The Mercury Man
- May 20, 2018
- Mehsoft
In "The Mercury Man," players navigate a steampunk-inspired metropolis as an amnesiac superhero with the ability to manipulate mercury. Solve puzzles, uncover your past, and defeat enemies using your unique powers in this action-adventure game. With various upgrades and abilities, players can explore and protect the city in different ways while saving its citizens from peril. Official Trailer on Youtube: Direct Steam Page Link
Reviews
- The game features a captivating cyberpunk atmosphere with great visuals and a solid soundtrack.
- The storyline is engaging and has potential, with well-written dialogues that resonate with fans of the genre.
- The game is available at a very reasonable price, making it accessible for players looking for a unique experience.
- The gameplay mechanics, particularly the driving and combat systems, are frustrating and poorly executed, leading to a tedious experience.
- The English translation is often awkward and poorly phrased, detracting from the overall immersion and enjoyment of the story.
- The pacing of the game is slow, with long stretches of driving and dialogue that can feel monotonous and unengaging.
- story31 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its gritty noir cyberpunk elements and depth of characters, while others criticize the clumsy writing and poor translation that detracts from the experience. Many find the narrative engaging and immersive, though the pacing and lengthy exposition can feel tedious, making it more akin to a visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, while the story has potential and interesting themes, its execution leaves room for improvement.
“Great noir cyberpunk story, very gritty but also can be funny in a dark way.”
“Beautiful visual novel with hardcore gameplay elements, awesome soundtrack, heart-stopping story and a ton of easter eggs.”
“Mind-bogglingly engrossing story.”
“The story is okay, but the grammar and dialogue are not great.”
“Unfortunately, the game's insipid, rambling dialogue at times nullifies any player investment into the overbaked storyline during the game's opening act.”
“Everything - the pacing of the story, characters, driving, combat (which is downright tedious), and save system - is just too rudimentary and unpolished to be able to enjoy the game.”
- music19 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its synthwave and retrowave influences, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and storytelling. Many players appreciate the unique incorporation of Russian characteristics in the soundtrack, while others highlight its smooth and wavy quality as a standout feature. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the immersive experience despite criticisms of gameplay mechanics.
“The soundtrack is exactly what I like to hear: synthed, smooth, and wavy.”
“This game has got the music, story, and the aesthetics to make a good cyberpunk game.”
“The best part of the game is the atmosphere; music, art, and dialogs do a great job.”
“The mercury man is a game much more about its tone and its setting - if you are into sleuthy/detective/dystopian fare, its soundtrack of synthwave/retrowave (along with some of its visual presentation) hit those marks well.”
“While I can immediately get on board with its dark, silhouetted, stark visuals and synthy soundtrack at the main menu, do I really have to immediately encounter a scene of seeing 5-10 pages of dialogue with the immediate, generic 'wife' character (that is really her name. lol..) on her deathbed shoved down my throat???”
“- music”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing the driving mechanics and overall combat as tedious and poorly executed. While some appreciate the visual novel elements and story, they feel that the gameplay detracts significantly from the experience, often leading to boredom and frustration. A few users, however, find satisfaction in the challenge and unique gameplay decisions, suggesting that it may appeal to those who enjoy a more difficult gaming experience.
“Good visual novel with nice gameplay elements and solid story.”
“Beautiful visual novel with hardcore gameplay elements, awesome soundtrack, heart-stopping story, and a ton of easter eggs.”
“I see that some people criticize the gameplay, but I would say that it is satisfying; yes, it's pretty hard but playable, you will need a maximum of 3 tries to complete the hardest levels.”
“Terrible game mechanics.”
“The idea for this game is great but it falls so short because of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay seems to take all the worst bits of 80's gaming with long drawn out driving and a character that plods along at a snail's pace.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful art style and aesthetic appeal, particularly in the context of a cyberpunk theme. However, some players feel that while the visuals are striking, they are not enough to compensate for other gameplay issues, such as poor mechanics and excessive dialogue. Overall, the artwork is appreciated, but it may not fully engage all players.
“This game has got the music, story, and the aesthetics to make a good cyberpunk game.”
“With some beautiful graphic design!”
“I love the art style of the game too and the game's sense of humor.”
“Great visual novel with a great soundtrack and art style but with terrible mechanics.”
“While I can immediately get on board with its dark, silhouetted, stark visuals and synthy soundtrack at the main menu, do I really have to immediately encounter a scene of seeing 5-10 pages of dialog with the immediate, generic 'wife' character (that is really her name. lol..) on her deathbed shoved down my throat???”
“- artwork”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its gritty cyberpunk aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 90s titles like "Dreamweb." Reviewers highlight the effective combination of music, art, and dialogue that creates a captivating noir ambiance, making it one of the standout features of the experience.
“I like the gritty cyberpunk atmosphere of this one; it reminds me of the 90s cyberpunk adventure game 'Dreamweb' somehow.”
“The best part of the game is the atmosphere; the music, art, and dialogues do a great job.”
“- noir atmosphere”
“The mood and atmosphere felt flat, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“While the game aimed for a noir atmosphere, it ultimately fell short, failing to capture the gritty essence that defines the genre.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and gritty elements, effectively incorporating dark humor into its noir cyberpunk narrative. This juxtaposition adds a unique layer to the storytelling, balancing serious themes with moments of levity.
“Great noir cyberpunk story, very gritty but also can be funny in a dark way.”
“Dark humor”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being nonsensical and lacking depth, with sudden changes in characters' motivations that feel unearned. This, combined with repetitive gameplay mechanics, detracts from the overall experience and leaves players feeling drained.
“The pointless and boring driving, the nonsensical character development and sudden changes of heart, the honestly repetitive and annoying combat system of finding a place to reload and running in circles, the horrible decision to write file reports to earn money which is basically watching paint dry... it drained me to play this.”
“Character development feels rushed and inconsistent, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
“The lack of meaningful growth for the characters left me feeling detached and uninterested in their stories.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unrefined, negatively impacting the overall enjoyment due to its rudimentary pacing in story, characters, and combat.
“The pacing of the story, characters, driving, and combat is just too rudimentary and unpolished to enjoy the game.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the gameplay.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be unstable and plagued by numerous bugs, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“The game is raw and buggy.”
“I encountered frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
“There are constant glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”