated, with many reviewers noting low-quality textures and bland character models, particularly in cutscenes. While some appreciate the visuals for their time and acknowledge decent cinematics, the overall consensus is that the graphics have not aged well and may detract from the experience, despite the solid gameplay mechanics. Overall, the visuals are described as "okay" or "decent" for an older title, but they fall short of modern standards.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful for its year (2004); the scenery in Paris evokes memories of Splinter Cell.”
    • “It has some grand set pieces and stylistic cut scenes with not bad graphics for the time, feels like an action movie.”
    • “The graphics are okay for a game released in 2004; don't expect pretty effects and high-resolution textures.”
    • “It has low quality textures and bad graphics even considering its age.”
    • “Yes, the graphics are dated, and were dated at the time.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its impressive orchestral soundtrack, composed by notable artist Inon Zur, which enhances gameplay and fits the various stages well. While some players found the environments lacking, the audio quality, including sound effects and voice acting, was generally regarded as strong, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, a few reviews noted that not all music was engaging, indicating a mixed reception in certain areas.

    • “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 environments are dull, the music is boring, but the voice acting is okay.”
    • “The soundtrack, sounding like it was heavily influenced by Hans Zimmer, accents moments like these perfectly.”
    • “Music composed by famous Inon Zur is essential to gameplay, provoking additional adrenaline to fight the enemies.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by a mix of intentionally silly and unintentionally funny elements, including corny clichés, absurd dialogue, and amusing ragdoll physics. Players find enjoyment in the contrast between forgettable storylines and the hilarity that arises from ridiculous scenarios and character interactions, making for a lighthearted experience. Overall, the humor adds a fun, albeit nonsensical, layer to the gameplay.

    • “The levels can be really fun; if you are in a desert, you are in a bad level, but if you are not, you are on a hilarious Bond-esque adventure or battling through a well-paced warzone.”
    • “The story is so dumb, it's hilariously fun.”
    • “Story-wise, the plot is pretty forgettable but ironically saved by corny clichés that make otherwise poor dialogue unintentionally humorous in hindsight.”
  • 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.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy, particularly the presence of ads, is a mixed bag; while some players initially find the ads disruptive, others appreciate how they can enhance gameplay mechanics, such as aiming and movement. Overall, the monetization approach seems to evoke varied reactions, with some players growing accustomed to it over time.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and not worth the value they provide, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The reliance on ads for revenue disrupts gameplay and creates a frustrating experience, especially during critical moments.”
  • 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 in the game has been criticized 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 bad 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.”
    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

Play time

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

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