Killzone: Mercenary

As a mercenary, it becomes clear that Danner's goal is not to help end the war one way or another but rather to perpetuate it endlessly, guaranteeing that he always has work. That's what Killzone: Mercenary feels like: business as usual.

Killzone Mercenary didn't wow us, but we can live with that. It's a good FPS that showcases the handheld's potential, and while it does little to push the series forward, it'll make a fine portable companion for players with itchy trigger fingers.

It's not remarkable among shooters in general, but as a handheld shooter, it raises the bar considerably and demonstrates that there's no reason a handheld platform like the Vita can't give us shooters that measure up to those on consoles. It simultaneously leaves you impressed with its terrific visuals and traditionally satisfying gameplay, and disappointed that it doesn't try to carve out more of an identity for itself.

The Killzone franchise contains an intriguing fiction that’s extended thanks to the PlayStation Vita. It’s not a game without its faults as friendly artificial intelligence can obstruct progress and I ran into a number of glitches throughout the campaign, but with an addictive multiplayer and some of the most creative ways in using the handheld’s technology, you’ll have a tough time finding another experience like this.

Mercenary is a truly great shooter, one that was crafted with the hardcore shooter fan in mind. There’s a lot to love here -- even if its campaign is woefully short – from its deep Contracts mode to its engaging multiplayer functionality.

As competent as it is, however, Killzone: Mercenary is teetering on the edge of being something truly great, if only it could shake the dusty conventions of the modern first-person shooter genre it's trying so hard to adhere to.

The game may struggle to shrug off the gameplay staples that have plagued its parent genre over the past few years, but it still sits in a salary bracket several tiers above its portable first-person peers. Graphically astounding and packing some serious online firepower, this is the high-budget handheld hit that you’ve been waiting for.

If you're looking for a first-person shooter on a handheld, this is the one to get - hands down. Delivering near console quality graphics with a slightly "Vita" take on controls, this one stands far above the rest as the new king of portable shooters.

As much as I was hoping (and, quite frankly, expecting) Killzone: Mercenary to be the perfect representation of a first-person shooter on the PlayStation Vita, it just isn’t. A sub-par single player campaign is only saved by the fast-paced and fun multiplayer, which isn’t perfect, but does take this from being a forgettable rental, to something I can recommend buying, even if just for that online multiplayer.

Killzone: Mercenary could have stood to provide more content, but that which is on offer is all very well polished and plays almost impeccably on Sony's latest handheld venture. Distinguishing itself as the first Vita FPS to really showcase the system's strengths, this is one of those ambitious titles the system can be proud to showcase.

...is the best FPS on the system and works well enough, even as batteries drain quickly and pinky fingers go numb

Killzone: Mercenary sets a new bar of quality for FPS on handheld. While there’s still room for improvement, the crisp visuals, aggressive action, and solid multiplayer make it an easy recommendation for players hungry for exclusive Vita content.

It is, in other words, a competent handheld version of Killzone

If you have a Vita and are an FPS fan, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not playing this game. The handheld FPS formula has finally been cracked, and not a moment too soon. I just hope this is the beginning of a growing trend and not just a flash in the pan. I don’t presume to know which it will turn out to be, but at least I can play Killzone: Mercenary until we find out.

Killzone: Mercenary is a gritty, intense experience that is welcome--if not desperately needed--on the Vita. From start to finish, its intensity draws you in and doesn’t let go. While there’s little in the way of innovation, that’s not the point. Mercenary is unapologetically big and bold, and is exactly the kind of game you’d hope it would be.

Killzone: Mercenary is an enjoyable shooter, with an excellent online mode and a solid - if not completely predictable - single-player campaign. It looks outstanding on the Vita, and finally gives the little console the shooter it has been crying out for.

You’ll find some things you like about shooters here, and they’re done well

At the end of the day this is an entertaining action romp and the best game since Killzone 2 in the series. With games like this one PS Vita could be mounting a comeback.

For all the small fumbles and compromises, Mercenary clears that bar with ease. A solid and visually impressive shooter, it never manages to feel essential - and clearly exists mostly because all first-party franchises are obliged to put in an appearance on a new console - but even as a relatively minor entry in its own series, it still sets a new benchmark for portable shooters.

Killzone: Mercenary resembles its console counterparts gunplay-wise, but its story is dull and difficulty spikes and other shenanigans sour the experience. However, it's still a passable game, and will tide over Vita owners until PlayStation 4 Remote Play brings the big dogs to the small screen.

Lo más interesante es que el juego engancha como los "shooter" más populares, se mueve con fluidez y no muestra ningún problema de conexión. Como ya hemos explicado, el sistema de rangos y cartas, le da una profundidad sin precedentes en un juego portátil, y los controles también se adaptan a este ritmo de juego más exigente. ...Killzone Mercenary ofrece, en definitiva, todo lo que se puede esperar de PS Vita.

PS Vita continúa sin encontrar el gran reclamo que necesita en el software para acompañar a su extraordinario hardware, y algunos errores de ejecución y una deficiente IA impiden a lo nuevo de Guerrilla convertirse en su verdadero estandarte. No todo son malas noticias, claro está, su explosión gráfica y su divertido multijugador salva la papeleta con notable eficacia garantizando en este caso una compra más que interesante para los fans de los shooters.

Sin nada que envidiar a sus hermanos mayores, tan entretenido como el Liberation de PSP, verdaderamente espectacular a nivel visual y jugablemente intenso y logrado, Killzone: Mercenary es el tipo de título que una portátil como Vita merece, uno que demuestra su potencia y posibilidades.

So spannend wie seine „großen Brüder“ ist Killzone: Mercenary nicht: Dazu mangelt es dem Shooter an Umfang, Abwechslung und bockschweren Bosskämpfen. Auch erzählerisch können die häppchenweise präsentierten Söldner-Missionen nicht den gleichen Spannungsbogen aufbauen. Trotzdem hat mich das mobile Killzone gut unterhalten, denn die kleinen Missionen sind durchaus motivierend aufgebaut.

Avec Killzone Mercenary, Guerrilla réussit presque l'exploit de nous proposer l'expérience d'un authentique FPS de console de salon sur une portable. Impressionnant visuellement et très maniable, le jeu remplit une partie du contrat avec des sensations parfois brutales et un bel aspect défouloir.

Avec ses graphismes de dingue, son gameplay bien calibré et son multijoueur efficace, le FPS de Sony comblera forcément les joueurs en manque de sensations fortes. Certes, il se termine en une journée en solo mais l’expérience est suffisamment intense et le résultat tellement impressionnant que vous aurez tort de passer à côté.

Vous ne rêvez pas, la petite Vita accueille enfin le FPS qu'elle mérite. Killzone Mercenary propose à la fois un gameplay au poil, des graphismes époustouflants et un multijoueur prenant. On pourra juste lui reprocher la rapidité avec laquelle on traverse la campagne, mais, vu la qualité de l'ensemble, on prendra plaisir à refaire les missions pour débloquer la totalité de l'arsenal et pour dénicher tous les secrets du jeu.

Nel suo piccolo, una grande rivoluzione di soggettività portatile. Da assaggiare, manco a dirlo, a piccole dosi, anche da parte dei curiosi. Se non sapete stare senza sparatutto dappertutto, invece, abbuffatevi senza indugio, e aggiungete pure un punto al voto generale del gioco.

De game ziet er uit als een PlayStation 3-titel op zakformaat en speelt ook zo. Guerrilla Cambridge brengt niet de meest innovatieve titel naar de PlayStation Vita, maar levert desondanks wel een handheld-shooter af die daadwerkelijk lekker weg speelt. En dat kunnen niet veel ontwikkelaars zeggen.