Mercs from 1990, known in Japan as Senjou no Ookami II, was Capcom's answer to the vertical commando-action fever that Commando and Ikari Warriors had whipped up back then. You step into the role of an elite mercenary whose task is to fight through enemy territory — jungle, bases, and military complexes — and free kidnapped hostages.
In gameplay terms it's a brisk top-down run & gun ride: you shoot in every direction, collect stronger weapons, and in a pinch trigger mighty bombs that sweep the whole screen. The arcade version could handle up to three players at once, so the screen ruled over a proper chaos of explosions, vehicles, and hordes of soldiers. Capcom's CPS hardware gave it all sharp colors and smooth action.
For retro players, Mercs is one of Capcom's unjustly overlooked gems. It doesn't have the fame of Final Fight or Ghouls 'n Ghosts, but with its explosive briskness and pure, no-frills action it still entertains today. The home port on the Sega Mega Drive also added an expanded story mode, which won its own circle of devoted fans.
Game 12 of 29 for Capcom CPS
