Armored Core 2

"Mechs me want to play more"

The Armored Core series is the cream of the crop in terms of mech combat. Games like Virtual On or Capcom's Gundam game offer only a handful of mechs to control. One of the most appealing aspects of Armored Core 2 is the fact that there is almost an endless amount of customizable options in the game. You can personalize your AC by using an extensive paint option. There is also a feature that lets you create an emblem for your AC to wear proudly. Tons of weapons to choose from, various parts to select such as heads, arms, legs, generators, boosters etc.. alter the way your mech or AC looks and operates. In order to purchase the the plethora of weapons and parts for your mech, you must satisfy the objectives within the 36 missions in order to acquire credits. You may also do battle in the arena against 45 different AC's, disintegrating your opponents will earn you an amount of credits depending on the rank of your opponent. One unfortunate mistake that the developers made was to neglect to incorporate the use of analog control. You have to use the digital pad which often makes the controls seem stiff. Overall the gameplay is enjoyable and can be quite challenging as you progress through the earlier stages. The game requires the player to master many techniques in order to defeat some of the top ranked mechs in the game.

The story in Armored Core 2 is not exactly the game's forte. You are a part of an organization of mercenaries known as Ravens. In an attempt to gain power and control of Mars, various corporations hire you to perform various missions involving defending bases, destroying communication facilities etc... The story moves along with occasional CGI sequences that are quite impressive.

Armored Core 2 holds its own in the audio/visual department when you take into account that it is a first generation title. Most of the music is techno based which is suitable for the genre. The game uses voice to inform you of mission objectives and status which is a nice touch. The use of voice adds character to many of the AC's in the game. The sound effects are great as every weapon has its own distinct sound. I found myself using weapons to take on enemies because I liked the way they sounded, regardless of the function. Now that's a successfull use of sound effects.Graphically Armored Core 2 is impressive with plenty of color and lighting effects. there is the occasional moments of slowdown when too many enemies are on the screen at once but it is not too severe.

In terms of replayability, Armored Core 2 offers plenty of it. The fact that the game is both mission based as well as a straight one on one combat game, lends itself to replayability. Just because you managed to defeat an enemy once in the arena does not mean you can do it again. Throw in the fact that there are around 12 stages to battle in and you'll understand why this game rates high on the replayability scale. There are also many hidden parts to find in the missions that can be quite hard to discover when trying to fullfil other mission objectives. The story is not linear so you won't experience all the levels the first time around. You will want to play this game again and again, punishing your opponents in the arena with all the new weapons you acquire.

This game is so deep that it most definitely warrants a purchase. The game will take many hours to completely finish.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/20/01, Updated 08/20/01