Which engine is it built on?

[*Yuki*]

[Kashregnar]

As stated from the developer in his blog some years ago in 2012:

JF on September 20, 2012 at 11:53 am said:

Hi Whestie,
Yes, we built the engine from the ground up in CSharp using XNA.
It’s the same engine we used for Wizorb.
Good luck with your endeavors

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by Kashregnar:

As stated from the developer in his blog some years ago in 2012:

JF on September 20, 2012 at 11:53 am said:

Hi Whestie,
Yes, we built the engine from the ground up in CSharp using XNA.
It’s the same engine we used for Wizorb.
Good luck with your endeavors

thanks. Is it fun, btw? :D never played metal slug

[Kashregnar]

It's quite different to metal slug.
I had a lot of fun with MK, but some people didn't I'd suggest you watch some let's plays and see if it suits you.

[MaxBedlam]

Originally posted by *Yuki*:

Originally posted by Kashregnar:

As stated from the developer in his blog some years ago in 2012:

thanks. Is it fun, btw? :D never played metal slug

I wouldn't compare this to Metal Slug, really the only thing they have in common is that they're both side-scrolling shooters, but Mercenary Kings is a lot more than that.

I absolutely loved MK, it's probably the best side-scrolling shooter I have ever played. And it's not short like other games from the genre, it took me around 30 hours to beat it (I wasn't rushing it, but I wasn't grinding too much either).

[*Yuki*]

heard, it has a lot of repetetive missions on same maps. Is it true?

[MaxBedlam]

Originally posted by *Yuki*:

heard, it has a lot of repetetive missions on same maps. Is it true?

The game has around 100 missions but only about dozen maps. I don't remember how many different mission types there is, but different mission types have different locations on map so I didn't find it too repetitive.

I found the gameplay to be enjoyable enough not to mind that.

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by ChibiCthulhu:

different mission types have different locations on map

so - maps here are like zones in sonic? (they had few levels on each, but all levels had same design, in graphical side. E.g forest zone, underwater zone, etc)

[Shirsh]

Not exactly, world in Mercenary Kings consist from several more or less connected places (some connected for real, some independed), with a semi-open approach.
For example at start there's a enemy camp, on one mission you need to run through it and rescue hostages, several mission later you'll need to run around it to kill the elite enemy unit, some time later you will ned to cross it as it's on the way to the ruins of old temple etc.
Also there's a lot of optional repetition, like, you don't have to play extra gathering runs instead of more story-driven, but it can provide new side missions or you just can be in the mood for a little grind or test new upgrades on old foes etc.
I finally start to play it after 1.5 years after buying >_<
Game is very rough in terms that it follows old games' cruel punishing game design, and at first time I abandoned game after day or two of frustration. Now it happened that I played emulated nes, genesis and snes games just couple of days ago and it suddenly made me turn back to mercenary kings and had fun with it for a first time.
Also Paul Robertson style, 1.5 years ago I didn't know what is it and was confused by mix of cuteness and gore, it's better to know it a bit before jump in.