Mercenaries (T)

Killing-for-profit game definitely isn't for kids.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: LucasArts
  • Genre: Video Games - Action/Adventure
  • Release Date: 01/12/2005
  • ESRB Rating: T
  • Price: $45.95

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that death and destruction are constant in this game. The violence is very real and bodies go flying, although there's little blood. Playing as killers for hire, players jack cars, take hostages, and mow down enemies for profit, not any noble cause.

Families can talk about the plot points and themes, especially those that are grounded in the real world. For example: Why are the North Koreans the enemy in this game? Why are mercenaries used in war? Is it ever ethical to be a mercenary -- or to hire one?

Message

Social Behavior:

One of the mercenaries is a woman and another is African American, but they are still fighting --- and killing -- for money.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Educational Value:

The game plays off several real-life military tactics that parents should discuss with their kids.

Violence

Not a lot of blood, but constant death and destruction.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Matthew Pavao

MERCENARIES follows the ExOps, a group of mercenaries looking to capitalize financially on a Korean conflict. You must guide the mercenary you have chosen to stop the new North Korean leaders before they amass a nuclear arsenal. Each enemy has been paired with a playing card to designate his importance. The mercenary goes through a deck of 52 enemies; the goal is to get to the Ace of Spades, Gen. Choi Song.

While hunting for the Ace of Spades, the mercenary has the option of running missions for the other factions located in the demilitarized zone. These missions can be for cash to purchase other useful items, such as cars and weapons, from the black market, or to keep interested groups in the area satisfied. Winning the favor of the Russian Mafia, the Chinese government, the North Koreans, and the Allied Forces, all of whom occupy some space in the DMZ, is of utmost importance to succeed.

Is it any good?

3

The strength of this game comes from the realism of its battle scenes. Whether sneaking through a North Korean camp to take out a signal jamming device, or using C4 explosives to take out a whole building, players will find their adrenaline pumping. These realistic battle scenes can become a little too real for younger players. While the amount of blood and guts in the game is a minimum, the death and destruction is constant, and there is enough authentic violence to warrant a 17+ rating.

Even for older players, the destruction of the game eventually grows stale. There's hardly any character development and the storyline doesn't even rip off a war movie, which would at least give it a little depth. The soundtrack is boring, and it takes a ridiculously long time to get to missions. Overall, mature players will find the realistic battle scenes and complicated missions entertaining enough, but younger players should stay far, far away.

How to play

  • Playability: Hard. Normally auto-aiming features found in other games of this type are missing.
  • Reading Required: 12+. Tips and advice are given on loading screens.
  • Graphics: Realistic and above average.

Other choices

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 23 reviews.

3


Posted on 11/07/08 by silly2007us Adult contributor

A grate game for kids over the age of 16

a strong game with alot of violance for profit an sweet game when you get passed the anomated violance. its fun to pass time and an easey one to play.
5


Posted on 07/21/08 by I_Slay_Covenant Kid contributor, age 15

What r u guys talking about?

How in the world did this get a CSM 17+ ? okay, there is some violence but its like rated teen. Granted, its a bit chaotic at times but what PG-13 film these days doesn't contain that? its definatly fine 4 your teens (12-17)
5


Posted on 06/23/08 by hesser999 Kid contributor, age 12

Great, ever-lasting fun loaded game but not for young kids...

This game you might have to kill or destroy for money. The whole point of th game is money so you have to do these destructive missions. It isnt very graphic and includes no blood what so ever. But there is lots of killing and destruction. The player controls the amount of death though by picking certain missions ut eventually they will have to complete every one.
5


Posted on 06/12/08 by JSH Kid contributor, age 14

GTA in a warzone

This is probably the closest thing to a T rated Grand Theft Auto. You are a mercenary sent in Korea to kill a dictator with nukes capable of deploying all over the worls. You can do almost anything you do in GTA except have sex with a hooker. And it is sooo fun! You steel cars and get sent by leaders of different factions and countries who think they can get something out of the war. Even the Russian Mafia can give a hit. SEX: none DRUGS: none LANGUAGE: barely noticeable VIOLENCE: Unlike GTA, you can blow up anything in sight. There is a black market, where you can use your hard earned money to buy weapons, vehicals, and AIRSTRIKES! You can even hijack helicopters and tanks! And you can kill civilian and buildings! You just have to play this game! Too bad i traded mine in, but i have gamefly, and im waiting for the second one. But aside all of this violence, there is no blood or gore. I wish there is in the second one. But there isnt as much things to do in this game as there is in GTA. But you have to play this game, dont compare it to GTA and you will have a lot of fun! Thanks for reading this very long review.=)
5


Posted on 04/29/08 by gamesarentbad Kid contributor, age 14

Are You Joking?

Why is this game rated 17+? If you look at it, there is NO blood, the violence is not over the top, and the premise of the game is, while not "honorable", still about the player fighting the bad guys. Also, I'm pretty sure people being blown up is something that happens in every war game and I honestly think that ratings should be left to the OFFICIAL authorities, the ESRB!
5

Posted on 04/17/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

really good i own it very fun
4


Posted on 10/01/07 by JediGuy Kid contributor, age 13

Depends on Kid

This game completely depends on the kid. If your kid is playing this just to see how high the body count gets, you might want to hold off, even though it's rated T. But if your kid knows that the ultimate goal is to find and capture the world's most dangerous man and they know the difference between this and GTA (Grand Theft Auto), then they're probably ready.
3

Posted on 08/21/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5


Posted on 07/30/07 by gamerkid99 Kid contributor, age 11

best game

suck it up thsi game ownz
4


Posted on 07/16/07 by Masterchief13 Kid contributor, age 13

Its alright

this game is alright for kids over 10,the charicter blows stuff up, kills peaple,standard,exept they choose a charicter and earn money,education wise it kinda teches kids to make decicians and about current problams in the world.

See all 23 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

3


Posted on 11/07/08 by silly2007us Adult contributor

A grate game for kids over the age of 16

a strong game with alot of violance for profit an sweet game when you get passed the anomated violance. its fun to pass time and an easey one to play.
3

Posted on 08/21/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5

Posted on 11/14/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5

Posted on 04/10/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

its ok!

its all right parents if your kids are teens or almost let them have the game. The voilence is kind of bad, but besides that nothing seems to wrong

Kids Reviews

There are 19 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/21/08 by I_Slay_Covenant Kid contributor, age 15

What r u guys talking about?

How in the world did this get a CSM 17+ ? okay, there is some violence but its like rated teen. Granted, its a bit chaotic at times but what PG-13 film these days doesn't contain that? its definatly fine 4 your teens (12-17)
5


Posted on 06/23/08 by hesser999 Kid contributor, age 12

Great, ever-lasting fun loaded game but not for young kids...

This game you might have to kill or destroy for money. The whole point of th game is money so you have to do these destructive missions. It isnt very graphic and includes no blood what so ever. But there is lots of killing and destruction. The player controls the amount of death though by picking certain missions ut eventually they will have to complete every one.
5


Posted on 06/12/08 by JSH Kid contributor, age 14

GTA in a warzone

This is probably the closest thing to a T rated Grand Theft Auto. You are a mercenary sent in Korea to kill a dictator with nukes capable of deploying all over the worls. You can do almost anything you do in GTA except have sex with a hooker. And it is sooo fun! You steel cars and get sent by leaders of different factions and countries who think they can get something out of the war. Even the Russian Mafia can give a hit. SEX: none DRUGS: none LANGUAGE: barely noticeable VIOLENCE: Unlike GTA, you can blow up anything in sight. There is a black market, where you can use your hard earned money to buy weapons, vehicals, and AIRSTRIKES! You can even hijack helicopters and tanks! And you can kill civilian and buildings! You just have to play this game! Too bad i traded mine in, but i have gamefly, and im waiting for the second one. But aside all of this violence, there is no blood or gore. I wish there is in the second one. But there isnt as much things to do in this game as there is in GTA. But you have to play this game, dont compare it to GTA and you will have a lot of fun! Thanks for reading this very long review.=)
5


Posted on 04/29/08 by gamesarentbad Kid contributor, age 14

Are You Joking?

Why is this game rated 17+? If you look at it, there is NO blood, the violence is not over the top, and the premise of the game is, while not "honorable", still about the player fighting the bad guys. Also, I'm pretty sure people being blown up is something that happens in every war game and I honestly think that ratings should be left to the OFFICIAL authorities, the ESRB!
5

Posted on 04/17/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

really good i own it very fun
4


Posted on 10/01/07 by JediGuy Kid contributor, age 13

Depends on Kid

This game completely depends on the kid. If your kid is playing this just to see how high the body count gets, you might want to hold off, even though it's rated T. But if your kid knows that the ultimate goal is to find and capture the world's most dangerous man and they know the difference between this and GTA (Grand Theft Auto), then they're probably ready.
5


Posted on 07/30/07 by gamerkid99 Kid contributor, age 11

best game

suck it up thsi game ownz
4


Posted on 07/16/07 by Masterchief13 Kid contributor, age 13

Its alright

this game is alright for kids over 10,the charicter blows stuff up, kills peaple,standard,exept they choose a charicter and earn money,education wise it kinda teches kids to make decicians and about current problams in the world.
5

Posted on 06/22/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Awsome realatively clean shooter.

4


Posted on 06/09/07 by s.flory Kid contributor, age 17

not that bad

i mena comeon, it aint that bad.well it has alot of killing but basically nothibng else is realy bad. I know no kids whop would hijack a car and shoot people like crazy just because it happened in a videogame. lighten up
See all 19 kids reviews >
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