When the Vita was released, a lot of gamer's minds drifted to one thing; how the portable unit's innovative second thumbstick would apply to shooters. Now, nearly two years later and they finally have their answer in the form of Killzone: Mercenary; arguably the best portable shooter ever made. Guerilla Games finally delivers what Vita owners have been asking for with its portable version of Sony's top tier shooter series. If you own a Vita and have a passing interest in shooters, there's no excuse for this not to be in your collection.

While the main Killzone cannon casts you on the side of the ISA as they struggle to eliminate the so much like the Nazis it's sort of uncomfortable Helghast, Mercenary puts you in the role of Aaran Danner, a mercenary who's not afraid to align with either side, as long as the price is right. It's a unique and fun take on the franchise's long established story and presents some unique gameplay ideas in its wake.

"The game is quick to tell you what you've earned ..."

While the focus of Mercenary is still big production areas filled with tons of high octane shootouts, it's heartbeat is easily the cash reward system. In the game you're paid for everything, be it taking out an enemy, completing an objective or getting a headshot. The game is quick to tell you what you've earned in a quick on-screen popup, which I found annoying at first, but grew to find almost satisfying. The beauty of this system is that it's constant through each of Mercenary's modes and difficulties, allowing you to work constantly at securing better gear or weapons for your character.

Though Mercenary's nine mission campaign is almost criminally short, and you'll probably beat it in less than five hours if you're just planning on running through, there's enough in terms of side missions to keep you playing for quite some time. My favorite would have to be the contracts, which challenge you to perform specific tasks in certain levels. In one level you may be asked to use nothing but a specific weapon, or not trigger any alarms and in another you may be asked to complete it in a certain amount of time. It's not the most revolutionary feature, but it's a great way to earn extra cash if you're looking for that certain upgrade.

Undoubtedly Mercenary's best feature is just how well it works with the PS Vita's unique design. Shooters like Unit 13, Call of Duty and Resistance: Burning Skies have tried to use the dual thumbsticks to differing levels of success (or in the case of Burning Skies and Call of Duty, failure), but none has done it as well as Guerilla Games. The shooting and movement mechanics are tight and feels just as rewarding as their big console brethren. I was surprised at just how satisfying the game felt, and how well it ran even under the most hectic situations.

"Mercenary doesn't just play well, it's quite easy on the eyes as well."

Though Mercenary technically runs on a slightly modified version of the Killzone 3 engine, going in expecting something comparable to the latest console version of the franchise would be a mistake. Mercenary does a great job in its own right handling the chaos and big budget presentation values of the franchise, only suffering from a bit of slowdown here and there. Make no mistake about it, Killzone: Mercenary doesn't just play well, it's quite easy on the eyes as well.

Aside from the campaign, Mercenary comes packed with a full-fledged online suite. While it won't surprise you by any means, how fun the whole thing is and how well it performs is sure to sell you. You're going to have more fun with deathmatch modes rather than the team based missions, but the success of Mercenary depends solely on how many people haven't gotten rid of their Vitas yet.

Saying Killzone: Mercenary is the best shooter on Vita isn't saying much - but it's true. Guerilla Games has delivered what so many Vita owners have been asking for yet no one has delivered - a quality shooter that takes advantage of the Vita's second thumbstick. Mercenary is everything you'd expect from Sony's top tier shooter, just scaled down for portability. Vita owners rejoice - you finally have a great shooter.
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