I remember the first Mercenaries on the PS2, was great fun, running around blowing stuff up and killing stuff, awesome fun actually. This one is just as good, not hard, pretty easy actually, just time consuming. Probably take around 35 hours by yourself, around 25 hours co-op. For the most part, the achievements will come throughout the story, but there are a few that you might have to work on, like the Be Quick or Be Dead Achievement for example.
Few tips: Complete all missions for each faction BEFORE you start another faction. This is because doing things like capturing a HVTs (High Value Target) will upset the other factions making going back to them to do missions will be harder, like you being shot at. So for example you start with UP (Universal Petroleum) faction "unlocked", PLAV (People's Liberation Army of Venezuela) does not become "unlocked" until after you speak to Fiona. Finish UP first, then speak to Fiona about PLAV.
Before you can start the 'action hijack' on a tank, make sure the gunner is dead, Before you can start the 'action hijack' on a helicopter, you need the grappling hook from Eva (more later in the guide).
The online money achievements, just stay at the main menu for a short time and make sure the game connects to the EA Servers before you load your game. A message will appear telling you that "connection successful" or something like that.
As soon as you get Ewan in your crew, start doing what I call "Stockpile Runs" around and collect 'munitions' from the area. They all respawn after a set amount of time so you can build up a good "stockpile" for later use, like the Damage, Inc. Achievement and the artillery strikes if you get in a tight spot.
Finally, do not do the last mission until you are sure you have got everything, like unlocked all landing zones, captured all HVTs. After the last mission, things change, one faction loses a landing zone and a few of the HVTs are not there.
Alright, lets do this...
ACHIEVEMENT GUIDE
School's Out - 20 points
You completed the tutorial
Easy, you will get this after the first mission.
The Rage - 20 points
You completed "Rescue Carmona"
Easy, this will be the second mission, cannot miss.
Ride the Dragon - 10 points
You hijacked the tank in the villa
Ah, but this one you can miss, making you restart the game again, do not destroy it, hijack to get this.
Hello, Hooray - 50 points
You acquired the PMC
Easy, you will get this after you have captured the villa.
Eat the Heat - 10 points
Try accelerating and braking at the same time
So easy it should be a crime... lol. Exit the PMC and get into Fiona's car, press the brake and accelerator at the same time.
Wild One - 20 points
You recruited Ewan
Easy, you will get this after you have finished the 3rd mission for the UP faction.
Oil and Gasoline - 20 points
You recruited Eva
After Ewan is in your crew, talk to him about Eva, she will want you to "test drive" a new car she has done, race it around the course within the time and your done.
The Analog Kid - 20 points
You recruited Misha
After Eva is in your crew, talk to her and she recommends Misha, you will now have to do a mission for him, complete the mission and now you can call in airstrikes.
Pipeline - 20 points
Capture all outposts for a single faction
After you have captured the 3rd outpost for the UP faction you will get this early on in the game.
Armaggedon It - 20 points
Destroy 20 buildings
Nothing like blowing stuff up, destroy buildings with airstrikes or artillery works best but costs more in fuel, RPG's, C4, tanks work well on smaller buildings. Throughout the game you will have to destroy enemy 'barracks' when doing outpost takeovers (otherwise they keep respawning enemy soliders), certain factions will ask for certain buildings to be destroyed (and you get paid also!)
Shoot to Thrill - 20 points
Get 25 headshots
Just aim for the head, but you will probably get this without trying too hard, I did. The guns do not have real good accuracy, so you will find you get headshots without trying too hard. Team up with the next achievement.
Be Quick or Be Dead - 10 points
Snipe 50 enemy vehicle drivers
Can be done throughout the game. Pick up a sniper rifle and start shooting VZ drivers in jeeps, or you can go to the town (cannot remember the name right now) where the UP Headquarters is, as you enter you will see 2 VZ jeeps attacking the UP blockade, quickly shoot the drivers. If you have a look at your map, there are 3 positions where you can do this repeatedly, run or drive back and forth to each and just continue to snipe drivers. Gets boring after a while, but easy enough to do, the UP soliders around will give you a little protection too.
Hail and Kill - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects using melee
Easy, just run around the PMC and melee all the pot plants, furniture until all are broken, now continue on with your game. Do a mission or do something else and save your game. When you reload everything will be replaced so run around the PMC again and repeat. I got it the second time around.
Holy Smoke - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects with a grenade
Same as above, use grenades to destroy everything around the PMC you can. The time consuming thing here is that you will have to go and find more grenades when you run out as grenades are useless for anything else.
Little Savage - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects with an RPG launcher
Oh yeah, why can't everything be rocket propelled! Anyway, you will get this through the game easily, buildings, enemy jeeps/tanks, destroy things.
Balls to the Wall - 20 points
Beat the Winching Challenge three times
Easy money, talk to Ewan and accept the Winching Challenge, there are 3 levels:
Level 1 - Place 2 shipping containers on top of each other then place the spare part case on top of them.
Level 2 - Place 3 shipping containers on top of each other then place the spare part case on top of them.
Level 3 - Repeat level 2, simple.
Do not forget to max out your bet before you start to make the most money, each time you complete it the max bet increases upto a maximum of 5 million dollars ($5,000,000).
Gone Shootin' - 20 points
Complete one of Fiona's challenges
Talk to Fiona about her challenges, complete one to get this, fairly easy, co-op is even easier.
Heavy Metal Thunder - 10 points
Successfully complete 10 action hijacks
You did one back at the start of the game with the tank in the villa, now just repeat that 9 times more to get this. Again remember, if its a tank kill the gunner first, if helicopter you need the grappling hook first. More then enough opportunities throughout the game, 100+ to get this.
No More Mr. Nice Guy - 10 points
Make all factions HOSTILE
This one can be dangerous and a little harder then it reads, but fun to get though. If you run around killing members of opposite factions, then other factions will like you more. Best way is to airstrike or artillery strike their Headquarters or Outposts. Do not save your game afterwards, just reload to reset things.
...And Justice For All - 50 points
Verify all high value targets
The first lot of HVTs (High Value Targets) you will get are for UP at the start of the game. To verify the target melee and tie them or kill them. Once they are tied, clear the area of enemies and call for evac. If you killed them you will have to take a picture to verify, half money will be paid. NOTE: IF YOU KILL ANY HVT, THE NEXT ACHIEVEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE!!
Aces High - 50 points
You captured all high value targets
There are 55 HVTs throughout the game to be captured, if you killed any, then you will not get this. Also you have to do this in one playthrough. Make sure you save your game BEFORE you try and capture a HVT, their own men will kill them without thinking twice, again clear the area quickly. Again, co-op makes this easier to get.
Digital Man - 20 points
Unlock all shop items
This can be the most time consuming due to what has to be completed to unlock. Shop items, collect all 100 spare parts, verify all HVTs, complete the game, destroy all 40 billboards (for PLAV), destroy building missions... Yeah, there's a lot, but if you keep working through the story and complete all missions for each of the factions then this will unlock without too much hassle.
We'll Burn the Sky - 50 points
Unlock all landing zones
You will need to capture all Outposts for each of the factions for this to unlock. You can miss this achievement. Do not do the last mission of the story until you have them all. You should have 3 for the Pirates, 4 for PLAV and AN, 5 for UP and China, 1 for you at the PMC.
Highway to Hell - 10 points
Complete three different races
Talk to Eva and start any of her challenges. Once you have done 3 this will unlock, can be done co-op too.
Partners in Crime - 50 points
Play co-op with a friend
Easiest 50G you will probably ever get. Just join a friends game or get them to join yours, done.
Wheels of Steel - 50 points
Come in first during a co-op race
Yeah, just go talk to Eva and start any of her challenges while in co-op game. Remember the cars in this game are not real strong, be careful of damage!
Damage, Inc. - 50 points
Use 20 airstrikes in co-op
This seems a little buggy, first go I never got it. Make sure you destroy 'something' with the airstrike, like a building. Go on "Stockpile Runs" early on to build up a good collection of airstrikes and also collect fuel upgrades by doing Outpost Takeovers for factions and stockpile fuel. Airstrikes are not cheap. Remember: artillery strike is NOT an airstrike.
Nothin' But a Good Time - 50 points
Destroy 200 objects from the gunner seat in co-op
This one is a little buggy too, seems only "tanks" have gunner seats that count towards this. Other vehicles have gunner seats but do not count towards this unlocking.
Everybody Wants Some!! - 50 points
Play with a Mercenaries 2 developer or a player who already has this Achievement
Good luck with this one, hopefully you will find someone online that actually has this achievement and can join their game.
Try this forum thread here.
Tattooed Millionaire - 25 points
Earn $1 million
Easy this, you will get this early on in the game, after the first few missions for the UP faction. Like I said above, make sure it connects to the EA servers BEFORE you load your game.
Billion Dollar Babies - 25 points
Earn $1 billion
But this one will take some time to get. That's 1 Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) you need. Keep repeating the winching challenge from Ewan, also some enemies towards the end of the game will give you $50,000 for each kill and keep collecting the cash bundles you see around the map (remember these respawn after a while). They are the only ones that give you money that you can repeat, hopefully near the end of the game you should be close. If you earn the 1 billion and it does not unlock, save your game and reload.
Again, make sure it connects to the EA servers BEFORE you load your game.
Runnin' with the Devil - 20 points
You verified Blanco
This is story based, you cannot miss it.
You Better Run - 20 points
You verified Carmona
Same deal, story based, you cannot miss it.
No Compromise, No Regrets - 20 points
You battled for Caracas
Same deal, story based, you cannot miss it. Right near the end of the game, you choose a side, China or AN and fight for the town of Caracas.
The Hero and the Madman - 50 points
You Completed Mercenaries 2
Once you have finished the final mission of the story you will get this.
Dirty Deeds - 10 points
You achieved maximum Universal Petroleum mood
Easy, after you have completed a few missions for the UP faction this will unlock.
Island of Domination - 10 points
You achieved maximum Pirate mood
Easy, after you have completed a few missions for the Pirate faction this will unlock.
Forever Free - 10 points
You achieved maximum P.L.A.V. mood
Easy, after you have completed a few missions for the PLAV faction this will unlock.
Longing For Fire - 10 points
You achieved maximum Chinese mood
Easy, after you have completed a few missions for the China faction this will unlock.
Stand Up and Shout - 10 points
You achieved maximum mood with the Allies
Easy, after you have completed a few missions for the AN faction this will unlock.
School's Out - 20 points
You completed the tutorial
The Rage - 20 points
You completed "Rescue Carmona"
Ride the Dragon - 10 points
You hijacked the tank in the villa
Hello, Hooray - 50 points
You acquired the PMC
Eat the Heat - 10 points
Try accelerating and braking at the same time
Wild One - 20 points
You recruited Ewan
Oil and Gasoline - 20 points
You recruited Eva
The Analog Kid - 20 points
You recruited Misha
Pipeline - 20 points
Capture all outposts for a single faction
Armaggedon It - 20 points
Destroy 20 buildings
Shoot to Thrill - 20 points
Get 25 headshots
Be Quick or Be Dead - 10 points
Snipe 50 enemy vehicle drivers
Hail and Kill - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects using melee
Holy Smoke - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects with a grenade
Little Savage - 20 points
Destroy 50 objects with an RPG launcher
Balls to the Wall - 20 points
Beat the Winching Challenge three times
Gone Shootin' - 20 points
Complete one of Fiona's challenges
Heavy Metal Thunder - 10 points
Successfully complete 10 action hijacks
No More Mr. Nice Guy - 10 points
Make all factions HOSTILE
...And Justice For All - 50 points
Verify all high value targets
Aces High - 50 points
You captured all high value targets
Digital Man - 20 points
Unlock all shop items
We'll Burn the Sky - 50 points
Unlock all landing zones
Highway to Hell - 10 points
Complete three different races
Partners in Crime - 50 points
Play co-op with a friend
Wheels of Steel - 50 points
Come in first during a co-op race
Damage, Inc. - 50 points
Use 20 airstrikes in co-op
Nothin' But a Good Time - 50 points
Destroy 200 objects from the gunner seat in co-op
Everybody Wants Some!! - 50 points
Play with a Mercenaries 2 developer or a player who already has this Achievement
Tattooed Millionaire - 25 points
Earn $1 million
Billion Dollar Babies - 25 points
Earn $1 billion
Runnin' with the Devil - 20 points
You verified Blanco
You Better Run - 20 points
You verified Carmona
No Compromise, No Regrets - 20 points
You battled for Caracas
The Hero and the Madman - 50 points
You Completed Mercenaries 2
Dirty Deeds - 10 points
You achieved maximum Universal Petroleum mood
Island of Domination - 10 points
You achieved maximum Pirate mood
Forever Free - 10 points
You achieved maximum P.L.A.V. mood
Longing For Fire - 10 points
You achieved maximum Chinese mood
Stand Up and Shout - 10 points
You achieved maximum mood with the Allies