Now, after having a right good crack at Mercenaries 2, I can say I’m pretty damned impressed by what I’ve seen. Sure, it may not be the longest game in the world, maybe not even the most original, but it certainly IS one of the most entertaining pieces of gaming I’ve played in a while. It’s got a cool factor to it and it never seems to waiver as you play through the missions, whether it’s on your own or with a friend. Just Cause 2 is going to have its work cut out to regain its exploratory crown, as this is Pandemic’s labour of love and it just keeps on giving. There are one or two things that let it down a little, like iffy AI and the already mentioned shortness, but when you get such an enormous sense of enjoyment by grabbing an RPG or grenade launcher and wreaking havoc, you seem to put those thoughts on the backburner.

In one sentence, Mercenaries 2 World in Flames is just good ol’ fashioned fun in its purist gaming form. I’ll need to go and get the first one now.