Survivor Mercs
- September 14, 2023
- Wolpertinger Games
Get on SteamIn "Survivor Mercs," players join a group of mercenaries fighting against the evil M.E.G.A. Corp.'s robot army. As a commander with unique traits, players must build and lead their underfunded unit, completing missions and collecting loot in a dangerous world. The game offers randomly generated commander traits, providing a varied and challenging experience for each playthrough.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique take on the survivor genre, combining squad mechanics with base building and extraction elements, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The developers are highly responsive to player feedback, showing dedication to improving the game and addressing community concerns.
- The gameplay loop is engaging and fun, with endless combinations of teams and stats that keep players entertained for hours.
- The game suffers from a steep grind and poor meta-progression, making it feel punishing and discouraging for players trying to make meaningful progress.
- Many mechanics are overly complex and not well explained, leading to confusion and frustration, especially for newcomers.
- AI teammates often behave unpredictably, failing to prioritize targets effectively, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a complex array of mechanics that can feel overwhelming, with some players expressing frustration over the lack of clear progression and the grind system. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and features engaging elements like dodging and extraction points, many reviewers noted the need for better balance, refined animations, and a more intuitive user interface. Overall, the game shows potential for fun but requires significant improvements to enhance the player experience.
“Difficulty could still use some balancing, but the gameplay loop is super fun and I'm looking forward to seeing the game develop through early access.”
“I really enjoy the take on the genre with extraction points and the additional variety of gameplay.”
“The sheer amount of mechanics you have to engage with is dizzying.”
“I didn't accomplish anything during the mission, apparently lost what I did manage to find, and I have nothing to use to engage all these other mechanics.”
“Significant improvements are needed, especially in core mechanics: the animations are lackluster, the bomb dashing has potential but falls short, and the UI needs refinement.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and repetitive, particularly regarding the high resource costs for meta progression and unlocks. While some acknowledge that upgrades can ease gameplay, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it one of the more frustrating elements of the experience.
“The concept is really fun but extremely grindy and repetitive; the meta progression and unlocks are a pretty bad slog to unlock classes and traits.”
“I love survivor-likes, but this one is definitely the worst as far as the sheer amount of grinding you have to do, and that can be seen in various other reviews, not just mine.”
“Progression feels too grindy.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of clarity and progression, leaving players feeling overwhelmed and unaccomplished after missions. Newcomers struggle to understand resource management and often find themselves replaying initial missions without meaningful advancement, as dying results in the loss of collected resources. This design choice creates a frustrating cycle that hinders engagement with the game's mechanics and narrative.
“Each time, you feel like you built momentum during the mission and then subsequently built momentum in the power progression.”
“If you die, you lose the resources collected, which basically punishes the player for trying to survive as long as possible instead of ending the mission prematurely.”
“I didn't accomplish anything during the mission, apparently lost what I did manage to find, and I have nothing to use to engage all these other mechanics.”
“I guess a newcomer has to play the first mission over and over again until they manage to drag home a few resources, and then figure out what they're for and where to use them?”
“If you die you lose the resources collected, which basically punishes the player for trying to survive as long as possible instead of ending the mission prematurely.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while many praise the soundtrack as "awesome" and a "cool take on the survivor genre," some players find the looping tracks to be repetitive and fatiguing after a short period. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, despite some concerns about its execution.
“Soundtrack is pretty cool though.”
“Very cool take on the survivor genre with awesome soundtrack.”
“Oh, and the music is great!”
“The music loops too quickly and is fatiguing after the first time you play.”
“The music loops too quickly and is fatiguing after the first time you play.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game features appealing 8-bit visuals that successfully evoke a nostalgic NES retro feel, complemented by excellent sprite work. However, performance issues significantly detract from the experience, with claims of 144 fps feeling more like 20, leading to choppy gameplay and potential motion sickness. Overall, while the art style is praised, technical shortcomings hinder the graphical experience.
“The 8-bit visuals give that NES retro feel that many people are seeking today, and it is very well implemented with excellent sprite work on behalf of the artists involved.”
“I like the art style; the squad idea is somewhat new and interesting, and the underground bunker idea is neat.”
“The visuals are great up until the game starts to experience performance issues.”
“It claims 144 fps, but it feels like 20; it's choppy and motion sickness-inducing for 'aesthetic' reasons, I guess.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be extremely buggy, which significantly hampers the experience, alongside a frustratingly slow meta-progression system. While there is potential for improvement, many users express hope for future updates to enhance stability and overall gameplay.
“Extremely buggy and with infuriatingly slow meta-progression.”
“It's still a bit buggy and has ways to go, but I'll be looking forward to further updates. It seems it already has the main ideas in place for a great fun game.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for misleading advertising, as players find that the abilities they gain are randomly assigned, fleeting, and lack player control, leading to frustration and a sense of manipulation.
“The advertisement video makes it seem like you have abilities (which you do!), but they are randomly dropped, short-lived, and you don't get to exercise control over when to use them.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its accessible gameplay and the variety of mercenaries, perks, and gear available, allowing for different strategies and experiences with each playthrough.
“I haven't been gaming much lately, but I came across someone playing this in a YouTube video and fell in love. It's so easy to just pick up and play, and with all the mercs, perks, and gear, it makes for quite the replayable experience.”
