Mercenary Kings
A side-scrolling run and gun with crafting and co-op.
Mercenary Kings is a side-scrolling run and gun video game developed and published by Tribute Games. Funded through Kickstarter, it was released for Microsoft Windows in March 2014 and for PlayStation 4 in April 2014, with later versions arriving on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita in 2018. The game is notable for its Monster Hunter-inspired mission structure and deep weapon crafting system.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Mercenary Kings
- Developer
- Tribute Games
- Artist
- Paul Robertson
- Released
- Windows, Mac OS X / March 25, 2014 / PS4 / April 1, 2014 / Switch, Vita, Xbox One / February 6, 2018
- Genre
- Run and gun
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Vita, Linux, Switch, Xbox One
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mercenary Kings was developed by Tribute Games, a studio formed by the team behind Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, including animator Paul Robertson. The project was launched on Kickstarter with an initial target of $75,000 for a basic PC version, with stretch goals for additional levels, modes, online support, and a console version. The campaign raised $116,064. At E3 2013, Sony announced a PlayStation 4 console release. An early-access version containing 60 of the final game's 100 missions was released on Steam on July 23, 2013. A PlayStation Vita version includes cross-buy and other cross-features.
Reader's Guide
Mercenary Kings received mixed reviews, with Metacritic scores of 70 for the PlayStation 4 version and 76 for the PC version. The game's significance lies in its blend of classic run and gun gameplay with a mission structure and crafting system inspired by Monster Hunter. Players complete over 100 missions from a central hub, earning rank points to unlock harder sets of objectives. Enemies drop loot used to craft weapon parts, knives, armor, and mods that grant unique abilities. Gun creation involves multiple components affecting firing rate, magazine size, and weight, with swappable ammo types adding elemental damage or altering bullet behavior. The game supports up to four-player co-op via online or local split-screen play. Its Kickstarter success and subsequent multiplatform releases, including the Mercenary Kings: Reloaded update in 2018, helped it reach a broader audience, though critical reception remained divided.
Did You Know?
- The game was funded on Kickstarter, raising $116,064 against a $75,000 target.
- An early-access version with 60 missions was released on Steam on July 23, 2013.
- The Mercenary Kings: Reloaded update brought the game to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita in 2018.
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