Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Armored Core 3

Written by Chris Reiter on February 28, 2002

First Impressions: A raven is a black bird. A Raven is a robot on the warpath.

Heavy robot combat is at its best when you've got the right balance of parts, the sharpest appearance for your mech, and even a slick nick name to tack on to your own creation. That's what the Armored Core series has always been about: heavy metal combat. Armored Core 3 is the continuation of the long lived series that grew from the early PlayStation days, and has since moved onto the PlayStation 2 with tons more features, amazing graphics, and as always, replay that sets the standards and continues to redefine them.

Sometime in the too distant future, large corporations have tried to topple one another to take control of the surface world that they inhabit. Against one another, these corporations hire large robot warrior mercenaries called Ravens to sabotage, or even retaliate against these companies. You are that Raven. And you, yet again, will need to take on hundreds of missions, earn money, and buy new parts for your mechanical creations in where new businesses have returned to Earth and once again want to buy your services to destroy the others. Ready?

Essentially, the main plot is based on that theme, as now in this game, there will be some new story twists. Kanrisha, a super power and controller opposed to each of the individual corporations, and also the supplier of the Global Cortex -- the new Raven's Nest -- is now being targeted for destruction, with your help of course. Each of the warring mega powers stand up against one another, and the game missions and story develop as you maintain your Core (your giant robot) and receive cash for aiding these ego-generated factions.

Not much will change from a gameplay standpoint. In time, it is hoped that From Software may one day decide to make anew, and shift gears around so that the Armored Core series will for once have both analog control and robots that are capable of moving more easily. But, instead of changing the controls around -- which aren't that bad once you get used to them, From Software is including a brand new four player multiplayer feature. Unlike all the other games before Armored Core 3 were you only ever able to battle against a friend head to head with only just a friend. Now, you can add two more people to the list. There are also rumors that Armored Core 3 will inhabit in it online support for Sony's modem, for up to four players. Hopefully, these rumors are correct.

Within the one-player mission modes, there is yet again redefinition to be included. Another fresh feature will be that now, during missions, you can actually take either another Core partner or a squadron of wingmen into battle, both of which will be controlled by the computer AI and are able to give the player tons of support during the tougher missions of the game. To add to that the bulky list of new parts is ever growing. And one part in particular should come in handy. Amongst the scroll of available parts, you can now add ones that hover outside your armored body, which of course don't add weight to the mech. These floating devices, called Exceed Orbits, will be used for various offensive maneuvers.

Again, Armored Core 3 will follow the rule of "if you've got too much on your Core, it won't be able to move." With that said, customization and overall key balance is a necessary fraction of the Armored Core gameplay, and so it will be in the third title as well. For example, if you were to buy a gun and attach it to the robot's arm, but the legs can only support a certain amount, where if everything that's over the torso is too heavy, then you've got to choose parts that cooperate with one another. Since there are so many varieties of weapons, limbs, legs, inside and outside parts to choose from, it will be almost as tough building your robot as it is trying to finish the game. From hundreds of parts, you'll get weapons like a flamethrower, machine guns, missile launchers, slug cannons, rifles, not to mention items like generators, head pieces, radar parts, and even a laser sword that'll keep just about any mech fan busy for a lifetime.

The third's graphics will come as ante upped as they always do, with the sharpest of visuals you will ever see in a game where robots go head to head in mechanical death. The immense size of the Cores with wealthy details on each weapon, and body parts, and the way these machines react to the world around them will all look amazing. To name a few examples, you'll see realistic shadowing effects, explosive effects, and even little treats like the way the weapons highlight the area with smoke attributes that loom soon after impact. In new areas to explore such as swamplands and overbearing jungles, the anticipation for the third's visuals should be enough to make any fan of the series slobber.