When comparing BattleBlock Theater vs Mercenary Kings, the Slant community recommends BattleBlock Theater for most people. In the question“What are the best local co-op PC games?” BattleBlock Theater is ranked 3rd while Mercenary Kings is ranked 34th. The most important reason people chose BattleBlock Theater is:
There is a modified co-op campaign that requires players to coordinate their actions to succeed. This makes it a fun couch co-op game due to the importance of communication (as well as how fun it is to grief your teammate in person).
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Co-op adds a completely new element of coordination to the gameplay
There is a modified co-op campaign that requires players to coordinate their actions to succeed. This makes it a fun couch co-op game due to the importance of communication (as well as how fun it is to grief your teammate in person).
Pro Thought-out presentation that balances style and humor well
The witty humor, enjoyable songs and cutscenes all demonstrate the high level of care and consideration that went into BattleBlock’s design. These things all add up to a game with polish that still stays unique enough to stand out.
Pro Good mix of co-op and PvP multiplayer modes keeps the game enticing
The 2-player co-op campaign is very similar to the single-player one, except that it requires cooperation between the two players. It can be played online or with 2 local players. There is also an arena mode with competitive levels that supports up to 4 players (local, online, or mixed). This gives a good variety of online and local play modes, which should keep the game fresh.
Pro No difficulty spikes, the game is very well balanced
The difficulty curve for Battle Block Theater is so evenly programmed that the player will barely notice things are getting harder. It really does an impressive job of training the player to handle any challenge the game throws at them.
Pro Endless replayability through the level editor and its easily sharable creations
The game has a built-in level editor, and levels (or level packs) can be shared through the Steam Workshop. This makes for a situation where there is an inordinate amount of content for the player to try out, or even create themselves.
Pro Sort of funny but not too much
Light hearted gaming that you can play with your significant other.
Pro Deep weapon customization allows for plenty of choice in how you would like to play
This game features a good weapon customization system. The only downside is that this can lead to a certain level of grindiness – but not too much.
Pro Awesome pixel art by Paul Robertson shows off a very polished game
If you don’t know Paul Robertson, check him out. From Adult Swim animations and dozens of video games to feature films such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Paul Robertson has quite the catalog of really great pixel animations and graphics.
Pro Great game for those who like Metal Slug
Mercenary Kings is the spiritual sequel to Metal Slug: a two-dimensional, pixel-based, side-scrolling action shooter with co-op multiplayer.
Pro Online or local co-op multiplayer, up to 4 players
Mercenary Kings offers local or online co-op for up to four players.
Cons
Con Competitive play feels lackluster
Competitive play is not as enjoyable as the co-op modes due to stiff combat. The mechanics of this wear out pretty quickly.
Con Controls need to be tighter
Pressing down to shoot does not always fire at once, meaning missed opportunities. After a while this can become quite a nuisance.