Armored Core (video game)

Image:Armored Core PS1 capture.png

In single-player, players choose missions to engage enemies and earn credits.{{cite web |last=Sackenheim |first=Shawn |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2019&tab=review |title=Armored Core - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114210110/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2019&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 14, 2018}} Within missions, the player navigates levels built on different kinds of terrain, ranging from desert bases to space stations.{{cite web |last=Fielder |first=Joe |date=November 7, 1997 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armored-core-review/1900-2546613/ |title=Armored Core Review [date mislabeled as "May 9, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 14, 2018}} Levels are extremely open, forcing the player to look around for enemies that can appear from all directions. Like many shooters, the primary weapon types available for use are guns, rocket launchers, lasers, missiles, and swords which can be customized at will based on player purchases. Ammunition and repair costs are deducted from mission rewards, and mission failure still penalizes the player with these deductions.{{cite web |last=Douglas |first=Adam |date=October 22, 1997 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/10/23/armored-core |title=Armored Core |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=December 14, 2018}} The player is responsible for purchasing their weapons and AC parts, and must use the money they earn from missions to that end.{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core: Some Hardcore Mechanized Action |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=99 |publisher=Ziff Davis|date=October 1997|page=172}}

As the player progresses through missions, the pay increases, but choosing specific missions can lock others down, creating a branching path through the story that can be noticeably different on subsequent play sessions.{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Clint |date=November 4, 1997 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33853-armored-core-review |title=Armored Core Review |website=Game Revolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018210828/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/armored-core |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2018}}{{cite magazine |title=NG Alphas: Armored Core |magazine=Next Generation|issue=31|publisher=Imagine Media |date=July 1997|pages=78–79 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_31/page/n79}}

The game has a two-player versus mode using a split screen{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core |magazine=GamePro|issue=107 |publisher=IDG|date=August 1997|page=60}} or the PlayStation Link Cable.{{cite magazine |title=Letters |magazine=Next Generation|issue=39 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=March 1998|page=125}}

The vast majority of Earth's population is wiped out by a cataclysmic war known as the "Great Destruction". The harsh conditions that result force the few remaining survivors to live underground for fifty years, during which time corporations come to power. The two largest corporations, Chrome and Murakumo Millennium, constantly battle each other for supremacy, causing significant strife among the populace. However, the competition provides endless opportunities for mercenaries called Ravens, who exist independently of the corporations. The player is a Raven and pilots an Armored Core, powerful mecha robots that fight for the highest bidder.

The robot designs were created by renowned mecha designer Shōji Kawamori. Kawamori was approached before the PlayStation's launch and during this time, the concept of a player-designed modular mecha was one of the game's only set ideas. Kawamori thought that too much player freedom would hinder the team's ability to form a unique visual identity for the game, so he proposed the concept of "armored cores," a system in which the modularity revolved around changes around a core block containing the cockpit, engine, and joint connectors for the limbs and so on. FromSoftware adopted this as the official concept for the mecha and the name of the game.{{cite web|last=Barder|first=Ollie|title=Shoji Kawamori, The Creator Hollywood Copies But Never Credits|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/12/10/shoji-kawamori-the-creator-hollywood-copies-but-never-credits/|website=Forbes|access-date=September 21, 2022}}

Armored Core was initially released in Japan for the Sony PlayStation on July 10, 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=004|title=Armored Core {{!}} FromSoftware|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=2020-02-02}} FromSoftware partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment and released a North American version on October 25 the same year, while a European version was released on June 1, 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/armored-core/release-info|title=Armored Core (1997) PlayStation release dates|website=MobyGames|access-date=2020-02-01}}

As a part of Sony's PSone Classics banner, Armored Core was re-released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 (and later the PlayStation Vita) on July 26, 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://store.playstation.com/ja-jp/product/JP0506-NPJJ00068_00-0000000000000001 |title=ARMORED CORE|website=PlayStation™Store|access-date=2020-02-01}} In North America, the game was re-released on March 24, 2015 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita.{{Cite web|url=https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-NPUJ94182_00-0000000000000001|title=Armored Core (PS One Classic)|website=PlayStation™Store|access-date=2020-02-01}}

Armored Core became a title for the Japanese release of the PlayStation Classic on December 3, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/japan-playstation-classic-full-game-lineup-a-lot-better-than-us-europe-parasite-eve|title=Japan's PlayStation Classic Full Game Lineup Is A Lot Better Than Ours|last=McCarthy|first=Caty|date=2018-10-29|website=USgamer|language=en|access-date=2020-03-28|archive-date=2019-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514040835/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/japan-playstation-classic-full-game-lineup-a-lot-better-than-us-europe-parasite-eve|url-status=dead}} The game has not been released on PlayStation Classic consoles in other regions.

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 75%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196633-armored-core/index.html |title=Armored Core for PlayStation |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 14, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209001138/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196633-armored-core/index.html |archivedate=December 9, 2019}}

| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| CVG = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Randell |first=Kim |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8222 |title=PlayStation Review: Armoured Core |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=Future plc |year=1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610115133/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8222 |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 14, 2018}}

| Edge = 7/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Armored Core |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issue=53 |date=December 25, 1997}}

| EGM = 8.25/10{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Armored Core |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=103|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=February 1998|page=111}}

| Fam = 28/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=970 |title=アーマード・コア [PS] |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=December 14, 2018}}

| GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine |last1=Storm |first1=Jon |last2=Reiner |first2=Andrew |last3=McNamara |first3=Andy |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/acore.html |title=Armored Core |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=55 |date=November 1997 |page=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980121111907/http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/acore.html |archive-date=January 21, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 14, 2018}}

| GameRev = B+

| GSpot = 8.3/10

| IGN = 8/10

| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}

| OPM = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |year=1997}}

}}

Reviewers praised the gameplay of Armored Core, highlighting the depth of customization options afforded to the player. Game Revolution{{'}}s Nebojsa Radakovic wrote, "A ballpark figure for possible combinations is in the very high millions," and added, "The variety of weapons is also a definite plus." GameSpot{{'}}s Joe Fielder similarly praised the depth of options available, stating, "Almost as charming as the gameplay are the upgradable options for the mech". Kraig Kujawa of Electronic Gaming Monthly felt the amount of customization was the best aspect of the game. GamePro attested that "robot mechanics will have a great time shopping through the detailed onscreen catalogs and fine-tuning their killing machines."{{cite magazine |author=Atomic Dawg |title=PlayStation ProReview: Armored Core|magazine=GamePro |issue=112 |publisher=IDG |date=January 1998|page=92}}

The local multiplayer was positively received, with Radakovic calling it "a sure-fire recipe for intense death matches for the fate of the universe." Adam Douglas from IGN agreed, referring to the multiplayer as "The real meat of the game". Next Generation noted the immense size and great variety of the multiplayer arenas.

A common complaint from reviewers was that the speed of turning is too slow. IGN, Next Generation, and GamePro all commented on this, with Douglas describing it as his "only complaint".{{cite magazine|date=January 1998 |title=Finals |magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=37|page=146}}

Radakovic praised the graphics, writing they were "excellent with a high attention to detail." AllGame{{'}}s Shawn Sackenheim agreed with this, describing, "Crisp texture maps with little pixelation and distortion carry visuals to a new level." Next Generation had a different outlook, stating, "while crisp, [they] do lean a little to the bland side". Fielder wrote, "Its graphics ... are fitting and workable."

Reviewers both praised and criticized the soundtrack, which was described as being fitting and lacking depending on the source. Game Informer{{'}}s consensus was that, "All the sounds are appropriate and the soundtrack is as thumping as it can get." Radakovic disagreed, writing, "there is little to no background music in the game; so mostly all you hear is the sound of gunfire and metallic footsteps." GamePro commented, "The effects are the stars of the audio show with great blasts and clanking metal body parts. The fusion music tries hard but quickly gets repetitive."

Armored Core{{'}}s story was criticized as unoriginal and underdeveloped, while some reviewers also commented on the length of the campaign. Game Informer's Andy McNamara stated, "If you're looking for something with plot, you aren't going to find it here". Douglas felt that the missions were "pretty straightforward". Radakovic wrote that the developers "don’t get an award for plot originality" and mentioned that he felt the campaign was too short, saying, "50 missions may sound like a lot, but they can go by pretty quickly if you know what you’re doing." However, most critics felt that the inclusion of a story campaign with sophisticated missions put Armored Core a cut above its contemporary Virtual On: Cyber Troopers, which contains only small-scale mech vs. mech fights. Kujawa even found that the increasing difficulty of the missions can force the player to adapt their play style as well as upgrading their mech.

The game held a 75% on the review aggregation website GameRankings at the time of its 2019 closure, based on eight reviews.

Armored Core is the first entry in a mecha game series of the same name, and spawned many sequels, including Armored Core: Project Phantasma and Armored Core: Master of Arena.{{cite web|last=Ciolek|first=Todd |title=The History of From Software|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|website=IGN|date=16 March 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2017|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318103835/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|archive-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The making of Armored Core solidified FromSoftware's development skills, and in July 1999, they released the multiplayer action game Frame Gride for the Sega Dreamcast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/company_history.html|title=History {{!}} FromSoftware|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=2020-04-08}} The company's focus would shift from RPGs to mech games due in part to the success of the Armored Core series. In 2002, FromSoftware released the mech action game Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit for the Xbox. In 2004, they released another Xbox title, Metal Wolf Chaos. In 2005, FromSoftware started to produce a series of licensed games based on various mecha-based anime properties under the banner Another Century's Episode.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.armoredcore.net/top/}} {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=004 Armored Core] at FromSoftware
• {{moby game|id=/armored-core}}

{{FromSoftware games}}

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Category:1997 video games

Category:Armored Core

Category:Fiction about corporate warfare

Category:Video games about mecha

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:PlayStation (console)-only games

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games

Category:Third-person shooters

Category:Video games developed in Japan