April 1, 2014April 2, 2014

Mercenary Kings Out Today on PS4

Here it is! The most anticipated day of 2014 from all of us at Tribute Games: the launch of Mercenary Kings on PS4!

It’s a thrill for us to finally share this labor of love (and explosions, tanks, maniacal warlords…) with all of you. Mercenary Kings air drops you into a colorful world of stylized, cartoonish warfare. When the Cybernetic Loyalist Active Weapon clan (CLAW) steals the Mandrake Formula, capable of reshaping any living thing into a dangerous weapon, King and Empress are sent in to retrieve it. CLAW’s leader, Commander Byron Baron — aided with his dog Alpha and a cloned army of miscreants — controls the entire laboratory base of Mandragora Island and seeks to make it the birthplace of a new, terrifying age.

Assisted by their own crew of experts, the Kings take on a multitude of missions where they must slice and blast their way through Baron’s band of bad guys, retrieve the formula, and save global peace.

Mercenary Kings might feel like something from the 16-bit past, but — like the Kings’ weapons — it’s crafted with brand new pieces into an explosive, modern package. Vanquished enemies drop a variety of materials that you can later craft into almost anything to give you an edge against CLAW. You can build with more than 300 firearm parts to mix and match into any weapon you can think of.

Build a scary-looking rifle, or a toilet-shaped machine gun. Or forge impressive or incredibly silly blades. Scavenged parts can be made into stronger armor, or turned into bio-mods, upgrading your mercenary’s strengths and reducing his weaknesses. Fruits from the jungle become ability-granting meals. Mercenary Kings’ boasts IMMENSE crafting mechanics that spread throughout the gameplay.

The areas in which you find these materials are not mere obstacle courses, but huge environments in which you can explore and find new treasures, fulfill secret mission objectives, hunt massive bosses, or find hidden resistance operatives.

Sometimes, a mission might just seem TOO BIG for one mercenary. But that’s no problem, because Mercenary Kings offers multiplayer options (both online and local) and three other mercenaries can join in on the CLAW-smashing fun. Is there a better way to cement friendship than going out and toppling a madman’s empire? We don’t think so.

Do you want to join the fight against Commander Baron? Mercenary Kings is available for PS4 on PlayStation Store today! Time to grab a controller and get ready to kick some CLAW!

Comments are closed.

114 Comments

9 Author Replies

plaztiksyke
April 1, 2014 at 12:02 pm PDT

are the audio assets 24-bit FLAC, or at least 320kbps Ogg? The amazing soundtrack on Scott Pilgrim always lacked oomph in-game, presumably due to lossy/low bitrate audio, so I hope the power of the PS4 is being taken advantage of :)

are there any GLBT characters? it was awesome that Scott Pilgrim included Wallace and the “bi-furious” ex!

excited to play it with co-op! will it allow the same PSN account to play on-line against eachother?

can the Vita be used as a cross-controller as well as for remote play?

thanks in advance for answering questions!!
JMBlakk
April 1, 2014 at 12:05 pm PDT

And its up for free for plus right now!!!!!
NinjaTurtledon
April 1, 2014 at 12:06 pm PDT

Yes that’s what I did it shows free I add it to cart then shows nothing about it and won’t let me purchase until I add more funds
Yannick Belzil
April 1, 2014 at 12:12 pm PDT

-The ingame music are Ogg files.
-There are no specifically GLBT characters in-game, a couple of them mention being attracted to the opposite sex but even then the characters are sketched out with traits that are not related to their sexuality or their orientation so you can make up anything you want about them (it was my intention anyways).
-The Vita can be used for remote-play!

Not sure about the other answers, I’ll get back to you on that!
CullenX
April 1, 2014 at 12:12 pm PDT

WOOHOO!!!
BNast7
April 1, 2014 at 12:21 pm PDT

So pumped. Can’t wait to rock this out when I get home.
Souledge94
April 1, 2014 at 12:38 pm PDT

I was wondering if this game does well will you add charcter skins as dlc? It would be a nice edition to spice things up.
- Yannick Belzil
  April 1, 2014 at 12:39 pm PDT
  
  @Souledge94
  There are no plans for DLC at the moment.
Tennindo-
April 1, 2014 at 12:45 pm PDT

It breaks my heart I cannot play this wonderful game. I wish it had come to ps3 and vita also so I could play this. Maybe I can still get lucky. Even if it’s not free on ps3 or vita I’d still buy this game in a heart beat
CrusaderForever
April 1, 2014 at 12:48 pm PDT

It’s out on PSN and free for PS+!! Downloading now!
omega_alpha-619
April 1, 2014 at 12:52 pm PDT

This is a really great ga… oh wait, it’s not 1992 anymore. It’s 2014 now… nevermind.
- Yannick Belzil
  April 1, 2014 at 1:06 pm PDT
  
  Are you, like Billy Pilgrim or Desmond Hume, unstuck in time Omega_Alpha-619?
AizawaYuuichi
April 1, 2014 at 1:14 pm PDT

For anyone using the webstore, if you don’t see an “Add to Cart” button, just hang out on the page and count to 20 or 30 and the button will appear.
Just checked, and I also see this for free on PS+, and it still shows as free when I added it to my cart.

Sadly, I won’t get a chance to play this until I get home from work much later tonight, but really looking forward to it. Already have a friend set to play some co-op!
Kishnabe
April 1, 2014 at 1:27 pm PDT

Would prefer this on Vita…..PS4 is still a long way from my pocket.
HeLLeVeN11
April 1, 2014 at 1:36 pm PDT

Playing right now, game is awesome!!! Got a PS4 today for that game! (mostly)

Bon travail Tribute Games!!!
GODFATHERTIG
April 1, 2014 at 1:39 pm PDT

I thought we were in NEXT GEN? Glad I HAVE A NEXT GEN SYSYTEM.
BahumatIsBack
April 1, 2014 at 1:53 pm PDT

So glad I bought a PS4 so I can play this awesome Metal Slug clone. It’s even a lazy clone. During the “cutscenes” when the characters appear to be talking they couldn’t even bother to get some voice actors. The character select screen is too small. There’s only 2 playable “characters” that the only difference between them is their gender. Oh and lets not forget about the clumsy control scheme and extremely limited inventory. You can’t carry 2 C-4 explosives? Really?

Man that mandatory PS Plus subscription really payed off with this gem. This game probably would have been great on a mobile platform like the Vita, but on the PS4 it is just painful to look at and play
omega_alpha-619
April 1, 2014 at 1:56 pm PDT

Just calling um’ like I see um. I sure as heck didn’t spend $500+ on a PS4 to play games that look like they are being played on NES.

And before the ‘white knights’ descend.. Yes graphics don’t make the game, games need great gameplay too (as I’m sure this game has). Why can’t we have both? Why is your world always so black and white (or in this case 8-Bit vs HD) with you good people?
- Yannick Belzil
  April 1, 2014 at 3:02 pm PDT
  
  Well, you could not play a game like this on NES, it just didn’t have the controls, graphics or processing power.
  
  Our graphics are GREAT. Pixels aren’t low-resolution, they’re just an art-style and it’s the one we love as a company.
Angelshadow_7
April 1, 2014 at 2:02 pm PDT

So you answer to people who is trashing the game and ignore the one’s who are praising it….I see how it is…I will enjoy the game nontheless but booo.
- Yannick Belzil
  April 1, 2014 at 2:59 pm PDT
  
  Thank you for praising it! <3
Cat_Corye
April 1, 2014 at 2:46 pm PDT

Just another game that made me get a PS4 early, play it and man. It seems more harder then Dark Souls 2 playing solo @_@
Yannick Belzil
April 1, 2014 at 3:04 pm PDT

Some people don’t like pixel art and that’s fine, but if you think of video games as art or want them to be artistic, then, they’re allowed to have a specific look or art-style.
Ours is pixel art because it’s stuff we love and we feel it communicates a pure-videogame essence that we want to do with our games.
DatKid16
April 1, 2014 at 3:11 pm PDT

This game is fun and also challenging. I need to get an upgraded gun for real! I hope you guys don’t stop here. Games like this are just as fun as AAA titles IMHO. Keep up the good work.
BahumatIsBack
April 1, 2014 at 3:13 pm PDT

^^ Sure it doesn’t look bad, but the bad control scheme, the lack of voice actors for the cutscenes, the character select screen that looks like it was designed for a lower resolution and appears to be too small, the tiny creatures scampering under foot that are just a nuisance, the lack of unique selectable characters outside of gender, the fact that it’s a Metal Slug clone without even making it a joke or a nod to it’s predecessor etc, etc, etc.

Personally I think this game would have been a better fit for the Vita, or even a cross console with PS3/Vita/PS4, but being PS4 only just draws focus more sharply to all the game’s shortcomings. If it had been a cross platform title I don’t think anybody would have really noticed to be honest
mooteh
April 1, 2014 at 3:38 pm PDT

I just downloaded and installed this game. I noticed the intro music starting to stutter. Played about 15minutes and completed the first mission and the game crashed. Anyone else have any similar issues? Not sure if it was just a bad install or if a few bugs slipped through while being ported to the PS4.
HeLLeVeN11
April 1, 2014 at 4:07 pm PDT

@67 Angelshadow_7

You’re right should have insulted the game.

So that awesome game sucks!?!

Vive le Québec anyway….
jim488
April 1, 2014 at 4:26 pm PDT

i didn’t buy my ps4 for a game that looks like one i played 25 years ago, either. i could understand if it didn’t seem like this “style” of game was already oversaturated on the ps4, but it does. oh well… one more month till mlb 14 the show and watchdogs a few weeks later, and then maybe i’ll start to feel like i’m getting a proper return on my investment. i’m not trying to be negative. i just think the minority opinion here could use more of a voice, before it appears this is the type of game we all want for our next-gen systems. kudos on including local muliplaayer, though. now there’s something i can support. and to the devs annd those who enjoy the game, i genuinely wish you best of luck for its success. it’s just not my cup of tea.
Kieferw
April 1, 2014 at 4:31 pm PDT

I dont get the art style hate not everything has to be like infamous second son or watch dogs I just spent 3 hours playing ( and getting my butt kicked) loved it don’t knock it till you try it not only is it free for plus but its super fun!!!
JnF_Gho5t
April 1, 2014 at 5:32 pm PDT

Just ran through the first level without getting hit and no trophy. Glitched?
Sithandra
April 1, 2014 at 6:58 pm PDT

With the game being set to Invite only i’m still having random people joining in the game.
MentolKase
April 1, 2014 at 8:11 pm PDT

Just wanted to drop a comment (rare for me) – not sure why, but I lost approximately four hours somehow. I started playing the game, and now it’s time for me to go to sleep. What gives? But yeah, I can safely say that now, I don’t really mind that Rogue Legacy hasn’t been ported to consoles or handhelds yet…and this plays beautifully with Remote Play, but I’d still kill for a Vita version :)
FlyingBurrito76
April 1, 2014 at 9:28 pm PDT

You people can be so petty. “I didn’t buy a PS4 so I can play a game with NES graphics”. There are plenty of people who did or at least don’t have such a closed minded view of the way games “should look”. If you don’t like the way a game looks, don’t download or play the damn game and keep your childish trap shut.
D-Squad3
April 1, 2014 at 9:53 pm PDT

So excited to this give this a shot!
Monterossa
April 2, 2014 at 2:40 am PDT

many games should be able to go multi-Sony-platforms. I’ll be more happy if I can play them on the Vita too.
Dangisuckatgamin
April 2, 2014 at 2:49 am PDT

Fixes:
– Invited is broke, random dwellers are still joining me and my friends game

What I dislike:
– The time limits (never have been a fan of this at all. It makes me feel like I have to rush the entire game and not enjoy it)
– People who stall and aren’t trying but yet still get credited
– Shared lives among the group, people are joining games (which in my case shouldn’t happen like mentioned above in Fixes just to die. Has happened about three times now)

What I like:
– The crafting mode idea
– The simple but effective art style
– That it’s free, not sure I’d be happy that I’d of spent money on it at this current time
Dangisuckatgamin
April 2, 2014 at 2:49 am PDT

Oh darn it hit submit to fast, also like
– That you guys incorporated online coop in an indie game, we don’t see that too much :)
dorukhan_
April 2, 2014 at 3:20 am PDT

The map is great :D Looks like comodore 64 :D
Macello
April 2, 2014 at 6:58 am PDT

The game is great but my character keeps disappearing when I get hurt when playing over remote play. She doesn’t reappear until she stops flashing.
SlyBeast69
April 2, 2014 at 7:11 am PDT

This game may have the best soundtrack in any game ever. Just sayin’.
SDkngsht
April 2, 2014 at 8:46 am PDT

this game is definitely a mix of Metal Slug and Borderlands – spent a bit of time playing this last night and loved it immediately! awesome game. so far every PS Plus game we’ve gotten has been a lot of fun and well worth the price of subscription.

excited to hopefully get my hands on the PS3 IGC via Playstation Now in the future but for now keep the great games coming!
SUNDOWN77
April 2, 2014 at 9:42 am PDT

Man I thought this was coming to PS3, too! I was pretty bummed last night. I’ll likely pick it up as soon as I can upgrade. Looks like a fun game.
odd69
April 2, 2014 at 9:52 am PDT

I wanted to purchase this , i dont want it “free” from plus, but 19.99 y im srry but you guys fell flat on ur ass for that price
naoplox
April 2, 2014 at 10:23 am PDT

sony should consider more JRPG’s and open world 3D games for PS4 and quit with the arcade games its getting old fast i didnt buy a next gen system to play atari games for the love of god
elmagaso
April 2, 2014 at 10:27 am PDT

the game is really fun, only complaint is that game crashes sometimes and an error code comes up. we need a patch soon for this fix asap.
GovtAssassin
April 2, 2014 at 11:25 am PDT

Does anyone know how to get rid of the annoying two screens at the bottom when playing local two player? Please please tell me that I don’t have to share my already shared screen with an unnecessary map. I would hate to have to delete this promising title because it creates a hindrance whenever I play with my girlfriend, instead of an enjoyable experience.
tusunami
April 2, 2014 at 4:29 pm PDT

I have been playing this since yesterday and I have to say this game is just fun to play with friends. And its a great co-op game indeed. I hope there will be future dlc in the works such as more islands to explore and more various types of enemies and even things that didn’t make it into the game can be for dlc.
TrueLordX
April 2, 2014 at 6:12 pm PDT

Just played the game for the first time with my wife today and I think it’s really good. I can see the amount of love and attention to detail you guys put into it and the various nods to other classic games for us old school gamers… Which is great… But I’m unable to enjoy the game in co op because of a confusing design choice…

I understand the need for the quadruple screen split in a game of more than two people but when it’s just two players why would you not use the usual top/bottom method. The way you have it set up, the screens are way too small… And I’m playing on a 40″ hd tv. Having the map below is nice but I’d gladly trade that up to be able to see what I’m picking up or what the characters are saying. I’m hoping you can patch this… Otherwise it’s gonna turn a potentially great multiplayer game, into a decent single player one. At least for me.
ChunkyDunk1
April 2, 2014 at 7:59 pm PDT

I was playing for about 3 hours when all of a sudden it force closed on me and when i loaded the game back up about 30min later EVERYTHING i had done in the past 3 hours was lost, collected resources, ranks, missions, the whole kit and kaboodle. Does anyone know what i can do to try and get the data back?(I was connected to the internet at all times and the auto save was showing up every now and then)
Krugun
April 2, 2014 at 10:45 pm PDT

The empress is what happens when lara croft’s had enough of your crap and has every weapon in her disposal to shove it back where it came from.
AizawaYuuichi
April 3, 2014 at 2:27 am PDT

Like a few others have said, my gaming last night also ended abruptly when the game crashed on me. Very disappointing, and as it was already late, I didn’t bother booting it back up. Now I’m worried some/all of my progress might be gone. Hopefully this isn’t the case.

Also, I was playing with a friend in an invite-only game. We both checked this option to make sure, AFTER we had some random person come running into our game, at which point we both just dropped offline and then rejoined each other.
The online component really needs to be checked, as it just seems weird to have the option for invite-only and then let it be ignored by matchmaking.

These things being said, I love the game. It looks great, the animations are really well done and expressive, and there seems to be just the right amount of a learning curve to fighting the big baddies (Steel Soldier, I’m looking at you). Looking forward to spending a lot of time with this game.
monoxyd
April 3, 2014 at 8:17 am PDT

I think i may be the only one who didnt liked this game at all :(
oyeperokexarxa
April 3, 2014 at 8:35 am PDT

this game is bad because it does not rise to the best games plus they go people are buying the ps4 and you receive them and bought these games ps3 ps4 titles and that is the wonder where people bought the plus because it is necessary when they begin to give a good attitude plus games not put stuff like minecraft style metal slug enough ponganse pants with ps4 plus to greet you from chile! and x the plus quite annoying that launched April ….
GovtAssassin
April 3, 2014 at 9:24 am PDT

Sooooooo any Devs gonna comment on the clutter at the bottom of the screen in local two player? How was this a conscious decision you all made? Were you developing the game on an 80 inch tv? Because that’s about the only way that crappy set up would seemed like a good idea.