Quick Play #1 | Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

QUICK PLAY
#1: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

So begins another writing series that might not go anywhere. I introduce you to Quick Play, a series of short reviews where I will talk about games that are not only enjoyable, but easy to jump in and out of. And first on our roster is Capcom’s second portable Resident Evil game, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D for the Nintendo 3DS.

The game was released in 2011, and is a simple one. It is a (slightly) more fleshed out version of The Mercenaries minigames that previously appeared in both Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, and features select characters and stages from the respective games. The playable roster includes Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Jack Krauser, Barry Burton, Rebecca Chambers, HUNK, and Albert Wesker.

What differentiates this game from the minigames seen in previous games is that you do not simply select a character, select a stage, and go nuts. There are actually different missions, each with their own stages, enemy varieties, and conditions. It is worth mentioning however that the first three mission levels are pretty much just tutorials. The real meat of the game doesn’t begin until Mission 4-1, and the difficulty even ramps up from there.

Once you hit this point, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D becomes a very good game to drop in and out of, and play whenever. The gameplay is smooth, missions are short and sweet, and the game is even better if you have someone to play with.

Unfortunately, I’d say the only downside to this game is the major lack of content, but if you can find it for cheap, it’s definitely a game to invest in. A classic Mercenaries styled mode would have been a plus, too.

WHAT’S THE VERDICT?
 + Easy to jump into whenever.
+ Fun, fast-paced gameplay.
+ Co-op is a blast.
- Lack of content in the overall package.
- Tutorial takes up way too many missions.
- No classic Mercenaries option.

I’ll say it again, if you can find this game for a low price, it’s definitely worth investing money and time into, especially if you’ve got a friend to play with.

QUICK PLAY RATING: 

8/10