Mercenaries storms factory

LucasArts today announced that Mercenaries has gone gold and will reach retail stores January 11 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The third-person shooter is being developed by Pandemic Studios, the force behind Full Spectrum Warrior and Star Wars: Battlefront.

Mercenaries lets gamers fill the combat boots of a hired soldier as he uses any means necessary to complete mission objectives. Players will choose either a British secret agent, a Swedish bounty hunter, or an American ex-soldier. The merc is hired by a private company to track down 52 wanted fugitives on the lam in North Korea before they initiate a nuclear attack.

The freeform gameplay allows gamers to choose different missions, assigned by various factions, that let players unearth riches, explore interactive and destructible environments, and hijack a plethora of vehicles, including jeeps, helicopters, and tanks.

Mercenaries is rated "T" for Teen and carries an MSRP of $49.99. For more information on Mercenaries, check out our recent hands-on.