Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Review

Granted, the 3DS may currently have an extremely weak game lineup with only one triple-A release (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS), but I still believe the system itself is extremely capable of producing some excellent games - and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D gives me some hope regarding what developers can do with the system.

The graphics in Mercenaries 3D are simply amazing and really help to show just what kind of graphics the 3DS is capable of producing. Unfortunately, there were quite a few times I noticed the frames per second drop when the action became too hectic which, honestly, slightly ruined the game a bit for me as one second you're busy blasting zombies and the next the game stutters. The sound effects were great, but the music was utterly forgettable.

The gameplay itself is excellent. For those that don't know, in Mercenaries mode you have to worry about running out of time, avoiding/killing enemies, and keeping a fresh supply of ammo at an extremely hectic pace. Some gamers may find this intimidating at first, but once you get used to it it provides a great sense of excitement and suspense.

Other than the occasional slowdowns, my biggest gripe with the game is its length. The game itself is extremely short and Capcom did little to lengthen the experience - sure, trying to get a higher score on the same old map is fun for a little while but gets old fast. Also, this game has NO storyline at all, which is extremely odd for a Resident Evil title. This is more like a mini-game rather than a full-fledged retail release and I believe it should have been priced accordingly. As it stands, its an excellent showcase for the 3DS's horsepower, but it needs much more content to justify the asking price. Pick it up in a few months from the bargain bin, its a great "mini" game that's a lot of fun.