Content deleted Content added
Added PlayStation Classic release, made minor tweaks |
No edit summary |
||
| (101 intermediate revisions by 44 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Armored Core
| image =
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[FromSoftware]]
| publisher =
| director = Toshifumi Nabeshima
| producer = Yasuyoshi Karasawa
| designer =
| programmer = Hiroyuki Arai<br/>Masayuki Saito
| artist = [[Shōji Kawamori]]
| composer = Keiichiro Segawa<br/>Masaru Tateyama
| series = ''[[Armored Core]]''
| platforms = [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 10, 1997|NA|October 22, 1997<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=1997-10-23 |title=Armored Core |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/10/23/armored-core |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>|EU|June 1, 1998}}
| genre = [[Third-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}
The story introduces many elements that are commonly found in later
Gameplay involves controlling Armored Cores in combat scenarios against other Cores and vehicles. Cores are highly modular, allowing players a great deal of customization over them, such as swapping out different leg units to gain speed advantages. As players complete more missions, they gain credits to purchase different items and parts for their Core. ''Armored Core'' was favorably received by critics, who were especially impressed with its customization and multiplayer.
== Gameplay ==
[[Image:Armored Core PS1 capture.png|thumb|left|''Armored Core''{{'s}} levels are extremely open, forcing the player to look around for enemies that can appear from all directions.]]
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.<ref name=GameRev>{{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]] |
==Plot==
The vast majority of Earth's population is wiped out by a cataclysmic war known as the "Great Destruction
The player begins their career after taking the Raven Test at Ravens' Nest training ground. If successful, the player receives a mail from "R", the Ravens' Nest operator. The player then begins to take missions from the corporations. After every mission, the player can decide to customise their AC. As the player progresses, the missions become increasingly difficult(though they are easy overall). The player can also receive mail from Char, a Murakumo agent. Throughout the game, the two corporations continue their conflict until they both break apart and fall.
The final mission, which is requested by Ravens' Nest itself, is implied to be a trap to kill the player, (presumably because they have become "too powerful", like in [[Armored Core: Master of Arena]]), as the mission involves battling many resistance in the Nest's base, destroying two Nine-Ball units(piloted by the top-ranking Raven Hustler-One, revealed to be an AI), and destroying the Nest system core.
==Development==
The robot designs were created by renowned mecha designer [[Shōji Kawamori]].<ref name=NGen31/> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== Release ==
''Armored Core'' was initially released in
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In North America, the game was re-released on March 24, 2015 for the
''Armored Core''
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 75%<ref name=GR>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196633-armored-core/index.html |title=Armored Core for PlayStation |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |
| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=AllGame/>
| CVG = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{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 |
| Edge = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Armored Core |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=Future plc |issue=53 |date=December 25, 1997}}</ref>
| EGM = 8.25/10<ref name=EGMrev>{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Armored Core |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=103|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=February 1998|page=111}}</ref>
| Fam = 28/40<ref name=Fam>{{cite
| GI = 8.25/10<ref name=GI>{{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=[[
| GameRev = B+<ref name=GameRev/>
| GSpot = 8.3/10<ref name=gspot/>
| IGN = 8/10<ref name=IGN/>
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=
| OPM = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |year=1997}}</ref>
}}
Reviewers praised the gameplay of ''Armored Core'', highlighting the depth of customization options afforded to the player. ''[[Game Revolution
The local multiplayer was positively received, with Radakovic calling it "a sure-fire recipe for intense death matches for the fate of the universe."<ref name=
▲Reviewers praised the gameplay of ''Armored Core'', highlighting the depth of customization options afforded to the player. [[Game Revolution|''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."<ref name="GameRev" /> [[GameSpot|''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".<ref name="gspot" />
A common complaint from reviewers was that the speed of turning
▲The local multiplayer was positively received, with Radakovic calling it "a sure-fire recipe for intense death matches for the fate of the universe."<ref name="GameRev" /> Adam Douglas from ''[[IGN]]'' agreed, referring to the multiplayer as, "The real meat of the game".<ref name="IGN" />
▲A common complaint from reviewers was the speed of turning. Both ''IGN'' and ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' commented on this, with Douglas describing it as his "only complaint".<ref name="IGN" /><ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=January 1998|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|issue=37|page=146}}</ref>
Reviewers both praised and criticized the soundtrack, which was described as being fitting and lacking depending on the source. ''[[Game Informer
▲''Game Revolution's'' Radakovic praised the graphics, writing they were "excellent with a high attention to detail."<ref name="GameRev" /> ''[[AllGame|AllGame's]]'' Shawn Sackenheim agreed with this, describing, "Crisp texture maps with little pixelation and distortion carry visuals to a new level."<ref name=AllGame/> ''Next Generation'' had a different outlook, stating, "while crisp, [they] do lean a little to the bland side".<ref name="NG" /> ''GameSpot's'' Fielder wrote, "Its graphics ... are fitting and workable."<ref name="gspot" />
''Armored Core''
▲Reviewers both praised and criticized the soundtrack, which was described as being fitting and lacking depending on the source. ''[[Game Informer|Game Informer's]]'' consensus was that, "All the sounds are appropriate and the soundtrack is as thumping as it can get."<ref name=GI/> ''Game Revolution's'' 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."<ref name="GameRev" />
The game held a 75% on the [[review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]] at the time of its 2019 closure, based on eight reviews.<ref name=GR/>
▲''Armored Core''<nowiki/>'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".<ref name=GI/> ''IGN's'' Adam Douglas felt that the missions were "pretty straightforward".<ref name="IGN" /> ''Game Revolution's'' 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."<ref name="GameRev" />{{clear}}
==Sequels
''Armored Core'' is the first entry in a [[mecha]] game series [[Armored Core|of the same name]], and spawned many sequels, including ''[[Armored Core: Project Phantasma]]'' and ''[[Armored Core: Master of Arena]]''.<ref name=ignhistory>{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/company_history.html|title=History {{!}} FromSoftware|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":0" /> 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]]''.<ref name=ignhistory/>
==References==
{{
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.armoredcore.net/top/}} {{in lang|ja}}
*
* {{moby game|id=/armored-core}}
{{FromSoftware games}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armored Core (Video Game)}}
[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Armored Core]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Video games about mecha]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:PlayStation
[[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Third-person shooters]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
| |||