Armored Core 3

"This ain't Battlebots, welcome to Armored Core 3"

At first glance, you'll probably say ''This is nothing more than big robots blowin' stuff up...seen it before.'' Well my friend, Armored Core 3 is blowin' stuff up and more. The third installment on the PS2, Armored Core 3 is by far the best. After you sit down and watch the stunning intro, you'll be craving more.

STORY - 7/10
Armored Core 3's (henceforth called AC3) story is a bit...dull. The AC series has never been the driving force behind the game. It has been solid, but nothing to dream about. In AC3, you take the role of a mercenary AC pilot. You take the odd jobs of three main corporations. The corporations are tied in a heated battle. You care nothing of the dispute, only the moola. The story is driven by the nifty mail system and the few cutscenes in the game. The story is reasonable, but it won't be the reason you'll want to keep playing.

GRAPHICS - 9/10
Wow! Improved from Armored Core 2: Another Age, the graphics for AC3 were well done. Your AC is amazingly detailed. Joints and hinges move fluidly as you run about. You'll see chips flying off your AC after being hit from a missile or bullet. The energy from your ACs boosters flare up beautifully as you quickly avoid enemy fire. The outside environments are also stunning. Lush forests, desert flatlands, snowy hills, or busy cities, the environments are wonderful. Stages that take place inside aren't exactly eye-candy but they are tolerable.

SOUND EFFECTS/MUSIC - 8/10
Have you ever heard the sound of a small missile whiz by your ear? Most likely not, but you'll (hopefully) be dodging enemy's missiles and hearing that 'whoosh' sound. Machinegun fire sounds realistic and you can almost hear every bullet being fired. Your AC makes sounds according to what is actually being done. A nice 'tap' as it runs along or a loud 'bang' as it is hit by a grenade.

The music is decent. You'll mostly be hearing a sort of alternative-techno-rock mixture, so if it isn't your style, turn up your own tunes.

GAMEPLAY - 10/10
You've heard it before. ''This is where the game shines''. Fortunately, this is the case with AC3 as well. On the main interface you start with five options. The garage, where you create your AC, test it out, and buy parts. Missions, where you select tasks (called 'sorties' in the game) to take. The company hiring you will give you a slight overview of your mission and the objectives. The Arena, where you fight one-on-one with other pre-created ACs. Very fun for testing your skills and whoopin' on the other ACs. Mail, where you receive messages from corporations and your personal liaison, updates about new AC parts, and hints from fellow Arena opponents. Next is the System option where you save and load your data.

During missions and the Arena you can perform various functions. New to the series is the ability to drop parts in the midst of battle. This improves your ACs speed and frees some energy drain. With some weapons you can switch between modes of firing. Strong bursts that use more ammo, but pack more punch. Or, weak bursts that save ammo, but are less powerful. On some missions you can also hire consorts or 'wingmen' to help you in the mission.

The only gripe about the gameplay is the controls. Every button on the controller is used and it takes a bit to get used to the scheme. Once you get it down though, it becomes second nature.

REPLAYABILITY - 10/10
AC3 boasts an incredible replayability. You can literally play this game off and on for at least a year and not be bored of it. Creating new ACs and battling Arena opponents will keep you busy for some time.

OVERVIEW
Well, lets go over the review.

Pros:
+ Great graphics and environments
+ Realistic sound effects
+ Awesome gameplay
+ LOADS of replayability

Cons:
- OK story
- Music a bit bland
- Controls aren't friendly to newcomers

This game is definitely a 'Buy' to newcomers and old veterans. If you're still a bit reluctant, rent it and try it for yourself. I know you'll be wishing you could buy it from Blockbuster...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/29/03, Updated 01/29/03