Archer Maclean's Mercury

 PSP
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
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  1. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    71
    If this Mercury was put into a thermometer, it would be floating just above “lukewarm”.
  2. GamerFeed
    70
    When Mercury is at its best, it's an elegantly simple and addictive action-puzzler. When it's at its worst, it's like a tedious pop quiz from an unpredictable, bad-tempered teacher.
  3. Cheat Code Central
    70
    Everyone will be simply fascinated by this game but not everyone will feel compelled to take on the challenge to complete it.
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  5. Yahoo!
    70
    It falls short in a few areas, and the missing tilt-sensor is a disappointment, but puzzle fans with patience and those into heavy metals would still do well to give this one a roll.
  6. 1UP
    70
    If you're a competent gamer with a steady hand you'll be able to complete every challenge eventually, but beating the game "clean" is going to require quite a specific skill set that may ultimately not make this entertaining for everyone.
  7. PSM Magazine
    70
    The default control scheme is awful, but the alternate is perfect. [June 2005, p.85]
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  8. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    A nice puzzle compilation for those who are dexterous of hand rather than mind. [July 2005, p.78]
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  9. Computer and Video Games
    70
    Once you get used to the controls you'll be fine... but all too often levels seem like chores rather than challenges. [PSW]
  10. eToychest
    68
    Mercury has tons of potential, but it doesn't realize much of it. A sequel that added an autosave feature, perfected the puzzle designs and smoothed out the uneven difficulty would be an utter blast.
  11. Game Informer
    68
    Its trial-and-error gameplay seems a bit too old school for the sexy new system. [May 2005, p.130]
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  12. Gaming Target
    65
    Mercury can be quite fun and quite challenging, though ultimately short, but sometimes sweet. The project feels somewhat incomplete.
  13. PSX Extreme
    64
    If Mercury had twice the amount of puzzles, a decent multi-player mode and some mini-games or other challenges, it’d be a great game. As it stands now, it’s a decent diversion that lasts 3-5 hours, but one not worth $40.
  14. netjak
    62
    While its core concept and educational fluid dynamics demonstrations earned the game a couple tenths of a point extra in the Overall category, it unfortunately commits the two cardinal sins of a puzzle game. No replay, and no learning curve.
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Deeko
    60
    A visually stunning game mired in repetition, or a hardcore puzzlers dream come true? I'd say a bit of both.
  16. G4 TV
    60
    Mercury demands a lot, and doesn’t offer many ways for deficient players to build their skills for later levels.
  17. Gaming Age
    58
    It doesn’t really have the endless appeal of something like "Lumines," "Puyo Pop" or "Tetris," but the problem solving, logical puzzles and interesting physics make it nonetheless enjoyable.

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best PSP Game of 2005
40
#40 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2005
53
#53 Most Shared PSP Game of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 6 out of 23
  1. Assimov
    May 20, 2007
    8
    Good game for persons who like fight the chrono and against previous times.
  2. WeirdN.
    Sep 19, 2005
    7
    Wow! An original and mature puzzle game for Sony's shiny new trinket! I think that puzzle games of this type fit handheld gaming really Wow! An original and mature puzzle game for Sony's shiny new trinket! I think that puzzle games of this type fit handheld gaming really well. The levels in this game are well judged, always taxing but beatable. Many of them make you think 'No Way!' until you crack them after a few practice runs. It makes a nice break from the reaction puzzles of Lumines. A couple of blemishes on this game are a lack of auto save (why? surely that takes about 15 miuntes to code and is a feature in every title since whenever!) and long load times meaning that it isn't as pick up and play as it could be. You may find yourself relying on the suspend feature a lot. Also, to get the unlocks is simply impossible. To get all the high scores needs reference to an online guide or a sociopathic addiction to this kind of game. They're uber-hard. If you enjoy original puzzle games you won't be dissapointed with this. Maybe a sequel will iron out the rough spots and give us another great game?! More games of this quality and originality on PSP please!… Full Review »
  3. SamT.
    Sep 6, 2005
    4
    Original and fun for a bit. got bored after 3 days.
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