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XBOX 360- Armored Core 4
By admin | February 29, 2008
There are so many different gaming genres to choose from its ridiculous. Some of them are extremely popular, such as the recent over-the-shoulder 3rd person shooters (Gears of War, Lost Planet, & GRAW), while other games leave players wanting a bit more. The XBOX 360 title “Armored Core 4″, or AC4, could really go either way, depending on each gamer’s overall likes and dislikes. Whether you’re a fan of the AC series or not, there is just something about gigantic robots firing high-tech lasers & missiles that brings a smile to every gamer’s face.
As far as the storyline goes for “Armored Core 4″, it’s pretty much an extension of the series’ overall plot. The planet is in a war ravaged state and has basically come under control of greedy companies. These companies have, in a round about way, turned the worlds population into slaves that must work in order to receive “food & protection”. As soon as unchallenged and ruthless Empire begins forming, it isn’t long before a rebel force rises up and tries to change things for the better. This group of rebels is known as the “Ravens” and they have devoted all of their efforts to the fight against the corporations.
As dramatic and imagination provoking as it sounds, the games actual plot isn’t nearly as fantastic as the background storyline. In AC4, you’re basically a mercenary that is hired by the Ravens. You keep your thoughts to yourself and follow the orders of the people who hired you; if you succeed in your mission(s), you get paid. As you can see, there’s not too much immersion for the player. But luckily, theres more to the game then just the storyline.
Gameplay wise, “Armored Core 4″ is definitely a more delightful and fun filled experience than previous AC titles. This is because the games developers trimmed some of the unneeded fat from the game mechanics. Cutting out some of the more aggravating aspects of the game has made it a far more enjoyable and less irritating experience. Those changes make it easier for players to continue playing, rather than throwing down the controller in disgust.
One of the biggest cuts or, more accurately, redesigns was that of the boost system. In past AC titles, you were given a very limited amount of energy, which dissipated at an outstanding rate each time you engaged your boosters. That feature was dreadfully annoying, as it forced players to slowly walk to the mission objective while their energy recharged. Luckily, the booster redesign has completed fixed that. Rather than using your energy and then awaiting its recharge, you will be able to use the booster at all times. Why? Because regular booster usage does not drain your energy reserves, only vertical and quick boosts do that. Vertical boost needs no explanation, but quick boost is a relatively new feature that players will undoubtedly approve of. Quick boost consumes a small-moderate amount of energy in exchange for an enormous burst of speed. So not only is it great for covering long distances, but it’s perfect for evading incoming fire. The booster system was one of the most hated aspects of past AC games; therefore, these changes will be greatly appreciated.
With a newly designed booster system, it would have been wise to expand on the boundaries of each level/map. Well, that was done as well. “Armored Core 4″ gives the player a lot more freedom in terms of mobility. In past games, players were severely limited to exploration, as you could only go so far and/or go so high. In a manner of speaking, that is no longer the case. There still are boundaries, but they are expanded to the point that it is no longer an issue.
On the downside, AC4’s missions are still horrifically short. One or two short missions isn’t enough to complain about, however, there are far more than just one or two of them. Depending on the players speed, numerous missions can be completed in just under a minute. Not only that, but players will be hard pressed to find any missions that last longer than 5 minutes. It is painfully obvious the missions were done in a quantity-over-quality way (37 missions). Fortunately, that doesn’t mean they are all devoid of entertainment. Even though the missions are quite short, “Armored Core 4″ does surprisingly well when it comes to mixing it up. Besides the obvious “kill everything” missions you will come across, there is a decent amount of diversity thrown into the mix. You will have to destroy experimental weaponry, defend important structures, go one-on-one with deadly mercenaries, explore enemy cities and eliminate key units, etc. So even though the missions are on the short side, you should still get some intense fast paced action.
Too long? Too short? Protect or Destroy? Who cares what the mission is about; it’s the combat that matters most, right? Well, thats simply a matter of opinion; but either way, combat is definitely a big part of “Armored Core 4″. AC4 requires players to play a bit more strategically during combat. Of course, with missions only lasting 5 minutes, how strategic can a player really get? Missions will be designed to the strengths and weaknesses of certain mechs. So if you fail with a certain mech and specific weaponry, you will know what “doesn’t work”. Failing missions, which is inevitable, is not as frustrating as it may seem. It just forces players to take a different approach the next time around. As for the actual combat, its great. It has everything you remember from the old games and so much more. Not familiar with this genre? Thats fine too. Just imagine lasers, missiles, machine guns, buildings collapsing under heavy fire, helicopters, tanks, colossal robots, and giant explosions. Roll that all up into one great big, action packed game, and you get “Armored Core 4″.
Mech customization has always been a part of Armored Core and that remains so in the XBOX 360 title, “Armored Core 4″. Although, it seems that the aspect of customization has been toned down a few notches. In previous AC title, you customarily got a stripped down mech, known as a stock mech, and plenty of cash. With that cash and stock mech, you were free to do whatever you wanted. “Armored Core 4″ has changed that. Now mechs are basically obtained and maintained through schematics. Schematics are pre-built mechs with preset attributes. So instead of taking a bare mech and piecing it together like Lego blocks, you can jump right into the game using one of the games pre-built mechs. Don’t be alarmed, you can still buy and customize your mech to your liking. As you progress through the missions, more advanced weaponry, armor, and upgrades will unlock. This “unlock as you go” aspect makes “equipment” issues easier to understand and less of a hassle in the long run. It is definitely a big change from the old system, but it’s a change that players will ultimately come to like.
Lets face it, the Armored Core series has long awaited a graphics upgrade. “Armored Core 4″ has finally brought that upgrade with impressive visuals as well as excellent sound. Whether it be the smog and gun fire smoke that blocks out the sun or the silhouette created in the moonlight by your booster, the effects are suburb. Plus, the destructible environment is something AC fans have been craving for quite some time. Of course, the graphics aren’t 100% perfect. Your mech’s legs and weapon will occasionally become transparent and travel through buildings and hilly areas. Also, the frame rate tends to slow down dramatically when the action gets too hectic. One of the biggest disappointments is that of enemies disappearing (when defeated that is). As soon as you take down an enemy, the debris will almost instantly disappear. It isn’t a huge issue, but it is always nice to overlook the battlefield and be amazed at the pure carnage your mech caused. Overall, “Armored Core 4″ gets about a B to a B+ in the graphics department.
“Armored Core 4″ is definitely open to interpretation. Although some critics would have you believe this is a bad game due to some of its obvious faults (mission length for example), it really isn’t all that bad. Great graphics and visuals, good sound, solid single player campaign, decent multiplayer capability, and plenty of mech customization. When weighing these different aspects of the game, the good definitely outnumber the bad. If your not convinced, log on to your XBOX 360 live account and download the demo for free. You will be glad you did.
Topics: Armored Core 4 |
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