Mercenaries 2 is a great console co-op experience, and takes the sandbox idea far in that it gives the two players a plethora of options. Somewhere during its jump onto the PC however a lot of luster was lost in the translation, and disappointingly enough playing through it alone just doesn’t entertain on the level that it should. The PC version of the game simply has all of the weaknesses and none of the strengths that historically has been the case for all console to PC ports.

No-one loves a fat stack of cash more than the game’s three protagonists, which is also one of the few similarities they have with each other. The surprisingly soft-spoken Mattias Nilsson sports a Mohawk and faster health regeneration, while the lithe Jennifer Mui can outrun anyone in a foot race. Christopher Jacobs always brings two things with him; a lit cigar and more ammo than the norm. Regardless of what character you choose the gameplay remains largely unchanged, though their small nuances can be helpful in a pinch.

At the start of the game your character quickly finds himself screwed over at the end of a mercenary mission, narrowly escaping with their life if not their pride. In the world of Mercenaries 2 everybody pays, and the plot centers around getting back at those who stiffed you while Venezuela itself becomes blanketed with war. No fewer than six factions will populate the map before the game’s conclusion, and while the Venezuelan army will always be hostile it is up to the player to work the others as they climb back up to get their due.

Missions are usually made up of a few types including plot missions to advance the story, timed challenges which require you to complete a task in a set time limit, or reclaiming outposts. Completing any of these missions for a faction not only makes them like you more but also unlocks more of their toys. Though being a mercenary is lucrative it can be expensive to keep the airstrikes coming, and why settle for a pair of 500lb bombs when you can buy a cruise missile for just a bit more?

Performing missions for one faction however can often have the side effect of making another unhappy with you, like in the case of when the People’s Liberation Army of Venezuela want you to assassinate high-ranking officials. This delicate balance doesn’t just dictate who will shoot you and who won’t but also in that if a faction is hostile to you it cuts off your access to their stores and unique goods as well as access to the landing pads in their bases for fast travel usage. Of course this balance can be adjusted by doing side missions for them or simply killing a bunch of Venezuelan Army troops, and during the course of the game friends will become enemies and vice versa quite often.