Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is the latest blockbuster from video game giant EA Games and is set in a world gone mad as tyrants swarm around Venezuela's oil supply.

Set in the not so distant future, you play a mercenary who has been brought into this upside world. You are working for the highest bidder that gives you access to a wide plethora of weaponry and vehicles and if you cannot stand the heat, you can also play cooperatively with a friend.

Stop the press! Mercenaries 2 World in Flame may sound like the most clichéd game of the year which it is but unfortunately suffers from a little rushed development that makes the title rather dated in this world of games such as Devil May Cry and the latest Call of Duty or Battlefield title.

Don't get me wrong, the title is not bad but then again it's not the best either, however where the game does shine is through its co-op mode but more on that later. There's just a sinking feeling about the game that doesn't sit quite right.

Features:

• Cooperative Multiplayer! Play the main Mercenaries 2 campaign with the help of your friends.

• Play with fire! Ground breaking, general purpose fire technology lets you set fire to buildings, vehicles and people. Shoot holes in the sides of fuel trucks, watch the oil spill under the feet of unsuspecting enemies and light it on fire with a match!

• Travel over/under water! Don't worry about drowning ever again: use watercraft or swim to traverse the oceans, rivers and lakes of Mercenaries 2.

• Build your own Private Military Company! Increase and customize your support options by recruiting other mercenaries you meet in the game!

• A massive, reactive, and completely unscripted game world! The world of Mercenaries 2 is larger than all of the maps of the first game combined and is jam-packed full of colorful characters and environments. And this time, every action you make has ramifications throughout the entire country.

• Cool new toys! Dozens of weapons, vehicles and support options are available for you to use to blow the crap out of everything! Use the new grappling hook to latch on to flying vehicles and commandeer them in the sky!

• Work for the highest bidder! Clients will offer you money, information and other resources in exchange for your services – provided you haven't done anything to piss them off!

In its essence, Mercenaries 2 is a third person shooter that allows you blow up a variety of things in the gaming environments and allows the player to procure vehicles such as cars and even boats.

Even though there is quite a lot of "blowing up" in Mercenaries 2, the title feels strange in this aspect, maybe it's because of its enormity but something is missing as mission after mission becomes a little repetitive as do the sometimes mediocre graphics.

The game does contain a variety of missions as you explore the gigantic maps with the developers throwing in a few twists here and there into the title such as if you accidentally shoot the faction you work for, it will royally mess up your chances of completing your current missions, although it does make for some interesting and fun gameplay.

You can also earn money for completing various missions for these factions in the game and for you, it doesn't matter what side they are on because all you are worried about is cash.

The GPS system of the title (apart from a map) allows you to blow up a variety of objectives in the game thanks to an airstrike from your Russian friend such as gates but as mentioned before, something feels a little astray with the title. Unfortunately it's not very rewarding.

Although check-point based, the game does have a regenerative feature that if you are injured, you can just hide out until you are healed. As mentioned earlier, vehicles are available to you that unfortunately don't control too well, especially the boats which are rather awkward, however the jeeps control well.

Where the title does shine is through the multiplayer mode which is quite fun and does offer some decent team options. The connection speed was quite good online and nothing is more enjoyable then playing as a team (two) and trying to take down an entire army.

Graphically, the title is a little dated which has some exceptional gaming environments and also some quite poor environments. The characters seem like they are out of yesterday with their ackward movements which is strange for a game of EA's caliber. There is also some clipping and popups.

Sound wise the title is rather impressive, even with the over the top voice acting that sounds like a Namco game with its 80's charm to it which the developers have tried to create in this over the top 80's inspired action game. The Australian sounding HQ voice is also quite cool.

At the end of the day, Mercenaries 2 is a game that although fun at times does feature a variety of annoying bugs, however if you do get over these, you may have some fun as you attempt to blow up, kill and fight your way to victory. Definitely for those who like a clichéd and over the top game.