User Reviews (1 - 11 of 19)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

This just might be the perfect casual game for the PSP

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Lately, we've been reading and hearing about the need for more "casual games" for the Sony PSP. A casual game can be played during those random free moments that we might get from time to time during our busy day, like waiting at your doctor's office. Sadly, there is a shortage of such games for the PSP. The majority of PSP games tend to have very steep learning curves, require a lot of involvement, and are not suitable for starting or stopping at any given moment. Can you imagine the doctor's nurse calling your name, while you're in the middle of playing Metal Gear Solid! "Hey wait a minute please, I'm in the middle of a game here". Well, you get the idea, I think. There is a time and a place for casual games.

On the other hand, you want the game to be captivating and interesting. So you have to find a balance between having the game be easy to learn, but at the same time, give you enough gameplay to make it interesting. I have spent many months looking and waiting for such games for the PSP. And this just might be the perfect one.

Archer McLean's Mercury has a very simple concept: use gravity to move a ball of mercury through increasingly difficult obstacles in order to activate a switch at the end. Basically, using the analog stick on the PSP, you tilt the platform to make the mercury move. Some levels might also require you to split the ball, color the ball, or combine the balls. At the start of each level, you will be given the conditions for success. Those conditions will be different for each level. You have to complete several of these obstacles for each level. What makes this game ideal for casual gaming is that there is a time limit to complete each obstacle. These time limits are short and you are allowed to save at the end of each obstacle, whether you are successful or not. At the early stages, you might have sixty seconds to take your mercury to the end. Basically, you can start and stop just about anywhere in the game without losing your progress. And the game is interesting and captivating enough that you would rather play instead of surfing the internet during your lunch break.

Because Mercury is in 3D, success in the game will require the use of your problem-solving skills and your imagination. You will not see all of the obstacles simultaneously. So you will have to use your memory and your abstract thinking skills to guide the ball through partly-concealed hurdles.

I looked at the newer version of the game, Mercury Meltdown, prior to buying this one. I bought this one because I have seen very little information on the new game. However, this version has always had good reviews since ever since it came out. After playing the game, I can see why.

Fun, Addictive, INFURIATING!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This was one of the first games I purchased for my PSP. I've yet to finish it!

It's fun, addictive, and at times SO DIFFICULT you want to throw your PSP on the ground and SMASH IT! But that wouldn't be very smart... So instead, after spending hours trying to get past a 42 second level, you calmly put it away and come back later.

The game is EXTREMELY challenging at times, but it isn't unbeatable. It will take lots of time and patients... but in the end when you finally get past that level you've been struggling with for HOURS- well there's few better feelings in the world!

Mercury isn't for everyone, but if you like a challenge, it's one of the best puzzles yet for PSP.

Very fun game...most of the time

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game for the most part. The object is to maneuver a blob of mercury around hitting certain targets within a time limit without losing too much of your blob. I've play about half of the levels so far and all are fun but some can be very frustrating. I've played some levels as many as 30 times before finally passing (I'm no game expert). On some levels it's can also be very hard to ascertain the objective and it may take several tries just to see enough of the playing field to figure out what to do. You also have to use the analog stick to tilt the playing field and let gravity take over to move. I don't particularly like the analog stick but playing this has helped me improve my control.

If you are a fast paced shoot everything that moves gamer you will probably want to pass on this. However, if you enjoy a challenge and have some patience then pick this up. It's a fun game.

Best Ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: March 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I recently got a PSP for Christmas, and I got this game too! It is the BEST game I have ever played! Chalenging, but no too hard! Perfect!

3 stars for Creativity -2stars for difficulty

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: November 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Do you like games that are creative? This game is the most creative puzzler to come along in years. And it looks extremely cool to go with it. Now the problem. It's stinkin hard. Do you really want a creative game where you can't get past the first 10 levels? That is surely going to happen to you. It is a shame as this game could have been a kick tail game.
Bottom Line: Is it fun? For the first 7 levels. Will I keep it? No way. Unless you like to replay the first 10 levels over and over again. Is it for kids? Too hard.

Mercury

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: October 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game immediately after i purchased my PSP. I was in such a craze from holding my PSP in my hands for the first time that i really wanted a game. I bought mercury and loved it. It was fun, had amazing grafics, and was a great puzzle game. However, after a week or 2, when the levels got harder and harder and it would take me an hour to beat one level, I put it down. As soon as the levels get to be so impossible, the game just got boring. I would suggest renting this game, don't buy it for 40$.

You will find yourself holding the device upside down, you will try so hard...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: August 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Even though this is considered a puzzle game, this game is more about dexterity than puzzle solving. To get the blob of mercury to split in half, go through all kinds of contraptions, be recombined, and do all the other things you are asked to do, is a rather entertaining challenge. Sometimes you will have to put some thought into working out a good strategy, but most of the time it is just about not losing your sphere.

This is one of those games that looks relatively simple at first (even graphically, although technically, some of the things they do with graphics are pretty amazing), but it can keep you entertained (and sometimes frustrated) for hours...

a definate keeper!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: May 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Metal Gear Acid was the first PSP game i bought, and thoroughly enjoyed it. So when it came time to picking up a second game for the Psp, this one was a no brainer. It's a lot like Marble Madness, but with the really fun dynamic of playing it safe with the liquid metal Mercury (which is really bad for your health in real life). You don't wanna spill it and the thrill of getting through the levels and playing it over and over again is a rush.
It actually reminds me of the same thrill i get playing through the VR missions on Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PS2, you play each level over and over again till you're perfect at it, it becomes an obsession... people complain that the game is too short or gets hard too fast... well as far as it being hard.. practice makes perfect, the controls are very easy and tight, so the negative reviews to the gameplay being hard are really just a matter of taste. As far as the game being too short, my recommendatin is speeding through it at first, then going back through it 10 fold till you've conquered it, then play against a friend!

All in all this game is a great find for a great system. Its not a waste of money, its a definate Keeper!

Mercury is mercu-rific!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

So I purchased Wipe Out Pure and got blown away by an amazing racing game on the PSP. Than I purchased Metal Gear Acid and was blown away by the depth of the game play and story line. With both games conquered I needed another PSP game fix and fast! There were quite a few to choose from but the beautiful graphics and unique game play brought me to the world of Mercury.This game is like a mixture between super monkey ball and marble madness. It provides really challening but not impossible puzzles. Even when you have trouble passing a level you are determined to finish. The more you play the better you get. The lush landscapes and tight control make this a great puzzle to get your hands on and will compliment your PSP game collection quite well. Another fantastic PSP game experience making this system a very worth while purchase. I hightly recommend it.

waste

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 22
Date: May 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Its fun at first but is way to short and you get bored of it after 2 or 3 days I highly sugjest you do not buy this but if you relly want it rent it but never buy it.

Review Page: 1 2 Next 

Actions