Armored Core 4

“Always two there are, no more, no less: a master and an apprentice.”

If Yoda’s words are true, then Armored Core 1 would be the master, and Armored Core 4 would be the apprentice. It’s strong, ambitious, and won’t go down without a fight. But as the fourth official sequel and the first next-gen offering, its status should be a little greater than Padawan Learner.

Having said that, the game does continue its legacy of being the most aggressive series in the genre. Mechs are nearly as big as the screen and can form explosions that extend well past your viewable area. The sound is noticeably improved, merging the clanks and clunks of large machinery with the intensity war-torn cities. Individually the graphic elements are a mixed bag. But when you’re flying high in your mech – when you view the environment as one giant city – it’s hard not be taken away by the game’s beauty.

No Biz Like Armor Biz

AC4 nails the element of realistic functionality and mechanics. If real mechs existed, it’d be hard to imagine a control scheme that differed from what this game (and for the most part, the entire series) displays.

The game begins with the selection of one mech, each of which has been given one of three ratings: easy, medium, or difficult. The rating is based on the mech’s functionality. A well-balanced mech is deemed “easy,” while a hefty, slow-moving, tank-like mech is considered “difficult.”

Next comes a tutorial that’s a lot quicker and less painful you’d expect, followed by a story sequence that’s confusing and not all that interesting. The CG intro (that runs when the game first loads) is far more entertaining.

Once that has been taken care of, it’s off to the mission selection screen. Four trials are listed along with their time limit information and potential reward (credits). Credits are needed to purchase upgrades. There aren’t many opportunities to raise funds beyond what the game intends, preventing players from cheapening the difficulty by prematurely raising their stats (as you would in an RPG). However, if you’re really desperate – and a very skilled player – you may re-play certain missions with a harder difficulty setting. The reward is much higher than before, and the enemies are several times stronger.

Coming soon: a new ingredient for Cooking Mama – Armor Hammer Baking Soda.

Everyone expects a game to have highs and lows. AC4 gives new meaning to those words. With a jet propulsion system intact, players can thrust toward and away from their enemies. That’s old news, and was pretty much standard for mech games on PSone and PS2. The game steps toward evolution by broadening the amount of air that can be gained. Levels are still limited by a mission area – stay within its radius or an annoying message will play, warning you to get back inside. Fail to do so and the mission is failed by default.

There are some things you can do without limitations, like flying above the tallest building. Land on top and pick off enemies from several hundred feet away. It’s awesome and it looks amazing. In the more populated stages, you’ll see dozens (if not hundreds) of buildings, each containing several points that are sensitive to damage. The ground is also vulnerable to attack, while dirt, sand, and water leave behind a temporary trail of destruction. Water is the most interesting, with its strong surface textures and eye-catching splashes. The sand effects look great from afar. Missiles create giant holes of realistic damage. However, that realism is somewhat lost when you get up close. The environment tends to heal itself, and if the camera is positioned just right, you might be able to see through the hole for a second or two.

 
"If I were staring down the barrel of a gun I'd pretty much be being everywhere."—Chandler Bing

Core Customs

AC4's customization features do not stray from the PS2 prequels. However, it is not as necessary as it was in the strategy-oriented PSP edition. It's possible to play through several missions without needing a single upgrade.

The act of trading credits for new parts is simple. Players can access their mech's organs at the garage, which is accessible in between missions. From there you may view the entire list of weapons, part replacements, and other attachments (boosters, internal computers, etc.). Select the ones you want and exit. Assuming you have enough credits to pay for the desired items, the game will automatically purchase and equip your new pieces.

By changing the head, core, arms, legs, or generator, your mech's attack, defense, weight, and PA /AP (shield and armor types) may increase or decrease. It's almost impossible to form the perfect mech – one that's very strong and very quick. But those who like to customize will have a chance to tweak their mechs in several dozen ways.

For further enhancement, examine the mech's tuning option. It's set to auto by default, but that shouldn't keep you from using this great feature. FRS Memory – the currency won for completing the final mission of each chapter – is used to enhance your PA, attack power, mobility, steadiness, and other attributes. Unlike the other upgrades, where you're exchanging one part for another, FRS Memory does not have a negative effect. The only downside is the cost. You'll spend a lot and gain very little. But the upgrades add up over time. They're invaluable to your success in the later missions.

Gameplay: 8.0
Armored Core 4 is not a huge leap over its predecessors but still entertains as one of the more intense and exciting mech titles available. The controls are stiff but great (in a realistic sort of way – you know, if mechs really walked the Earth). Players will be engaged as they jump from mission to mission, taking on countless drones, powerful adversaries, and numerous computer-powered cannons that'll tear away at your armor.

Graphics: 7.5
Part of me loves the graphics. The lighting, textures, and especially the mechs – not only are they well designed, but are also packed with polygons. Their detail, from many camera angles under several lighting conditions, is not to be missed.

I'm also impressed by the particle effects in the desert stages, and how the game appears to be so much bigger than it is.

However, I am not in the least bit impressed by the fact that, when you get up close to a building, most of them appear no more detailed than a plain box coated in highly reflective paint. The explosions are cool but have no depth. Circle around and the colors stay in place (they should look different from all angles). I'm also disappointed that, despite not using every asset the PS3 has to offer, slowdown occurs as the action increases. If this game were the most beautiful creation in existence, there might be an excuse for some slowdown. But as a title that only looks a few steps above the PS2 era, there is no excuse. By not using every ounce of the PS3's power, there should have been plenty of strength left to push a fast and steady frame rate.

Sound: 8.0
Good music, top-notch sound. From the thrusts of a charging mech as it takes flight to the resounding boom as it crashes back down to Earth, AC4 rocks.

Difficulty: Medium
Missions start out easy but become difficult by the end of the second chapter. The mech tweaking aspect is deep without being too involved. Every positive adjustment (attack, defense, etc.) has the potential to add weight to your mech, changing the way it handles.

Concept: 7.5
A graphically-enhanced, arcade-driven sequel. There aren't many gameplay surprises to unearth, and the story is ridiculous and boring.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Armored Core 4 takes the mobile suit carnage online for multiplayer mayhem encompassing eight simultaneous participants. System link play is available, as well as the weirdest split-screen mode I've ever seen. The mode is heavily letterboxed (can't call this widescreen), giving both players a very small viewable area.

Overall: 7.9
Armored Core 4 isn't a must-buy for everyone, but its combat and tenacious missions create a journey worth taking. The challenge increases with almost every mission – the norm for developer From Software but not for the genre. This isn't the longest game; some missions were designed to last no more than a few minutes. But if you love mech combat and crave its action in next-gen form, you'll find hours of entertainment and weeks of replay value in Armored Core 4.