Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Review


For years, the Resident Evil franchise seemed content to remain in the refuge of the survival horror genre. Sensing stagnancy (and circumventing a contractual obligation with Nintendo for numbered series entries), Capcom began taking its property in new directions. 2003’s Resident Evil: Dead Aim incorporated light-gun elements, while 2004’s Outbreak dabbled with on-line, cooperative play. Yet, it was the fourth iteration in the franchise which really offered innovation- transforming the game into a tight third-person action title.

Recent release, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D continues this trajectory, adapting an unlockable score-attack mode from RE4 into a full-fledged portable title. Abandoning a storyline, the title’s focus is less about impetus and item management that gunning down as many of Los Ganadosas as possible within a condensed time span. Thanks to this bite-sized approach and a sensible control scheme, Mercenaries competently fills a gap in the 3DS’s burgeoning library.


Prudently ditching the traditional touchscreen aiming method of many DS shooters, the game’s movement mechanics allow players to have a firm handle on the action. With the analog stick used to walk around, a press of the left trigger toggles weapon aim, a control scheme which isn’t prohibitive to southpaws. Unlike most recent Resident Evil games, Mercenaries allows a bit of movement while firing; pumping lead into an encroaching enemy while backpedaling becomes a survival skill in some of the game’s more challenging trials.

Smartly, the game’s inventory system has been simplified from its console counterparts- now players can easily select any armament with stylus poke or a few presses of the directional pad. Additionally, each of the game’s eight characters have their own unique arsenals- from Chris Redfield’s pistol and dual-grenade launcher to Jill Valentine’s SMG and shotgun loadout. By spending 3DS Play Coins, players can even swap weapon packs between characters. Beyond firearms, players also carry a healing spray and two types of grenades, both are which are essential when dealing with large clusters of foes.


Initially, Resident Evil‘s traditional fallback tool, the knife, may seem like it can’t compete with the formidability of a ranged weapon. Upon closer inspection, the dagger reveals Mercenaries 3D‘s melee system, which rewards players with a time bonus for hand-to-hand kills. For many stages, a dwindling timer is the gamer’s greatest threat, making melee’s an essential element for success. Mercifully, players have other benefits at their disposal- such as the carrying up to three perks into each battle, which can augment your reload time or defensive capacity. To motivate players into returning to Mercenaries‘ menacing environments, additional abilities are unlocked at regular intervals.

The title’s landscapes are rendered with a pleasing amount of detail, and the framerate is consistently solid, however, one graphical flaw reminds gamers that they are playing on a portable system. Although adjacent foes move fluidly, antagonists in the distance animate much less gracefully. Dispatched opponents topple clumsily to the ground, instead of displaying even a rudimental ragdoll physics model. Mercenaries other blemish centers around its level design, which stretches an extended  tutorial across at least half the game’s orthodox missions; combos aren’t even introduced until the ninth maneuver.  While the game does deliver harder, unlockable EX mission, players will get the feeling that a high percentage of stages won’t deliver enough of the game’s goods. While some might complain about the cartridge’s inability to reset a game save, only those who need the reassurance of their achievements should be affected.


With a library dominated by pared-down console ports, seeing Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D nearly provide the quality of a console title will be a reassuring triumph for 3DS owners. More importantly, the title admirably fills a conspicuous hole in portable’s library, providing an occasionally addictive, enjoyable game which is idyllic for on-the-go play.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

22 comments

  1. I thought Mercenaries was a DLC add-on for RE5, not part of Re4.

  2. I got this at launch, and will add my take:

    – Only one unlockable costume per character? What about Jill’s halter top which is part of RE history.

    – Yes, tutorial is way too long. But once the game gets going, it gets really hard. There’s still plenty of challenge in it.

    – No save delete sucks for people who want to start over as well.

  3. wacksonwacksoff

    I just figured there would be so much hate, that gamers wouldn’t buy it. Then I could swoop in and get a new copy for $20.

    So far my plan has not happened yet.

  4. A lot of black people are getting shot by white people in your pics.

    I’m just saying.

  5. I meant to get this at launch, but Capcom’s handling of this made me not want to support them.

    Maybe a recall might be too expensive, but how about saying I’m sorry. If Sony can do it, so can you Capcom.

  6. I’ll pick this up one day. Maybe when it drops. Just not used, because I’m one of “those people”.

  7. If you’re going to call out Twisted Pixel for having D-Tarded in the mix, you should bring it to Capcom as well.

  8. Good review, forget the haters. The Capcom Assault League are out in numbers.

  9. eternal nightmare

    I’m just glad someone didn’t 6.0 it (like a lot of other sites did) Bought this at launch and been playing it since. It’s more of a B/8 game for sure.

  10. Nailed another one Deagle. How many is that this month?

  11. Wow, those screens don’t look half bad.

  12. good review Desert.

  13. So there’s no story, no cinematics, any of that?

  14. Who do people who are mad at a publisher, take it out on a pretty good little game? I don’t understand the haters.

  15. good review. I’ll be on the look out for Mercenaries now.

  16. In honor of our reviewing machine: