Killzone: Mercenary

 PlayStation Vita
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Sep 10, 2013
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 632 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 553 out of 632
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 632
  3. Negative: 31 out of 632
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  1. loadstone007
    Sep 22, 2013
    10
    Exceptional game that really took me by surprise. I wasn't aware the Vita was capable of running such AAA games. It really whets the appetite for more
  2. phatmamasboy
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    playing this game makes you marvel at the level gaming has reached. The game immerses you with spectacular graphics, engaging environments and authentic gameplay... and this could be ANYWHERE! in the back seat of a car or on the train... If there is a game that your Vita deserves... it is Killzone Mercenaries.
  3. Rene9aaade
    Sep 16, 2013
    10
    I am an avid killzone 2 fan, I can not explain how happy this game made me. ofc this isnt a ten out of ten for any system for what the vita is capable of this is!!! multiplayer was the only door i opened and havent closed since haven t touched sp
    my only gripes are no collectors edition and more maps with less stair cases
  4. AndDJ
    Sep 11, 2013
    10
    Well,what can I say..?Killzone is the game which humilliates CoD:BoD.It makes CoD feel like a joke and at the same time humbling it wOW.
    Killzone Mercenary is the best videogame on PS Vita device.Its weapons,its graphics its way of responding in player's needs make it apparently the best choice for the Vita system.I recommend everyone to buy Killzone Mercenary...Really...ITS THE SOMETHING ELSE!!!
  5. brasd
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    This game is...
    - the best looking handheld game ever
    - the best first person shooter handheld game
    - the best shooter in general on a handheld
    - the best online multi-player for a handheld
    Killzone mercenary is a must buy for vita owners. Its a game that may even be a good reason to buy a vita. Its an amazing fps on a portable device. Hell, its simply a great game in general.
  6. tanktizzo
    Sep 11, 2013
    10
    One of the best FPS on a handheld! Graphics are great and there is a lot of content. Worth the money and you will be holding onto it for some time! Game of the year for the vita!
  7. Mattdeniro
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    Once again some of the critics are slating this game. One giving it a pathetic 55! What a moron. This game is epic reviews like that destroy the games chance and sales. I have finished the campaign except for the extra side missions and have been playing the multiplayer daily. The campaign is great just wish it was a bit longer but with the covert side missions adds extra playability. TheOnce again some of the critics are slating this game. One giving it a pathetic 55! What a moron. This game is epic reviews like that destroy the games chance and sales. I have finished the campaign except for the extra side missions and have been playing the multiplayer daily. The campaign is great just wish it was a bit longer but with the covert side missions adds extra playability. The graphics are superb the best on the vita by far it comes close to ps3 quality the multiplayer is great and addictive and I have not experienced any lag. All in all this is the best vita game and first person shooter on a handheld. Don't listen to some of these so called critics who probably aren't true gamers that are giving it ridiculously low scores. If your after great graphics controls gameplay and lots of replay you won't be disappointed.… Expand
  8. gustave154
    Sep 13, 2013
    10
    So after all the hype did this game deliver as the best portable first person shooter ever? Well all i can say is YES!! The campaign is over 5 hours long and even though its a little predictable it is entertaining. Plus you can replay it thanks to the side missions which offer some variety and replay value. The multiplayer is enjoyable thanks to the new Vanguards and the valor systemSo after all the hype did this game deliver as the best portable first person shooter ever? Well all i can say is YES!! The campaign is over 5 hours long and even though its a little predictable it is entertaining. Plus you can replay it thanks to the side missions which offer some variety and replay value. The multiplayer is enjoyable thanks to the new Vanguards and the valor system (which is like kill confirmed but more fun) The graphics in this game is INSANE. How did the geniuses over at Guerilla Cambridge managed to do this is just mind-blowing. You just have to see it to believe it. Oh and don't worry about the frame rate it might get choppy but only in certain parts of the game. So overall if you want to see the new standard of Portable First Person Shooters please play this Killzone: Mercenary.… Expand
  9. Ecto1
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    Simply the best AAA game on my Vita right now. The SP is packed with content like different objectives and hidden Intel, the AI is smart as ever, the MP is fast, fun and addictive and most of all, It looks, runs and feels just like KZ2/3.
  10. Mattyice
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    This game, first of all, looks gorgeous. It beats out even some console shooters, like COD. Second, the multiplayer works very very well and is extremely addicting. Third, the controls work perfectly. And finally, the frame rate is smooth as silk. This game is definitely worth buying in every way. This may not only be the best portable shooter of all time, but the best portable game of theThis game, first of all, looks gorgeous. It beats out even some console shooters, like COD. Second, the multiplayer works very very well and is extremely addicting. Third, the controls work perfectly. And finally, the frame rate is smooth as silk. This game is definitely worth buying in every way. This may not only be the best portable shooter of all time, but the best portable game of the year. If you own a vita, this is a must-buy, and if you don't own a vita, this will make you buy a vita.… Expand
  11. Rotnam
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing, fantastic AAA. The story, game play, everything get you hooked up. A must buy. I really don't get the bad reviews this game has like 5.5
  12. LearnFromOthers
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    Now this game is a 9, but i'm giving it a 10 because all who own a Vita and has just a slight interest in First person shooters, should DEFINITELY BUY THIS! Campaign is pretty short, but it's fantastic and thrilling with tons of replay value, while the multiplayer is just perfectly balanced and a lot of fun. This is the greatest "triple-A" experience on a handheld ever by a mile, and alsoNow this game is a 9, but i'm giving it a 10 because all who own a Vita and has just a slight interest in First person shooters, should DEFINITELY BUY THIS! Campaign is pretty short, but it's fantastic and thrilling with tons of replay value, while the multiplayer is just perfectly balanced and a lot of fun. This is the greatest "triple-A" experience on a handheld ever by a mile, and also it's much cheaper than your normal triple-A game. This is a fantastic shooter, very addicting and in my opinion the best Killzone so far. Reviewers who gave this a 7 or 5 should have considered the games price and the fact it's on a handheld, this game is worthy of a much more postive metacritic score, as this game is an evolution when it comes to handheld gaming. If you're just moderately interested in shooters, this is a must buy and for all Killzone fans it's worth buying a Vita just for this game! Buy it! And ignore the ridicilous reviewers who gave it 5's, 6's and 7's because they compared it to titanfall and cod, those gamers are twice as expenisve and aren't handheld, if you consider those two factors this is one fantastic shooter you can NOT miss!… Expand
  13. OutATime
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    I finished it today on the train. In my opinion this game is on the same sort of level as games like Infamous: Festival of Blood or Ratchet Quest for Booty. It is a bite sized version of it's bigger brothers and I feel that if this game were to come to PS3 it would be well received as that. Killzone Mercenary is the exact thing that I was looking for from the vita: A bite sized version ofI finished it today on the train. In my opinion this game is on the same sort of level as games like Infamous: Festival of Blood or Ratchet Quest for Booty. It is a bite sized version of it's bigger brothers and I feel that if this game were to come to PS3 it would be well received as that. Killzone Mercenary is the exact thing that I was looking for from the vita: A bite sized version of a console game, not a 'mobile' game.

    The only negative I have is waiting for the multiplayer patch that the developers have promised, because I do get kicked.

    All in all this is an amazing Vita game. The graphics are better than any other, and even the audio is great. (Something that Vita games seem to struggle with) The story is good for a shooter with some good plot twists and some like-able and hate-able characters. Game play feels like Killzone and it is very interesting to get upgrade points for your multiplayer load out from single player. Even when there is no internet I can grind away to my next unlock.    … Expand
  14. IBY
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    Let me start by congratulating the guerilla team on this magnificent FPS shooter. Crisp visuals, interesting story line and a solid multilayer elevates this game to a level we never though was possible on the vita. This is a must buy game for any vita owner
  15. Teegleberry
    Sep 13, 2013
    10
    This game is absolutely brilliant and great value at that. Ignore the tiresome critics who gave average scores, its clear if you read their actual reviews properly that its the FPS genre itself that they're tired of. This game is Triple A all the way, the campaign isn't the longest although its far longer than Vita's Black Ops with a lot more depth. Add to that the 3 extra contractThis game is absolutely brilliant and great value at that. Ignore the tiresome critics who gave average scores, its clear if you read their actual reviews properly that its the FPS genre itself that they're tired of. This game is Triple A all the way, the campaign isn't the longest although its far longer than Vita's Black Ops with a lot more depth. Add to that the 3 extra contract missions (each featuring different objectives to complete) which then unlock for each mission and you effectively have another three times the lastability in single player terms. The multiplayer itself is great fun and offers a tremendous amount of choice in terms of weaponry and gadgets allowing for an impressive amount of tactical variety. This games is seriously fun to play, gorgeous to look at and will surprise you more than once... at times I just can't believe I'm playing it on a handheld... a special mention goes to the first time you activate a Mantys drone... something else… Expand
  16. Surgery
    Aug 24, 2017
    10
    An utterly impressive portable FPS. There is nothing else like it. Playing such a well designed, high-fidelity title on the Vita-2000 feels very special indeed. The game itself provides excellent shooter gameplay, well refined for portable controls and the minute by minute action is nothing short of intense. Difficulty is high at some parts, so don't fret if you need easy mode first goAn utterly impressive portable FPS. There is nothing else like it. Playing such a well designed, high-fidelity title on the Vita-2000 feels very special indeed. The game itself provides excellent shooter gameplay, well refined for portable controls and the minute by minute action is nothing short of intense. Difficulty is high at some parts, so don't fret if you need easy mode first go around. Story is fine for what it is, but the customizable progression is a real treat. Addictive and sublime mechanics make this a must buy for anyone owning a Vita and even a passing interest in FPS's.… Expand
  17. NotSoCasualGamr
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    Killzone Mercenary is THE DEFINITE AAA title on a handheld that has been promised for PS Vita all along. It absolutely feels and looks like a home console experience. It is hard to put in words how good the game really looks once you pick it up and how polished everything feels from the ultra-sophisticated mission briefing to the smooth and texture rich graphics as well as the variousKillzone Mercenary is THE DEFINITE AAA title on a handheld that has been promised for PS Vita all along. It absolutely feels and looks like a home console experience. It is hard to put in words how good the game really looks once you pick it up and how polished everything feels from the ultra-sophisticated mission briefing to the smooth and texture rich graphics as well as the various visual effects, particularly volumetric smoke effects. The gameplay looks as good as the cutscenes. I could go on and on about many different details that make this game an amazing experience on a handheld.

    Controls work great too. Especially if you are frustrated by Modern Combat or NOVA on the iPhone, you will love the twin analog sticks. They just work and never get in the way.

    Without a doubt, together with Wipeout 2048 and Uncharted GA, KZM is among the three most visually stunning games on any handheld device. Especially when comparing it to other attempts to utilize the Vita hardware, or any handheld hardware for that matter, you realize that this game is a technical marvel, a milestone, a masterpiece. The new standard for AAA titles on a handheld.

    This game is a no-brainer if you own a Vita!    … Expand
  18. TurboRob
    Sep 11, 2013
    10
    This is THE game Ps Vita owners have been waiting for from the start! From the great, smooth and quick controls to the "PS3 Close Quality" visuals, I'm blown away and I had very high standards coming into this game once I learned it's running on the Same engine as Killzone 3 tuned & adjusted to run on the Vita. The story isn't nearly as short as some critics are saying, There's lots to doThis is THE game Ps Vita owners have been waiting for from the start! From the great, smooth and quick controls to the "PS3 Close Quality" visuals, I'm blown away and I had very high standards coming into this game once I learned it's running on the Same engine as Killzone 3 tuned & adjusted to run on the Vita. The story isn't nearly as short as some critics are saying, There's lots to do in the story mode alone. Closer to 6-8 hours in one playthrough (depends on play style. guess if your job is to run through as fast as you can, then it can be done in 5hrs) & then you have loads to go back for, like Intel and three different contracts for each chapter unlock after 1st time through. Voice acting is on par w/ AAA console FPS. Then you throw in the Multi-player that's not only Great but has an original twist, Single player Offline plays Rank & Money earned tie in together to make one Seamless great experience that is Far Worth the $40. A MUST BUY for Any FPS fan. ....5....outa....5… Expand
  19. TheGrimOfDeath
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    After playing both Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Resistance: Burning Skies, this game is a god send from Guerrilla Cambridge. Not only is the story interwoven between Killzone and Killzone 2, but it is also unqiue and thrilling in all aspects from quality to depth. The Multiplayer is also a great addition to the Killzone franchsie with 4v4 action and a variety of weapons toAfter playing both Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Resistance: Burning Skies, this game is a god send from Guerrilla Cambridge. Not only is the story interwoven between Killzone and Killzone 2, but it is also unqiue and thrilling in all aspects from quality to depth. The Multiplayer is also a great addition to the Killzone franchsie with 4v4 action and a variety of weapons to choose from. The Single player also has quite a lot ore-playability with Contracts to do for each mission and Intel to collect.

    I have waited for a long time for this game to come out and I can say that you will not be disappointed if you purchase this game. Long Live Killzone!    … Expand
  20. Richith
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    This game is simply a must buy for all Vita owners. Everything about this game is groundbreaking for a handheld console, the ps3 quality graphics (online videos do not do it justice), the amazing addictive gameplay and cash system, the very well implemented controls or the truly console quality multiplayer.
  21. Rhodesker
    Sep 11, 2013
    10
    I liked both cod declassified and burning skies, but killzone mercenary is the best fps for vita by far....this is what a portable fps should be! I seem to remember killzone liberation getting good reviews....how can anyone complain about what we have in killzone mercenary!
  22. riot_drrrk
    Sep 15, 2013
    10
    I can't believe how low critics have been scoring this game. I have owned nearly every big market handheld game system since the original Game Boy, and this game is everything I have ever wanted one of these devices to do. I was very skeptical going into Mercenary, seeing that this concept has failed so many times. Hands down, best game on Vita. My only complaint WAS the length of theI can't believe how low critics have been scoring this game. I have owned nearly every big market handheld game system since the original Game Boy, and this game is everything I have ever wanted one of these devices to do. I was very skeptical going into Mercenary, seeing that this concept has failed so many times. Hands down, best game on Vita. My only complaint WAS the length of the campaign, but after I had finished the game and saw what the contracts mode had to offer I was excited to play it again, this time will skill in mind. If you are a fan of FPS games, this is a no brainer purchase. You will be looking forward to that dreadfully long wait at the doctors office. Big thank you to Guerrilla Games!… Expand
  23. hartstyle
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    I am absolutely blown away by this. This is not only the best FPS i have played on a handheld but the multiplayer is actually one of the best experiences I have had period. This is a blast and an absolute must for any Vita owner with a hunger for FPS games.
  24. SteveGonzola
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    With a campain and multiplayer crossover function, easy platinum trophy, good story, decent lenght of campain and the best multiplayer fps for a handheld, this is the reason to pick up a vita.
  25. XzRecolz
    Mar 5, 2014
    10
    Hands down best shooter on a handheld device. Best looking shooter on a handheld device. Best graphics on a handheld device. Best multi-player on a handheld device. Best story on a handheld device. In one word: MASTERPIECE. MUST-BUY for every PS VITA owner. Don't look at the 78 critics gave. They always compare it to a console game. Killzone: Mercenary shows what the PS VITA is capable of.
  26. ZekeThePlumber
    Jul 7, 2014
    10
    I'll be scoring on this criteria, gameplay, visuals/audio, stability, and replayability.

    Gameplay: 10/10 WOW... this is what devs have been trying to do since the PSP first came out. Someone finally did it. Transplant the console FPS experience to a handheld. Gameplay is very similar to Killzone 3, and as far as handheld games go, this has some of the best overall gameplay. It doesn't    I'll be scoring on this criteria, gameplay, visuals/audio, stability, and replayability.

    Gameplay: 10/10
    WOW... this is what devs have been trying to do since the PSP first came out. Someone finally did it. Transplant the console FPS experience to a handheld. Gameplay is very similar to Killzone 3, and as far as handheld games go, this has some of the best overall gameplay. It doesn't feel gimped or crippled at all. The only gripe I have is having the option to aim using the tilt controls like Uncharted does would have been cool. This has everything you would expect from a modern shooter. The touch controls are pretty intuitive and don't detract from the experience. Games like this are the reason to buy a Vita.

    Though this game isn't just a copy paste of Killzone 3. Guerilla added in, what is probably the precursor to the drone in Shadow Fall, several secondary pieces of equipment ranging from an orbital/high altitude laser strike to a drone with a pair of lobster like pincers that you can control and spike people though the head with.

    There are also several new guns that aren't in the previous Killzone games, you get a silenced sniper rifle, a big one shot anti-material sniper rifle

    Visuals/Audio: 9.5/10
    Holy crap! The visuals here are practically on par with the PS3. First impression was "Wow is this really a handheld?!" The graphics are simply amazing, think PS3 though HDMI. Plug in some surround sound headphones, and the audio will blow you away. I didn't see many visual glitches, nothing really glareing or constantly recurring. The sound effects from the Killzone 3 are all there, the only gripe I have is the lack of music. So .5 points off for that.

    Stability: 10/10
    I didn't encounter any major game breaking bugs like can't advances or crashes. All the functionality worked the way it should.

    Replayability: 10/10
    Aside from the just the normal campaign play though there are multiple challenge objectives for every mission, like stealthing an entire mission or killing everyone, or blowing up X number of people. Then there also all the weapons and equipment you can buy from the stereotypical Russian arms dealer (can't he be French or something for once? Like a French chain smoker?) you won't have enough money to buy everything from him on one play though.

    Overall: 39.5/40
    As a console game this would have been a good game. I simply cannot shoved enough praise on this game without looking like a paid reviewer.

    Rounding up, this game gets a 10.    … Expand
  27. Das2003
    May 14, 2014
    10
    This is by far the best FPS game to grace a portable device. Everything about this game is just amazing. Unfortunately a lot of the professional reviewers keep comparing this game to its console counterpart, its a shame really because the vita is not a home console, nor does it play blu rays. Its a portable gaming system. Therefore there should not be a direct comparison at all! AnywayThis is by far the best FPS game to grace a portable device. Everything about this game is just amazing. Unfortunately a lot of the professional reviewers keep comparing this game to its console counterpart, its a shame really because the vita is not a home console, nor does it play blu rays. Its a portable gaming system. Therefore there should not be a direct comparison at all! Anyway this game is simply masterpiece, the people involved should be given awards for their achievements. The bottom line without giving away any spoilers, if you own a Vita buy this game, if you don't it will be a sin!… Expand
  28. RIOTSHELL
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    A masterpiece 10 out of 10!
    A Beautiful and fast paced FPS. Single player is so much fun and you want more by the end of it lucky there is heaps of weapons to unlock with the in game you earn for killing and picking up items. As for multiplayer what can i say IT'S A Blast.

    If you own a vita or are thinking of buying on now is the time!
  29. Apojuice
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    This game pushes the boundaries for what I thought was possible on handheld consoles. Up until recently I was kind of disappointed with my Vita because Sony promised me so much but delivered very little. This game has give me great hope for the future of the console. The graphics are truly incredible and the gunplay and audio of the game is near perfect. The single player campaign is aThis game pushes the boundaries for what I thought was possible on handheld consoles. Up until recently I was kind of disappointed with my Vita because Sony promised me so much but delivered very little. This game has give me great hope for the future of the console. The graphics are truly incredible and the gunplay and audio of the game is near perfect. The single player campaign is a great immersive experience and the multiplayer is what I have always dreamed of when it comes to online FPS on the go. I hope that anyone who reads this ignores the idiotic reviewer score and buys this game to support not only the developer but also Sony, so we can have more excellent games like this on our Vitas … Expand
  30. Woody_sk
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    I was really surprised with the visuals of this game, Killzone Mercenary beats in a far distance previous two FPS on the Vita, yet it is the best handheld or portable FPS game i played (I admit it is even better then the NOVA or Modern Combat fot the android).The main story is about 4h but after that, there are three modes that give new jobs with different approaches. For those who areI was really surprised with the visuals of this game, Killzone Mercenary beats in a far distance previous two FPS on the Vita, yet it is the best handheld or portable FPS game i played (I admit it is even better then the NOVA or Modern Combat fot the android).The main story is about 4h but after that, there are three modes that give new jobs with different approaches. For those who are focused on MP get ready to really addictive gameplay, 4v4 MP you could say it not much but the opposite is the truth, its really stunning. KZ can have some technical issues but they are really small and and most people do not even notice it. For every body who has or wants buys a PS Vita, this is a must have GAME, KZ Mercenary is this year PS Vita killer app. And for those who gave KZ:M score 5 from 10 are not normal cause this game cant have less then 8. This game brings a really stunning graphic, experience, good control on triggers, buttons and the touch controls.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PS Vita Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 86 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 86
  3. Negative: 0 out of 86
  1. GameCritics
    Feb 21, 2014
    85
    As far as handheld shooters go, Killzone: Mercenary is undoubtedly the new gold standard and, quite frankly, makes a mockery out of its handheld peers.
    Read full review
  2. Armchair Empire
    Nov 19, 2013
    80
    Overall, Killzone is indeed the best the Vita has to offer in regards to those itching for a good shooter, but there is still room for improvement overall, and I hope that Guerilla’s next effort eclipses this one.
    Read full review
  3. Riot Pixels
    Oct 31, 2013
    77
    It’s a genuine handheld blockbuster, complete with cool scripted sequences, loud explosions, and surprisingly nice graphics for Vita’s not-so-top-notch hardware.
    Read full review
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