Mercs

For the Sega Saturn version, see Capcom Generation: Dai 4 Shuu Kokou no Eiyuu.

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NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J Master System
Mercs
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Publisher: Sega Capcom
Developer: Sega CS1 Tiertex M2
Distributor: Halifax (IT) Ecofilmes (PT) Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Capcom
Original system(s): Capcom CPS-1
Developer(s) of original games: Capcom
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1991-09-27 ¥7,000 (7,210)7,000e G-4051 US 1991-10 $59.9559.95 1119 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub EU 1991-12 1119 EU ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub PT 199x UK 1991-12-12 £34.9534.95 1119 AU 199x CA 199x BR 1992-02 EU 1992-01 9007 UK 1992-01 £24.9924.99 9007 AU 199x MX 199x BR 199x JP ▼ 2008-11-04 600pts600 US ▼ 2009-02-09 800pts800 EU ▼ 2009-02-20 800pts800 AU ▼ 2009-02 800pts800 JP ▼ 2024-11-27 SUBsub M-2609 US ▼ 2024-11-26 SUBsub M-2609 EU ▼ 2024-11-27 SUBsub M-2609 UK ▼ 2024-11-27 SUBsub M-2609 AU ▼ 2024-11-27 SUBsub M-2609
Non-Sega versions Amiga Amstrad CPC Arcade Atari ST Commodore 64 ZX Spectrum

Mercs, called Senjou no Ookami II (戦場の狼II) in Japan, is a top-down arcade shoot-'em-up developed by Capcom, which was ported to a variety of home consoles and computers including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System. It is a sequel to the arcade game Commando (Senjou no Ookami in Japan) and was followed by Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 in 2008.

The Mega Drive version of Mercs was banned from sale in Germany.

Story

The unnamed former President of the United States has been kidnapped by revolutionaries from the fictional country of Zutura. For diplomatic reasons, instead of sending the military, the United States government decides to send an elite group of mercenaries to stop the rebels and rescue the President.

In an additional scenario presented in the game's Original Mode, the White House calls upon the Mercs again to prevent the fictional country of Quira from launching its intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

Mercs is a top-down run-and-gun game. The player's Merc can move in eight directions around the screen with the D-Pad. The screen does not autoscroll but follows the Merc as he moves; however, the screen does not scroll back down, limiting the player's ability to backtrack. The Merc must fight through each stage and face a boss at the end. The Merc shoots his primary weapon with or . He can also use Mega Crash Bombs with , which attack everything on the screen at once but are limited in supply.

The player can occasionally enter vehicles, including trucks, boats, and turrets, by moving onto them after defeating their occupants. Vehicles have their own health bars, and the player is ejected from them after they run out of health.

The game has two modes: Arcade Mode, which is faithful to the arcade version, and Original Mode, an extended mode with new levels that adds new mechanics.

Arcade Mode

In the Arcade Mode, the player controls a lone Merc through seven stages to rescue the former President. The Merc is initially equipped with an assault rifle but can switch weapons by finding weapon pick-ups. He also starts with three Mega Crash Bombs but can find more in the stages. The Merc has a life gauge that goes down as he takes damage from enemies and hazards but can find healing items throughout the stages. When the Merc runs out of life, the game ends, but it can be continued as long as the player has credits remaining. Missions are also timed, and the Merc loses a life if time runs out.

Items

Items are found in crates.

	Crate
	Destroy to release an item.
	Food
	Restores 3 units of the life gauge.
	Medal
	Restores part of the life gauge.
	First Aid Box
	Restores 16 units of the life gauge.
	Life-Up
	Permanently adds 4 units to capacity of the life gauge.
	Power
	Upgrades the weapon power level.
	Mega Crash Bomb
	Gives the player another Mega Crash Bomb to use.
	Assault Rifle
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the assault rifle, which shoots bullets in the direction that the Merc is facing. This is the starting weapon.
	Flamethrower
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the flamethrower, which sprays a long flame that does continuous damage and can hit multiple targets.
	Shotgun
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the shotgun, which shoots multiple shots in a conical shape.
	Grenade Launcher
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the grenade launcher, which fires high-powered grenades a short distance.

Missions

	Mission 1
	Mission 2
	Mission 3
	Mission 4
	Mission 5
	Mission 6
	Mission 7

Original Mode

Merc selection and friendly hideout

The Original Mode is significantly longer than the Arcade Mode and adds new mechanics. The player starts the game as Rifle, who is armed with an assault rifle and one Mega Crash Bomb. Starting with the second stage, the player starts finding friendly hideouts and recruiting new Mercs. Friendly hideouts act as item shops where players can exchange medals, which are found throughout the stages, for items such as health kits, Mega Crash Bombs, and upgrades for their Mercs (similar to the shops in Forgotten Worlds). Friendly hideouts are found in all subsequent stages and usually look like tents or storage sheds.

Each Merc has his own unique weapon (in contrast to the Arcade Mode, where the main Merc can equip multiple weapons), his own life gauge, and his own statistics such as weapon power and movement speed. Mercs can be switched by pausing the game with  START . Whenever the player finds a healing or an upgrade item, it is given to the active Merc, and whenever an item is purchased, the player can choose which Merc receives the item, letting the player choose which Mercs to prioritize.

When a Merc runs out of life, he dies but can be revived by purchasing an Elixir item from the hideout. If all of the Mercs die, the game ends. There are no continues in this mode, with the Mercs themselves acting as a sort of life system.

Characters

	Rifle
	Rifle is the starting Merc. He is armed with an assault rifle, a versatile weapon that fires bullets forwards. Power upgrades widen the area of his shots. Rifle has the greatest speed potential of all the Mercs, allowing him to run through enemy lines and evade hostile fire. Along with Laser, he has the longest potential life gauge.
	Burner
	Burner is armed with a flamethrower, which sprays a long flame that does area damage and can easily incinerate mobs of enemies. However, his life gauge and movement speed potential are less than those of Rifle. He is recruited in Stage 2.
	Launcher
	Launcher has a grenade launcher, which shoots powerful grenades a short distance in front of him. He has a high potential life gauge but the lowest movement speed cap of all the Mercs. He can do heavy damage to stationary targets but has difficulty avoiding enemy fire. He is recruited in Stage 3.
	Laser
	Laser is equipped with a gun that shoots long lasers long distances. His weapon is very strong but fires slowly, making him ideal for large foes such as bosses but difficult to use against smaller targets. He has the second best movement speed potential, after Rifle, allowing him to deftly dodge enemy fire. He is recruited in Stage 4.
	Homing
	Homing shoots homing missiles that do area damage. He is recruited in Stage 8.

Items

Items are found in crates or sometimes other destructible objects such as trees. Items can also be bought at friendly hideouts with medals; prices vary depending on the hideout.

	Crate
	Destroy to release an item.
	Food
	Restores part of the life gauge: the Hamburger restores 2 units, the Spinach restores 3 units, the Roast Chicken restores 4 units, and the Leg of Lamb restores 6 units.
	First Aid Box
	Restores 16 units of the life gauge.
	Special First Aid Box
	Completely restores the life gauge.
	Life-Up
	Permanently adds 4 units to capacity of the life gauge.
	Power
	Upgrades the weapon power level.
	Mega Crash Bomb
	Gives the player another Mega Crash Bomb to use.
	Medal
	Gives the player medals that can be traded for items at friendly hideouts. The single medal gives 1 medal, the stacked medals gives 3 medals, and the big medal gives 5 medals.
	Elixir
	Revives a fallen Merc.
	Top Secret Information
	Gives the player a gameplay hint.
	Boots
	Increases the Merc's movement speed.
	Bulletproof Vest
	Reduces damage taken by the Merc.
	Gas Mask
	Renders the Merc immune to poison gas.
	Dynamite
	Explodes and harms the Merc if he is too close.

Stages

	Coast
	Forest
	Cliff
	Lakes and Bogs
	Desert
	Streets
	Port
	Enemy Hideout

Master System version

The Master System version is a simple port of the arcade game and has no equivalent to the Mega Drive version's Original Mode. It has the same weapons and vehicles. The player's Merc can move in eight directions with the D-Pad. He shoots his main weapon with and uses a Megabomb with . The player receives a stock of three Megabombs at the start of every mission.

The Merc has a life gauge, and the game ends if he runs out of life. There is also a mission timer that starts at 300 seconds for each stage, and the Merc loses a life if the timer reaches zero.

There is a harder difficulty level that can be played by starting the game with + at the title screen.

Items

Items are found in crates.

	Crate
	Destroy to release an item.
	M
	Gives the player another Megabomb to use.
	Bullet
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the machine gun, which shoots bullets in the direction that the Merc is facing. This is the starting weapon.
	Flame
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the flamethrower, which sprays a long flame that does continuous damage and can hit multiple targets.
	Green Circle
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the shotgun, which shoots multiple shots in a conical shape.
	Rocket
	Switches the Merc's weapon to the rocket launcher, which fires high-damage rockets a short distance.
	POW
	Upgrades the weapon power level.
	Food
	Restores part of the life gauge.
	First Aid Box
	Fully restores the life gauge.
	Life-Up
	Permanently increases the length of the life gauge.
	Medal
	Awards 1,000 bonus points.

Stages

	Mission 1
	Map: 1️⃣
	Mission 2
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Mission 3
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Mission 4
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Mission 5
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Mission 6
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Mission 7
	Map: 1️⃣

History

Legacy

The original arcade game was ported to the Sega Saturn in Japan in 1998 as part of Capcom Generation: Dai 4 Shuu Kokou no Eiyuu.

The Mega Drive version of the game was released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service, with the official title of Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS to properly tie in with Commando 3. The Nintendo Switch Online re-release inside the Sega Mega Drive - Nintendo Switch Online app also calls it with the same name from the Wii Virtual Console re-release.

Versions

The original arcade game uses a vertical aspect ratio, which was adapted to the Mega Drive port by adding a status area to the side of the screen. The arcade version supports three-player simultaneous play. The Mega Drive version is only single-player but adds the Original Mode, which expands the game with new levels and mechanics.

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Mercs	Mercs
English (US)	Mercs	Mercs
Japanese	戦場の狼II	Senjou no Ookami II

Production credits

Main article: Mercs/Production credits.

Mega Drive version

• Planner: Kyamura
• Designers: L C, Rew, Majikko, Majimaji
• Programmers: Mt Book, Proto 2, Markun
• Sound Arranger: Milpo
• Producer: Ossie
• Special Thanks: Marusan, Mu, Taka Oh, Ax, Sunset, Otaku, Tsuch, Tomo
• Presented by: Sega

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Mercs/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

JP print advert

Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #11: "September 1993" (1993-07-30)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-09: "September 1991" (1991-08-08)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 ACE (UK) 25 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 73 Consoles + (FR) 93 Console XS (UK) PAL 75 Cool Gamer (RU) 70 Computer & Video Games (UK) 92 Computer + Video Giochi (IT) 90 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 88 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 60 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 88 Games-X (UK) 90 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 85 Game Zone (UK) PAL 78 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 40 Hobby Consolas (ES) 90 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 90 Joystick (FR) NTSC-J 90 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 13 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 72 Mega (UK) PAL 72 Mega Force (FR) PAL 80 MegaTech (UK) PAL 90 MegaTech (UK) PAL 90 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 67 Mean Machines (UK) 88 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 88 Player One (FR) 80 Play Time (DE) 57 Power Play (DE) 70 Score (CZ) 45 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J 45 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 74 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 75 Sega Force (UK) PAL 89 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 80 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 80 Top Secret (PL) 100 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 68 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 70 Video Games (DE) 70

	74
Based on 41 reviews

Mercs

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Console XS (UK) PAL 73 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) PAL 81 Games-X (UK) PAL 90 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 90 Joypad (FR) 74 Joystick (FR) PAL 85 Mega Force (FR) PAL 80 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 67 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 81 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 81 Player One (FR) PAL 70 Sega Power (UK) PAL 70 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 68 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 73

	77
Based on 14 reviews

Mercs

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, IT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, MX
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Mercs/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU