Buzzin Games

Archer MacLean’s Mercury on the PlayStation Network

archer macleans mercury

Archer MacLean’s Mercury is a challenging puzzle game that was originally released on the PSP in 2005. Mercury has now been re-released on the PSN (PlayStation Network) for £4.79. This is a recommended buy for anyone who hasn’t already played or purchased Mercury, as it is a frustrating and challenging game in a most enjoyable and unique way.

Mercury is a ball of liquid that you have to get to the finish before you lose too much mercury. To get to the finish you must complete many tasks including opening doors, activating buttons and just staying alive!

You will need to focus quickly to find the best route to finish in time, you will also need to change the colour of mercury to activate colour specific switches (or buttons), doors to allow mercury into the next area and colour filters which will only allow  a certain colour to pass through.

There may be a paint shop which allows you to transform instantly to the colour you need, or you may need to create your colour by using two or more paint shops and mixing the colours together in order to obtain the desired colour. Some levels contain teleports which can be used by any colour mercury just by waiting under it. This adds to the difficulty of some levels as you must identify where each teleport goes to.

The game itself contains six worlds, each with many challenging levels to complete to unlock the next world. These worlds are Neon (Tutorial), Quartz, Xero, Aqua, Helios and Nano. Each world contains various levels, the main ones being Race, Percentage and Task.

Race requires skill and speed as you are in an epic battle with time and you must complete the level quickly. Finishing these levels usually requires a small percentage of mercury, so you can rush through the level with little concern for losing mercury.

Percentage will normally require a larger amount of mercury in order to complete the level. You are given more time so be sure to take a steady route to the finish.  But you still need to be fast enough if you want to be placed top of the high scores chart for each level.

Task will require a lot more skill than the other levels. These levels are designed to challenge you, usually with colour filters and colour specific switches, you may even need to finish the level using a different colour than what you started with. Despite this you still must battle against time and not always a high percentage of mercury is required to finish the level.

At the end of each world there is a “boss” level.  The levels are very difficult to complete compared to the previous levels in that world as you must finish quickly, maintain a lot of mercury and use paint shops, colour switches and colour filters efficiently to complete the level.

Additionally, enemies can be included in some levels.  These enemies feast upon mercury.  Try not to get trapped in a corner with multiple enemies. Enemies automatically follow you when you get close to them so you can trick them by luring them away from the finish or switches you need to activate. You can even distract them by breaking off a small amount of mercury and let them nibble on it while you go for the finish.

Overall Mercury is a very good game which can offer hours of frustratingly difficult fun with its addictive and challenging gameplay.

Mercury offers a challenge to all levels of gamers. A recommended buy especially as it has been re-released at a low price.

Great game.

Buzzin Games Rating: 83%