Killzone: Mercenary

Killzone: Mercenary has some big boots to fill. It's part of a series that has delivered some of the finest, most polished, and complete first-person shooters on the market. We know that quality seems to ooze from these games, so why would we show any concern to this particular one? There's a simple reason - it's a handheld game.

The parent franchise made its name showcasing some detailed graphics, diverse mechanics, and high-octane gameplay. Could you really pack that same experience into a device with technical limitations? Guess there's only one way to find out. Let's see what Killzone: Mercenary will deliver on the small screen.

Interstellar Wars Revisited

Of course, Killzone: Mercenary would never get away with not following its rich space opera narrative. However, this time around, we find it tailored more to the limited gameplay capabilities of the small screen. But it's pretty ingeniously done. You'll play as Danner, a mercenary hired by the ISA to carry out various operations in the multiple theaters of war.

While we won't spoil the storyline, we can safely say the writing in the game amplifies the quality of FPS gameplay. You'd be surprised to know that even though Killzone: Mercenary is limited in scope, it feels like a complete experience. The shooting mechanics are refined, the operations-based gameplay makes the level design more exciting, and the diversity in combat is thrilling.

The number of weapons available to the largest to date in the Killzone franchise is yet another surprise. The game doesn't come without minor niggling flaws, however. Players will feel that the handheld control schematic doesn't do combat justice, nor does the small screen deliver the thrills and spills typically associated with the franchise.

But the negatives are minor compared to the overwhelming positives. Killzone: Mercenary is one of those games that's hard to put down, mainly in part to the entertaining combat and the drive to find out what happens next. Yes, the campaign is short, but the number of things to do - including multiplayer - make up for it. Overall, you have to give it to the developers to deliver such an explosive experience on a handheld console.

Big Things in Small Packages

Killzone: Mercenary is arguably one of the best FPS games brought to a handheld console. Despite its technical restrictions, it surpasses its portable genre counterparts like Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified. There's not much about the game that any shoot-em-up fan won't love about the game.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Great FPS action on a handheld console
• Keeps up the thrilling narrative
• Polished gameplay with diverse game modes

Cons:

• The campaign is relatively short