The Mega Drive port of Capcom's Mercs, a vertical on-foot shooter à la Commando. Excellent in local co-op, action-packed, an underrated classic.
Your verdict
Category
Action2 players12+
Description
Mercs soldiers battle enemy armies in this Capcom arcade port for Mega Drive. Published by Sega, released in Europe in April 1991. Top-down shoot'em up with three soldiers with distinct weapons in local co-operation, varied enemies and bosses.
Mercs review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Capcom unrolls a theatre of war seen from above where every stage piles on detail: abandoned vehicles, huts in flames, collapsing bridges, prisoners to free. The player's soldiers stay readable in the middle of the melee thanks to contrasted uniforms, and the explosions take generous space without ever masking the action.
Mercs is the international edition of the Capcom run-and-gun game, the Megadrive port of the CPS arcade game. Its collector value comes from the port's fidelity to the Capcom arcade and from the fact that the cartridge is one of the most emblematic 16-bit Capcom titles of the Wolf of the Battlefield sub-series.
Better with friends
A beefy run-and-gun where two commandos advance side by side under a hail of fire, covering each other and clearing the screen enemy by enemy. Mutual aid comes first: sharing pickups and coordinating pushes is the difference between a rout and a triumphant breakthrough. Intense and readable, it rewards teamwork, and clearing a tough zone together bonds players as much as it electrifies them.
Is Mercs still worth playing in 2026?
A Mega Drive adaptation of the Capcom arcade run and gun, Mercs offers top down action where a team of mercenaries fights in a jungle. The polished military art direction, two player cooperative mode and precise handling make this title an excellent arcade conversion. Without being revolutionary, the game keeps real effectiveness and pleases classic run and gun fans. For anyone fond of Commando likes or 16 bit Capcom games, a valid recommendation today still on Mega Drive truly here indeed for any fan.
