Mercs - Wolf of the Battlefield - Boss Run - Original Mode

Surprise! Oh crap, is ACE uploading part 2 to a boss run recorded last year? I think he is! I haven't forgotten about the videos that require finishing.. it's just getting round to them.

The Megadrive release of Mercs had an option called "Original Mode", which combined the Arcade original's gameplay with something akin to Megaman. You can rescue various soldiers during the game and switch between them at any point. Each Soldier can be upgraded individually by either finding power ups or purchasing items in shops scattered throughout the game. Each character also has their own hit points, and their own strengths and weaknesses.

This mode is also incredibly difficult, as once a character is dead, that's it, they're dead. You CAN resurrect them, but at a great cost. You get no continues either.
This version of the game boils down to switching constantly between the characters, depending on the situation you find yourself in:
Got a entire platoon of soldiers in your way or got a boss that fires missiles? Burner.
Got a suicide bomber coming towards you? Rifle.
Need to blast away enemy vehicles? Launcher.
Going to fight a boss? Laser.
Need a character who is completely useless and is only there to absorb bullets? Homing.

This version of the game has incredible depth, but is just a little too hard for it's own good (on average, most of the bosses can kill one of your guys in three hits, suicide bombers can take you out in two, and there's even instant death traps in the final level. Colliding with an enemy soldier or vehicle also does shocking damage.)

So I'm glad to finally beat this beast.

Unlike the Arcade Mode of the original - the Megacrush is almost a requirement here. It provides temporary invincibility and knocks out all the homing missiles the bosses like to throw in your general direction.

Boss Notes:
Harrier:
Ported from the Arcade mode, this boss is significantly harder than it's original. It now deals much more damage, and has a more erratic movement pattern. You only have the weak rifle at this point, and I don't like to use the Megacrush attack on this thing - you need it for the later bosses.

Command Bunker:
I don't know why, but I love bosses like this :P
You need to take out the commander before you can deal damage to the thing, and during this time you could also do with taking out the enemy spawners on the side. Burner is a must here as it blocks the enemy rockets (and as a added bonus, providing you've got all the upgrades in this level, does more damage than the rifle.)

Super Tank MK 2:
The last of the bosses ported from Arcade mode, this thing has much more health than the original, and an additional attack. It also fires the main flamethrower more often. I used Burner to take out the early missiles and Launcher for the second part, as it's just easier to hit it with.

Hovercraft:
More difficult than it looks, this thing can ram you for an instant kill. The bullets aren't much of a problem, but when you're trying to kill it as quickly as possible, with the powerful laser, I had to rely on the Megacrush to get me out of that pickle.

Enemy Rush:
The game's only "mini-boss" (hey it changes music here!) this is.. just.. simple. Eh not a threat at all.

Hummer Squadren:
Don't let the main one live. It's blocking your dodging space. I stand off centre at the start so it doesn't start shooting straight away. A Mega crush finishes off the main boss and taking the other two out is just a matter of dodging the missiles.

Artillery:
This thing is nuts. I practically rely on the Megacrush here - it shoots too many missiles to deal with, and you can't stop the larger ones. Burner gets me across the room so I can deal with the last of them, and main gun itself isn't a problem.

Destroyer:
It's debatable whether this or the previous boss is the hardest in the game, but they're boss difficult. Mega-crush is used to take out the smaller guns, and then later used to take out the missiles from the two larger launcher.

Missile:
Phew, like all good shoot em ups, the last boss is rather complete weakling. Ok, so there's no safe spot, and it's constantly attacking, but compared to the rest of the game this thing is a total cakewalk.
(I guess it is a missile, it's not like you can put weapons onto the thing.)
I assume like the original Mercs, if you fail to kill it in time, you automatically lose, but I didn't want to test that theory.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• mercs
• wolves
• capcom
• sega
• megadrive
• genesis
• boss
• run
• original
• mode

[kico127]

Yeah, if you don't destroy the big missile, you lose or get some bad ending. I remember playing through this and only leveling up the rifle and burner. XD

[ACESpark]

Ouch, that must've made some of the bosses much harder.

[Mayesama]

and the 5th!

PARK Strike: Sand Box of freedom

[Thiora]

oh man... memories. i remember playing this game with my dad when i was just a young one

[Kaztir]

Nice!

But I always thought that arcade mode is harder than original))

MHO!

[TimelordR]

@Mayesama

What's a Milpo?

[TimelordR]

Just thought you like to know, those scenes at the end credits are actually the secret places you might have missed in the course of the game.

They contain power-ups & items to make your mission a little less hazardous for your teammates.

[Hopeflame06]

Shooting an ICBM with a laser .... nope cant see anything wrong with this XD

[SnakeEater7771]

Don't forget about the third sequel Nuclear Strike then super-crappy 4th sequel Future Strike

[marsgreekgod]

we had like 5 guys at most in that story, so it wouldn't be an army or a war, which is all good.

[redhawk797]

Don't forget about the second sequel, Urban Strike!