Mercury Meltdown
The platform tilting concept is back and just as solid as it ever was, though this time there are a few new additions. In case you missed the first game the franchise is best compared to a hybrid of Super Monkey Ball and Marble Madness. In its most basic form you play as a glob of Mercury and have to tilt a platform this way and that in order to get your glob to a designated coordinate. Many things get between you and your goal and figuring out how to succeed is where most of the challenge comes in.
Gameplay:
I remember back when I was a kid I used to have this box maze that you tilted to get a little marble to the end without falling into a hole. Filled with strategy, a steady hand and loads of frustration I played that thing until one of the handles broke off. Luckily after some time with Mercury Madness I haven't broken the analog stick off of my PSP yet, though the frustration and need for strategy is omnipresent.
Like I said the concept behind the game is simple really; get your Mercury from start to finish. It's the in between part that gets to be challenging. There are several obstacles standing in your way and even a few enemies that would love nothing more than to gobble up your Mercury. Things get even more challenging with a time limit and the need to keep your glob together as much as possible. You can still beat a stage if you run short on time at least.
While the basic concept of Mercury Meltdown, and the franchise in general, may not be the most original out there; the way it's implemented is. I spent plenty a night rolling around as a monkey in a ball and tackling Xbox Live Arcade with Marble Blast Ultra but the challenges you face in the Mercury series really make you use your brain. Yes some skill and reaction time is needed, though using the 'ol noggin is much more necessary.
Between you and your goal lies a road filled with various obstacles. They may be as simple as a switch to press or door to go through but gradually they get more involved. As a pile of goop (gray goo at that) you're often forced to change colors in order to progress. Luckily there are various painting spots when you need them. Red, Green and Blue are the colors at your disposal and in order to make it through some doors you have to pick one of those. Things get tricky when you have to combine colors. By splitting your Mercury up into two blobs you can maneuver one to, say, red and the other to blue. Once you combine them the end result is purple. As you can imagine having to do this with the clock running down can make things pretty frantic.
Other additional challenges include a station that changes your molecular structure. By going through an icy gateway you'll freeze your blob and by going through a heat zone you'll melt your glop. These coupled with gravity controlling machines and enemies that try to eat you make things challenging while you're trying to just make it to the end of a stage. If you played the first game and are wondering just how difficult this one is, don't be scared. While the original was unfairly difficult at times Mercury Meltdown is much easier to get into and enjoy but it doesn't lose any of its playability.
Speaking of that playability there is quite a lot to do beyond simply slugging your way through the regular single player mode. A wealth of Party Games also populates this UMD so once you've beaten the snot out of the main attraction there's plenty of other games to play. These range in variety from a mini-game where you try to keep your goo from being blown away by a fan to a relatively barebones racing game. The games prove to be more of a diversion than anything but they do add some extra play time once everything is said and done.
In just about every way Mercury Madness is a worthwhile sequel that is better than the original. The puzzle action will test your reflexes and your brain while still proving that Mercury is an entertaining and original franchise. If you're looking for a puzzle game that is fresh and mind-boggling definitely give this one a chance. You won't be disappointed.
Graphics:
Puzzle games tend to be lackluster from a visual standpoint. This is due to the subject matter at hand which usually consists of blocks; or in this case, a blob. Surprisingly the game is actually fairly robust as far as graphics are concerned. The colors are vibrant even though the environments are a tad on the bland side. Things all around are better than they were in the original and the Mercury is even cel-shaded now. Overall this is a much better presentation for the franchise.
Audio:
While the graphics in Madness certainly made a statement for the franchise; the soundtrack didn't. There's nothing here that jumps out and has that "wow" factor. From an uninteresting music assortment to dry sound effects the audio for Mercury Madness is dreadfully average in every department. Some sound is better than none but good sound would have been better.
Conclusion:
Having a game like Mercury Madness available for the PSP is pretty important when you get right down to it. Few genres can offer a pick up and play experience as well as the puzzle genre can. In that department the PSP is lacking compared to the DS. Mercury is one of those franchises that should be considered a flagship of puzzle games on the system and is without a doubt, Madness is a much better experience than the original. If you're looking for a fun and lengthy puzzle game to keep you busy you'll definitely want to give this one a look.