If you owned a PlayStation back in 1997, you may have heard the name Armored Core mentioned by particular niche circles, and for very good reason. Developed by From Software, Armored Core was a decent mech simulator that attempted to balance the grit of western mech titles such as Mechwarrior with the panache of eastern titles such as Gundam.
The story is based after a near apocalyptic war known as the “Great Destruction” which has forced the remaining human population underground. The current system of order involves a rough and rumble conflict between underground cities run by two self-contained corporatocracies, Chrome and Murakumo Millennium. Your character is part of the mercenary group Raven’s nest, an impartial organisation whose members take on any job for the right price with the use of Armored Cores, the titular mechs of the game.
One of the unique features of this game that was fairly original for the time was its garage system, which allowed you to design your very own mech. The parts available to begin with are basic but through earning money by completing contracts from organisations (missions in game) you will be able to upgrade your machine by purchasing new parts.
The garage allows you to customise what type of Armored Core (AC) you wish to pilot. This allows you to customise the shape, armament and specs of the machine. You can choose from head, core (body), arms and legs parts, each with its own strength and weaknesses. Some parts drain energy more than others while some have altering armour points which determine the AC’s endurance. Other variables such as the type of generator, Fire Control System and Boosters determine the AC’s speed, ability to lock on and energy supply for your machine.
The game allows you to take on different missions (sorties) from different organisations or entities, and each includes payment upon completion. While mission selection is varied to begin with, the choice of available missions begins to alter, depending on the player’s preference in clients. This adds replay value to the game and encourages players to discover new missions with alternative organisations.
While the gameplay is very solid, there are certain elements that are slightly amiss. The physics in the game can be suspect and in places very broken. For example, while heavy ACs cannot jump as high as lighter ACs, they still seem to be able to boost around as fast as their lighter counterparts. Certain parts are so ineffectual that there is little use for them, even in favourable situations. In addition to this weapons such as the Karasawa are so overpowered that it renders the game very easy. While these are things to take note of, the overall AC customisation mechanic is still pretty well implemented and still adds a unique dimension to how each mission is played.
Despite a few shortcomings, Armored Core is a solid title from PlayStation era, which delivered a fresh concept at the time. This title should not go unnoticed.
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