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Combine the mech elements and handling of Virtual On with the mission-based aspects of Brahma Force and you'll have a game that is strangely similar to Armored Core.Players control large mechanized robots for an organization called the Ravens. The Ravens are a mercenary group who perform missions for large corporations as needed. It's primarily these corporations and the behind-the-scenes political and military jockeying between them that make up the majority of the plot of the game.
Between missions, players are returned to the Raven's Nest where they can fix their mechs, buy new parts (torsos, heads, legs, special items etc.) with the money they've collected for successful sorties. Players can also check rankings, change the textures of the mech and load or save games. Also at the Nest, players receive e-mail from their patrons as well as informants who begin to sketch out the political and corporate intrigue that makes up the plot of the game.
When picking missions, players will usually have a choice of two or three to pick from which provides a fairly non-linear plot as well as offering replay value after you've beaten the game. Missions can range from removing squatters, taking out gun emplacement, taking out rogue security robots, clearing an island or sewers of opposition and more. Some of the missions are indoor (in factories, sewers, etc.) but the really impressive ones (and usually most fun) are those that are outdoor.
Your mech has a variety of weapons to choose from all with limited ammunition (except for the energy sword which is used at close quarters). The key to survival is the well timed use of your ability to run to one side while maintaining vision of your target (or targets as the case may be) which helps you avoid fire, while maintaining a lock. At the same time your mech has a boost system (which recharges itself) that can allow your mech to either make massive leaps or close ground with an opponent in short order. It's this boosting feature that makes the game extraordinarily fun and when in the air, graphically impressive given the depth of the horizon. Controls do take a little getting used to, but after a few hours players will get used to the button layouts.
Graphically the mech is well animated and the explosions and lighting effects are of typical PlayStation quality (that is to say more than adequate, but not mind-blowing). Framerate for the game is usually smooth, especially within the indoor environments.
As if the missions weren't enough, there's also a great versus mode thatsupports both split-screen and the link cable resulting in even more of a Virtual On type of experience.
Bottom Line: All in all, Armored Core is an extremely fun game that should more than satisfy any shooting fan.
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