New Review Posted: Mercury

[Daniel Weissenberger]

Andrew Fletcher reviews Mercury, and thinks it's a notable entry in a long tradition:

"Don't underestimate the puzzle game! In many ways it's the most accessible of game genres (yet ironically appealing to hardcore gamers at the exact same time), and Tetris selling the GameBoy is just one of its achievements. Years later, it was the humble Chu Chu Rocket that SEGA chose to demonstrate the Dreamcast's groundbreaking online capabilities, the whimsical Fantavision that stood out as the freshest of PS2's inauspicious launch titles, Super Monkey Ball that became the first great GameCube game. And now we find a new breed of super-polished puzzlers appearing in their element at the vanguard of a new handheld generation: Meteos, Lumines and Archer Maclean's Mercury."

He discusses Mercury in detail here.

[Sajon]

I would have rated Mercury slightly higher. Comparing it to Lumines is sorta weird. Mercury is technically considered a "puzzle" game I guess, but it's really an obstacle course game. I think it has more in common with Tony Hawk than Tetris. Would you compare Marble Madness to Lumines, because that's what Mercury virtually is.

I loved Mercury. I logged more hours playing it than Lumines, in spite of the fact that Lumines is a superior game.


-Matt

[Asz]

I never much liked Marble Madness and the like, but I picked up Mercury a while ago anyway. This was when I still had my PSP; you may or may not remember me discussing this. I couldn't use that control nub to steer my Wipeout craft in the alpha class, so likewise, I could hardly control the worlds in Mercury without overdoing every minute movement. This was frustrating enough as it was, but throw in a time limit, enemies, long load times, and I had just an awful time getting anything done without frustration.

[Sajon]

Originally Posted by Asz

I never much liked Marble Madness and the like, but I picked up Mercury a while ago anyway. This was when I still had my PSP; you may or may not remember me discussing this. I couldn't use that control nub to steer my Wipeout craft in the alpha class, so likewise, I could hardly control the worlds in Mercury without overdoing every minute movement. This was frustrating enough as it was, but throw in a time limit, enemies, long load times, and I had just an awful time getting anything done without frustration.

Well you must suck then. :P I agree with you about Wipeout, but the nub was perfect in Mercury. I doubt there'll be a better use of the nub ever again. I finished every mission in Mercury and it was some of the cleanest, unfrustrating fun I've had on the PSP.


-Matt

[Daniel Weissenberger]

Brad Gallaway makes his second opinionon Mercury known:

"Before the PSP was even released, I knew I liked the look of Archer MacLean's Mercury…but didn't like the look enough to buy the game right off the bat. In fact, I guess I should confess and say that I basically bought every PSP game I was even halfway interested in before buying Mercury. It didn't seem exciting enough to gamble $40 on, and had the look of something that would soon be available secondhand. My first impressions were basically correct (and my thanks to the person who traded in their used copy). But after having put the game through its paces, I was a little bit regretful I didn't give it a whirl sooner."

The rest of the review is available here.