Armored Core

From Soft's Armored Core seamlessly blends terrific 'mech combat action with the strategic satisfaction of build n' destroy. Without a doubt, it is the most successful 'mech game ever introduced for the console systems. It is also, unquestionably, one of the strongest Sony published titles for the PlayStation.

If you are a fan of combat videogames (which should represent a sizable portion of the world's population), you owe it to yourself to give Armored Core a looksee. You will not be disappointed.

Battle Scars

In Armored Core's post-apocalyptic future, corporations, born and bred through technological dominance, exist as the only form of sovereignty. Companies wage wars against each other in their quest to gain monopolistic control of the world's resources.

Across the ravaged cityscapes of the planet, huge, technologically advanced bipedal craft, called Armored Core, are employed to complete missions of a delicate nature - protect the technology and the architecture but eradicate the resistance.

In this financially savage climate, a skilled group of mercenaries called The Ravens, is formed to carry out these missions with discretion and efficiency. Unbelievably adept at piloting the Armored Core, The Ravens become proficient at earning money for new equipment through their inability to place bias on their employers. The Ravens will work for anyone if the price is right.

This rootless climate might not carry the same weight as the Clan dominated world of MechWarrior 2 but what it instills in the missions of Armored Core is a refreshing never-know-what-you're-gonna-get randomness.

Pack A Lunch, This One's Deep

In total, there are more than 45 missions in Armored Core. The variety of objectives in these missions will keep you on your toes but the sheer number of expertly crafted locations you will visit, will knock you out.

Cityscapes that wouldn't seem out of place in a Namco racing game, are united with offshore battle stations loaded with high powered gun placements. One minute you're in a tunnel trying to save a hijacked tanker truck, which is carrying enough poison nerve gas to wipe out a generation, then, in the next, you're chasing an enemy Core through an underground parking lot, which is crowded with vehicles in constant peril of being squashed by your enormous metal feet. You'll be asked to pinpoint robotic targets that are defiantly snickering beside highly combustible power generators (avoid shooting the generators - trust me). And every once in a while you'll be asked to square up against another Core in a testing facility - 'mecho y 'mecho - just to analyze that Core's combat ability.

As you complete your missions, you will be given an Income and Expense report, which totals up your bounty and adjusts it against the cost of repairing the damage you've sustained, as well as the replenishment of the ammunition that you've consumed. Other expenses, like the cost of repairing innocent vehicles or structures, also comes off of your fee. So, if you want to start shopping in the right shops, you'll learn to be awfully careful with your aim.

Once you have started to accumulate a little wealth, you can hit the Core store and start customizing your combat craft to suit your fancy. New legs, arms or weapons are all yours for the buying. In all, there are more than 300,000 different weapon and armor combinations for your discovery. You can also upgrade the root of your Core (the torso), which is where you're sitting when you're piloting this enormous creature. Remember, the more powerful the Core, the longer you can stay out and play.

After you've connected all of the right parts together, you can then take your Core into the paint shop and go crazy with the colors. You can even design your own logo for your Core, or choose one from the myriad samples.

The best part about all of the customizable freedom in Armored Core is the fact that you can save your handy work to a memory card and continue on your missions, or even battle a friend, with your best beast.

The versus mode is a whole new treat unto itself. Imagine Twisted Metal with towering customizable robots, with enough firepower to shoot down the Death Star, and you'll have a pretty good idea of how cool this game is. And Armored Core even supports the link cable, so you can have full screen death matches!!!

Finger Friendly

To From Soft's credit, as loaded with strategic build options as Armored Core is, it really does play as fast and furious as a Twisted Metal. And in the one player missions mode, it kinda resembles the authority and irresistible gameplay of a ground based Ace Combat 2.

Control of the Armored Core vehicles is absolutely painless. These craft may be lumbering gigantors, but they sure have a pep in their step. Equipped with booster rockets and the ability to slide back and forth (while continuing to target enemies), you'll find the mobility of the Core incredibly satisfying. It'll take a few missions to acclimate yourself with the speed and athleticism of your vehicle but once you have a feel for it, you should start to get off on the thrill of quasi-invincibility (careful though, mortality has a way of sneaking up on you quick in Armored Core).

My only small quibble with the control in Armored Core is that there was no support for the Dual Analog Controller. Having to use the D-Pad and L2/R2 buttons to move and look around is definitely not as intriguing as the potential to use the left and right analog sticks simultaneously. Oh well, maybe in Armored Core 2?

Beautiful Booms

A game with as much to offer as Armored Core doesn't necessarily have to deliver the goods in the visuals department to be a thoroughly compelling distraction. The much less attractive, MechWarrior 2, was a great playing game despite its mediocre graphics. Well, part of the reason Armored Core is such a shocker is the fact that its graphics are so amazing.

Even though the game is loaded to the brim with features and extras, From Soft made sure that the eye candy on display in Armored Core would be enough to steal anyone's attention. These are highly competitive days for PlayStation, after all.

Armored Core jockeys should be prepared to be blinded by exceptional lightsourced explosions; stunned by wonderfully textured city streets and underground science labs; and absolutely blown away by the larger-than-the-screen blasts that occur every now and again - after you've mistakenly shot something you shouldn't have.

Smaller vehicles skitter around you, while experienced Core pilots teach you a lesson in humility as they show off up above, behind you and right in your face. Everywhere you look in Armored Core, there is nuance and refinement. The environments are convincing, the weapons blasts are overpowering and the animation of the various transportation is perfect. I absolutely loved being able to take tremendous leaps up into the sky and look down to target my miniature enemies on the ground far below. Bye-bye pipsqueaks!!!!

Armored Core is a magnificent game to look at, make sure you have a television screen worthy of this mayhem.

Sound Investment

Complimenting the rock solid gameplay and graphics of Armored Core is a soundtrack of equal caliber. The techno music that kicks things off is entirely appropriate. Coupled with the superb intro movie and multi-screened demo of the game, the complete presentation should inspire anyone within the vicinity to give Armored Core a go.

In-game music is kept to a minimum, as the sound of clanking, kick-ass combat is brought to the forefront. You'll want to crank up the volume on the oversized footsteps, laser rifle blasts, explosions and assorted whirring, buzzing and beeping sounds of a futuristic society snagged in the savagery of mechanized war. This is immersive videogame audio if ever there were some. Test your speakers and wake the neighbors.

The Best Of The Bunch

In case you haven't guessed by now, I was thoroughly taken by Armored Core. It is a game one (or preferably, two) could devote a good chunk of their life to. Of all the vehicular combat console games I have played in 1997, only Psygnosis' Colony Wars and Namco's Ace Combat 2 could stand side by side in comparison to this game - and neither of those two titles offers a two player mode. This should tell you something about the level of quality I'm talking about.

From Software has come out of nowhere (well, Japan actually) to introduce a genre defining videogame. I've had a hell of good time playing Armored Core and I strongly encourage you to do the same.

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