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The Official Mercury Thread
- Thread starter IJoel
- Start date
TheJollyCorner
Member
I intend to get it, but after hearing people complain that the difficulty gets ridiculous, I might wait until the price goes down or I can get one used.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Difficulty? I heard the opposite. Didn't one of the reviews go through the game in a fairly short time?
krypt0nian
Banned
I went to get it and they were sold out so I grabbed Metal Gear Ac!d instead.
Tortfeasor
Member
I really like the game, but I have to say that the music really sucks.
Agent X
Member
I got my copy of Archer Maclean's Mercury today. I've only played for about 10 minutes, which got me through about 6 or 7 levels. It seems to be pretty cool, although the levels I tried so far are generally really easy (because these are considered "tutorial" levels--the entire first world is one large tutorial).
The graphics are very good, with smooth mercury movements--pretty much what you would expect if you saw the videos. The music is kind of mellow and relaxed--not bad, but not great or memorable either. The initial load times is rather long for a game of this type. I'd probably have to spend more time with this game to really get a feel for the good and bad points, but so far I like it!
The graphics are very good, with smooth mercury movements--pretty much what you would expect if you saw the videos. The music is kind of mellow and relaxed--not bad, but not great or memorable either. The initial load times is rather long for a game of this type. I'd probably have to spend more time with this game to really get a feel for the good and bad points, but so far I like it!
I played a bit more and got through the tutorial and world #1. The game has some really great puzzle/environments and it's very fun. Graphics are very nice, and the music is somewhat uninspired. It's not really bad, but it could be better. I'm at 33% done, which makes sense, considering I'm done with the tutorial and world #1 and still have left 4 worlds (the tutorial is as long as a world, essentially.) So far, I can at least recommend a rental. Not sure about a buy on this one, since it seems to be pretty short, and I imagine the replay value won't be too high.
Made it through the first two worlds in two hours. The levels in those two (12 per world) are definitely a little too easy to complete, although I didn't get anywhere near the high scores for any of those levels, so there's something to come back to. But it starts to get more interesting as the worlds go more vertical as you head into world 3. The reverse gravity sections are messing me up since you also have to reverse the controls.
When your blob gets split up and the camera zooms out to keep all pieces on screen its a little too slow on its own to zoom in again when you merge them back together. Luckily you have zoom control as well as panning and the ability to shift focus between blobs as needed.
Ironically, the load times aren't that bad when your just going from level to level. It's the boot sequence and anytime you return to the stage select that seem to have the worst load times.
Music doesn't bother me. It's mellow, background stuff for the most part.
Back of the box says you need a memory stick with 2 meg free but that's apparently a misprint because my game save is only 144KB right now.
When all is said and done, I think I'm going to end up wishing the game had two things: an untimed, free play mode with maybe a few levels designed just for fooling around with the mercury and a level construction kit.
And, even in the absence of a tilt sensor, I'm still tilting the damn PSP as if that helps!
When your blob gets split up and the camera zooms out to keep all pieces on screen its a little too slow on its own to zoom in again when you merge them back together. Luckily you have zoom control as well as panning and the ability to shift focus between blobs as needed.
Ironically, the load times aren't that bad when your just going from level to level. It's the boot sequence and anytime you return to the stage select that seem to have the worst load times.
Music doesn't bother me. It's mellow, background stuff for the most part.
Back of the box says you need a memory stick with 2 meg free but that's apparently a misprint because my game save is only 144KB right now.
When all is said and done, I think I'm going to end up wishing the game had two things: an untimed, free play mode with maybe a few levels designed just for fooling around with the mercury and a level construction kit.
And, even in the absence of a tilt sensor, I'm still tilting the damn PSP as if that helps!
Roland Hood
Member
Fry's has it for 29.99, so I'll be picking it up today.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
I have it preordered, but it's Canada here, and you know...
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Sounds great. Seems like you guys are enjoying this one more then the reviews have let on. I may have to pick this up used down the line. I have too many PSP games to play at the moment as it is. 
Definitely enjoying it, and I think most of the reviews were pretty fair. They probably could have fleshed out the package a bit more, but we'll see how the later levels turn out. I don't have a problem with the asking price but I know a lot of the CAGs around here would balk at the perceived value @ $40. They really could have done a little more to make this feel like a toybox of a game. I would have a blast constructing my own levels from the same props you find in the main game. Mercury 2 maybe.
TekunoRobby
Tag of Excellence
I'm late to the party, sorry. I picked it up for $20 off Amazon.com by using a promo code.
It's exactly what I expected so I'm neither amazingly hyped or letdown. It's quite a fun game and I'm more than happy that I picked it up.
More Mercury love!
It's exactly what I expected so I'm neither amazingly hyped or letdown. It's quite a fun game and I'm more than happy that I picked it up.
More Mercury love!
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Some more love here. Very fun game, simple to play, not easy to master (on later levels) As robby said, the game is exactly what I expected, the only thing that surprised me was the ease and intutiveness of the controls. The blob moves *just* as you'd want it to when you move the analog pad. You never feel like you struggle with the controls.
I liked this game a lot, but I'd have to disagree with the guys who didn't like the music... I think the music is one of the best parts of it... very relaxing and there's a varied amount of it. That analog nub is kind of annoying for the control, and of course the load times are the worst part of it (especially on the really short and easy tutorial levels).
Its OK so far, but I don't know how much I'll end up liking it.
First, the loading is crazy. It loads the loading screen, then loads a video(!?) then the game. Way too much loading - for me, the UI and general flow of the game is worse than Wipeout and not done well IMO.
The level progression is very linear - I guess you can go back to the level select and choose another of the three sets of steps, but because that takes 10 minutes of loading you don't bother and just take what comes next. And I don't get the impression I'll want to replay any of these levels, which reinforces the potential shortness of the game.
The mercury is a little too gelatinous to me. I thought it would be more liquidy. Plus the levels don't tilt very much - perhaps I've been playing monkey ball too much.
Getting 16% through the game after only doing the tutorial causes some concern, especially as the first level isn't that difficult really.
But overall the feel of the game is pretty nice, and I'm not hating it yet. It fills a nice gap in my collection for a more contemplative game, along with MGA (which I haven't started yet). No Lumines for me (I just don't get the appeal, but i'll borrow it from a friend to give it a go)
I award it a Meh+
First, the loading is crazy. It loads the loading screen, then loads a video(!?) then the game. Way too much loading - for me, the UI and general flow of the game is worse than Wipeout and not done well IMO.
The level progression is very linear - I guess you can go back to the level select and choose another of the three sets of steps, but because that takes 10 minutes of loading you don't bother and just take what comes next. And I don't get the impression I'll want to replay any of these levels, which reinforces the potential shortness of the game.
The mercury is a little too gelatinous to me. I thought it would be more liquidy. Plus the levels don't tilt very much - perhaps I've been playing monkey ball too much.
Getting 16% through the game after only doing the tutorial causes some concern, especially as the first level isn't that difficult really.
But overall the feel of the game is pretty nice, and I'm not hating it yet. It fills a nice gap in my collection for a more contemplative game, along with MGA (which I haven't started yet). No Lumines for me (I just don't get the appeal, but i'll borrow it from a friend to give it a go)
I award it a Meh+
dock UK said:No tilt sensor?
What a load of crap. Playing this solely with the analogue nub is a major offput. I was looking forward to the tilt play of this title.
Is it definitely not going to happen now?
TBH, I don't know how much it'd benefit from a tilt sensor. There is only a very slight degree of tilt on the 'board', and that might not come across well with a tilt sensor.
Agent X
Member
Marconelly said:
I agree. They did a fabulous job with the controls. Virtually the entire game is controlled using the analog pad, with the other buttons serving as camera controls.
With regard to the camera, you'll probably be using the Square and Circle buttons often to do quick 90 degree playfield rotations. Most of the other camera work is handled rather intelligently by the game engine itself, but if you want you can use the Triangle and X to raise and lower the camera, L and R buttons to control zoom (I use this quite a bit), and the digital joypad to switch the camera focus between different blobs (if there's more than one blob on the playfield).
dock UK said:No tilt sensor?
What a load of crap. Playing this solely with the analogue nub is a major offput. I was looking forward to the tilt play of this title.
Is it definitely not going to happen now?
I don't know when or even if a tilt sensor will be released. Supposedly, support has been programmed into the game; if it ever comes out, you should be able to use it with the existing game (possibly accessible using a code, or having the PSP detect that the tilt sensor is connected).
At any rate, don't let the lack of a tilt sensor be a deterrent to getting this game. The control using the analog pad is very precise and natural. While a tilt sensor would've been nifty, the analog control has been implemented extremely well, so that it gives a convincing enough feeling of tilting the playfield.
Marty Chinn
Member
TekunoRobby said:
What promo code?
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
Marty Chinn said:
I'm guessing he had a gift certificate of some sort.
sorry to dust this off
but I got this from Gamefly today, very fun game
having trouble with the level in the 2nd world 2nd from the top, red blob, you have to go all the way through it and then all the way back, with almost 70 percent of your blob left, but overall this is a great game, lots of fun
but I got this from Gamefly today, very fun game
having trouble with the level in the 2nd world 2nd from the top, red blob, you have to go all the way through it and then all the way back, with almost 70 percent of your blob left, but overall this is a great game, lots of fun
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