Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
The graphics are one of this game's high points. Your blob of mercury is very impressive looking, retaining the shine and reflection one would expect from liquid metal. The divisions and colors of the mercury are done very smoothly, and it pulsates nicely as it slides along the playfield. The fields themselves are bright and colorful, with plenty of wacky items and objectives to keep each level interesting enough through completion. Textures and effects are done very nicely, and the physics engine is well done. Objects are clear enough for you to see what they are. Overall, the graphical power is one if the bigger draws to the game.
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
The main game boot is huge, and levels take a good ten seconds to load too. It’s not really what you want or expect from a handheld game, but that is the drawback with using a disc format for a console. Apart from that, and getting used to the camera system, Mercury is a very solid, enjoyable and challenging puzzle game, and should definitely be on your “to buy” list for PSP.
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
Archer Maclean’s Mercury is a simple puzzler at its core. The basic premise of the game is to move your blob through missions in a certain amount of time. In the game,...
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
There aren’t a whole lot of sound effects, other than the sounds of mercury, and the few noises the traps, hazards and teleporters make. 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.
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
If you ever wanted a game that exercises parts of your brain that may have never been used previously (and you happen to own a PSP), Archer Maclean’s Mercury has got your name written all over it. Actually, it’s got Archer’s name written all over it, so perhaps I should say it’s definitely got your number if you love challengingly devious brain twisting puzzles. The game uses the PSP widescreen to good effect here, with over 70 levels of depth, and the simple to learn/tough to master gameplay should make any puzzle fan’s palms start sweating. Given that sweaty palms and a tricky puzzle game don’t exactly go together, if you haven’t attached that wrist strap to your PSP yet, now would be a good time to do so.
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
Interesting conversation. In the pub the other day (side note: for those questioning my continual pub references recently, I am actually spending a lot more time in the pub; it's not just the product of some editorial mandate to be blokish in print), a friend of mine who reads the site quite a lot asked me why I have such a problem with concept art. I'm "always taking shots at it", apparently.
Archer Maclean's Mercury review:
Lumines is the obvious killer app but Archer Maclean’s Mercury also does a great job in providing an interesting new twist to the genre, at least for as long as it lasts. 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. -- Jim Cordeira
Archer Maclean's Mercury review: