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Platform: Playstation 2 |
Developer: From Software |
Publisher: Agetec |
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Genre: Action |
ETA: June 2002 |
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Armored
Core 3 Of
all the different games out there that involve giant robots one could
probably make a very strong argument that the Armored Core series has
some of the most rabid, dedicated, die hard fans out there, yes, even
more ravenous and tenacious in their love for their series than the
every growing legions of Gundam followers.
While most every mecha game out there has chosen to focus either on
playing like a very simulation-oriented experience, or have gone to the
complete opposite side of the spectrum and embraced a highly
arcade-styled sensibility, Armored Core has more or less succeeded in
gingerly walking the fine line between the fast-paced, frenetic action
of an arcade game, and the component customizing, systems-monitoring,
aspects of the mecha combat sims.
Now From Software is in the final stages of preparing the third
full installment in the series to hit the Playstation 2, not to be
confused with Armored Core 2: Another Age, which was for the most part
Armored Core 2.5. Like
any popular series, don’t expect huge, sweeping changes in how the
game plays. There will be a
good amount of elements from past editions with a few new options
thrown in. As usual there
will be a vast number of missions that must be completed presented in a branching order, with different missions making
themselves available depending on past missions that you chose.
Again players will work as a Raven, a hired mercenary who
contracts out their services to the major corporations and the
government, doing the dirty work that these factions don’t want to be
caught doing themselves. No mention has been made of an arena mode and its one-on-one gladiatorial
combat, but since it is a
staple of the series there’s really no reason to believe that it would
somehow be absent from this installment.
Customizing will be back in full force as well, allowing players
to tweak their AC six ways to Sunday should they so choose.
There are a reportedly over 200 parts with about 10 billion
possible combinations.
While
these now staple features of the Armored Core series are being
included in the game, there are also a number of additions being made to
the game to hopefully help spice things up a bit.
Firstly there are the Wingmen.
These chaps and chap-ettes are also Ravens who you can pay to
join you on missions when strength in numbers proves necessary.
There isn’t any mention as to how much control players will
have over these comrades in arms, but one would expect to be able to
bark out basic orders to them like asking for cover fire or
concentrating attacks on a specified target. To not include things like this would be unforgivable.
Other interesting additions are coming to the equipment and
customization. First there
will be additional areas to mount weapons on the forearms, and on the
shoulder joint of some of the ACs. Even the
basic act of selecting parts is being made more intuitive as they try
and allow players to have a better idea of what a part does and how it
will affect the performance of their AC before equipping it.
Hopefully this will drastically cut down on instances of buying a
pricey weapon, then find out it’s not nearly what you wanted or
expected. There is one new
type of part being added to the roster that is of particular interest.
It acts as an orbital piece around the AC, floating in the air as
opposed to actually being attached to it, performing offensive or
defensive functions depending on the type equipped.
While this obviously has no effect on your carrying capacity
since it isn’t attached to the AC, it wouldn’t be surprising if its
energy consumption were considerable instead.
But the kicker for fine tuning tweaks being made to the gameplay
in Armored Core 3 has to be the ability to drop weapons and other
equipment during battle in order to improve AC performance in terms of
speed and heat management.
This could prove invaluable in longer missions when players have
exhausted their missiles and have taken a fair bit of damage.
You might as well drop the missile launcher since it’s just
weighing you down anyway. Perhaps
it will increase your speed enough to make some crucial, life-saving
dodges. What I want to know
is whether or not you get the dropped items back at the end of the
mission, or will it be deducted as an expense and I’ll also be
required to buy a new one. The
narrative of the game takes place well after the events of Armored Core
2 with the focus shifting away from Mars and back to the Earth.
It’ll be the usual political intrigue as large corporations
battle for dominance of the planet and the members of Raven are more
than willing to take advantage of this to make a fast buck.
It sounds like more of the same when you look at the stories in
all of the other Armored Core games, but at least From Software has
given players some decent stories that, while not award winning, prove
entertaining. Hopefully the
story in this game will prove different enough from the previous games
so to not feel redundant. For
those wanting to face off with friends there will be multiplayer options
present as well in the game. Armored
Core 3 will support four player matches with the help of the I-Link cable
so that two TVs and two PS2s are used with two people per setup, but
lets face it, hardly anyone will use that function.
It’s the two-player mode that will receive the most multiplayer
attention. Whatever the
case, players will have the option of cooperative or competitive play,
either teaming up to face off against a particularly tough computer
controlled opponent or locking horns in a frantic free for all.
Looking
at the screenshots it definitely appears that the game will be getting a
facelift in this installment. Also, for those who bought a PS2 and are still wondering where
all of the Dolby Surround Sound encoded games are, Armored Core 3 is
slated to have this included. While
this is only mentioned for the Japanese version of the game, hopefully
it will remain intact for the North American release, unlike some titles
that drop the option during the localization process. Those
interested in this game needn’t keep their fingers crossed really hard
and hope that it gets released in North America, as Agetec has already
announced that they will be bringing it here.
Expect to see it hit store shelves this summer. - Mr. Nash
Review: Zone of the Enders (Playstation 2)
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