Armored core 4

I'd like to say I never understood the thrill about mechs but suddenly a childhood memory of watching power rangers rises from the depths and I have a second look at a lot of the anime I've been watching, so I'll say instead that I don't understand some mecha merchandise. For example, the Gundams, I can't get into the games or the anime. It just seems too daft.
But with Armored Core 4 it all made sense!

This is the first time I've played a Armored Core since they seem to of flown under my radar. This one only grabbed my attention because of a free demo of it on PSN.

I didn't really get the story of it that well, but basically your a pilot of a armored core who works for a type of manufacturer of cores and a mercenary company. You sent on missions...or rather dropped on missions that generally involve wiping out a terrorist units under the guidance or the voice of the never seen female CO. Until something happens which sparks off a war between the big companies including yours. Each mission has a certain story to it which your CO tells. They're not always deep but decent enough.
I'm sure there's a lot more it than this but as I said a lot of it I didn't get. According to AC fans, From Software handed the English dubbing to a different company to the one used in previous titles who went on to mess it up.

Playing the missions and controlling your core is IMHO fantastic. It's easy fairly simply to handle, and fells and acts like how you'd imagine a mecha to be. It's very satisfying skimming across plains, water, ice and deserts with your boosters on or having a mid air battle which is rather difficult. Some battles are simply destroy every thing that moves which all your need is firepower while some, mainly the ones when your versus other cores, require you to step back and think of away to out maneuver your opponent.

But your only as good as your core which you build and customise when out of missions with the money you earn from missions and parts you unlock various ways.
Now this is where you'll really get into the game. the possibilities are quite frankly endless. not only is there plenty of parts and weapons to choose from but you can also finely tune your machine so that it handles how you want. So you can create a craft that works perfectly with your fighting style...or build several to fit different types of battles, ie close-quarters slice and dice, sniping, speedy air battle, etc. But wait, that's not all! Your can also paint your craft, with great detail then slap an emblem on it's shoulder. You'll spend the majority of the majority of the game work on improving your mech or in a test battle or in a VR sort of, story less battle vs the other pilot for money and parts, which isn't a bad thing if your having fun, right?


{ Pic is from Google. My mech was fair better. no pic of it because I've traded in the game }

I was pretty impressed with the graphics. I can't really say much else about them.

I gave the multi player a quick sample test. It seem a bit lacking but decent enough to put your AC against a friends to see who builds the best. Online didn't seem to be working by the time I got this game but on some fan sites they still set up matches.

Overall AC4 is a solid game whose only possible handicap is the need for more missions and maybe longer missions as well. Then again AC4 does have a certain replay value of trying to unlock all the parts and get more money via hard mode which doesn't just make the bad guy stronger but also change the scenario of most of the missions.
It's made a fan out of me and I'm looking forward to Armored Core: For Answers

Good shooting all.

~ L ~