With two analog sticks and enough horsepower to rival its larger, more stationary brother, the PlayStation Vita has always seemed like a handheld designed to support some of the industry’s biggest shooters. However, if Resistance: Burning Skies and Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified are any indication, there’s no simple formula for FPS success on the small screen. Guerilla Games’ Killzone: Mercenary has been talked about as the answer to Sony’s first-person dilemma prior to release, and in the areas where it really counts, the dynamic title delivers. A tight sense of control and stunning presentation makes Mercenary the best-playing shooter on the Vita by leaps and bounds, but uninspired level design and poor writing holds the game back from being anything more than an afternoon’s worth of fun.
What makes Mercenary stand out from the three home-console Killzone titles is the premise, as instead of playing highly decorated officer Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko, players hop into the boots of gun for hire, Arran Danner. The freelancer uses the wartime struggles between the ISA and Helghast as an opportunity to line his pockets with as much cash as possible, and really, the characters surrounding the silent protagonist insist on reminding the player of their selfish motives again and again. When not barking cheesy one-liners at Danner, his “allies” slip in what feels like endless references to how good the money is, or how the outcome of the war means nothing as long as everyone gets paid. As you’d guess, this concept doesn’t stay fresh for too long, and it tends to make early missions feel a bit hollow.
Of course, the nature of the jobs gets much more complex and involved than simply cleaning out a room of Helghast soldiers, and this leads to fighting for something a bit bigger than a paycheck. The twists and turns the narrative takes are predictable, but the story wouldn’t be too offensive if it weren’t for the painful writing and voice acting. Quips about making enemies eat your lunch are just the tip of the ham-fisted iceberg, and the self-serious nature of the delivery only makes the school-yard dialogue even more egregious.
Few people pick up a Killzone game with the hope to witness a gripping tale of love and war, though, so the unimaginative story isn’t a deal breaker. The moment-to-moment action, thanks to a smart control scheme and responsive shooting, is exactly what you’d wish to see from the veteran studio. Although most combat situations open with stealth as an option, quickly swinging your reticule from target to target is a satisfying way to solve any and all situations. The AI is no pushover, as you’ll often see multiple pairs of glowing eyes attempt to flank your position, but the challenge feels fair and can be overcome with a few well-placed rounds. In the ways that count, the console experience that Sony has been looking to replicate on the Vita has been achieved with Mercenary.
In a few key areas, Guerilla Games’ Vita venture is actually a mechanical improvement over what’s been done on consoles. The melee attacks, which involve slow, brutal techniques with a combat knife, are carried out through the use of the touch screen, and it simply feels natural to swipe away oncoming enemies. Players can get clearer shots with snipers by sliding a finger up and down on the rear touch panel, and actions like weapon swapping and hacking can all be completed without pressing a single button. Few developers manage to incorporate the Vita’s unique feature set without making it feel forced, but Mercenary manages to make use of the portable console’s capabilities in a smart, natural manner.
As previously mentioned, this is a game all about getting paid. For each and every kill Danner racks up, a small chunk of cash is added to your account. Simply filling a Helghast with lead will help keep the lights on, but if you’re hoping to acquire enough money to become the richest mercenary in the business, it’s worth emptying a busy room with a bit of pizzazz. Melee kills, headshots, and effective stealth all lead to bonuses, and that money can be used to upgrade Danner’s equipment to your liking. New weapons, armor, and gadgets can be purchased from a dealer whose stations litter each and every mission in the campaign, so it’s easy to switch from a beefy shotgun to a bolt-action rifle. Mercenary lets players pick and choose the loadout that they feel most comfortable with, and thankfully, there are plenty of options to consider.
The kill-for-cash system and customization options bleed into the multiplayer, which includes battles with up to eight players in a single map. That number might seem small, but compact locations help prevent lulls in the action. Other than free-for-all and team deathmatch modes, Mercenary incorporates the more varied Warzone feature that’s been a central component of past Killzone games. Instead of sticking to a single objective for an extended period of time, Warzone rotates between five unique game types before a winner is named. Players are asked to hack terminals, collect Valor cards that drop from fallen soldiers, and extract intelligence from unsuspecting enemies. Each segment can take up to five minutes, leading to multiplayer matches that last much longer than what FPS veterans often expect. It’s fun, varied, and remains a joy to control.
Smaller maps do lead to a few interesting spawning situations. You’ll often run right into the back of a soldier who just reentered the game, or fall prey to an extended melee animation that really can’t be avoided seconds after a spawn. It can lead to frustration, but the deep system of progression makes this multiplayer option a worthwhile complement to a campaign that lasts little more than three to four hours.
Killzone: Mercenary is the best shooter currently available for the PlayStation Vita, but unfortunately, that doesn’t make it a must-play title. A brief campaign with uninspired writing holds back an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience, and while the multiplayer will likely satisfy those looking for a competitive option on the Sony portable, it’s not enough to push Mercenary over the edge. It’s a more than worthy entry in the Killzone franchise, but Guerilla Games’ latest effort just doesn’t do enough to be considered great.
Final verdict
7 out of 10
Killzone: Mercenary was developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. A copy was provided by the publisher for the purposes of review.
