10 replies to this topic

[StompingOnTanks]

What is your favorite Eastern mech game? I'm talking about Japanese-style mech games such as Front Mission, Armored Core, Zone of the Enders and so on.

For me, Armored Core will always be supreme because it's the first mech game I ever owned.

I was 7 years old (I think), walking through a Best Buy with my dad, when I saw this in the game isle:



Of course, being the impulsive kid I was, I asked my father if he would buy it for me and I wound up carrying it home in a plastic bag. I popped the disc into my PS2 and I've been a mecha maniac ever since.

I've played nearly every Armored Core game in the series since then, and of course I love Mechwarrior and a few others too, but the Armored Core games will always be special to me and that's why I have to put them on the top of my list. (That's not the only reason of course - they're FANTASTIC games and I highly recommend them, especially the PS2 era games.)

How about you all?

[Alaskan Nobody]

I have a copy of that... the control setup has kept me from getting very far..

I would have to say ZOE: fist of mars (with the 1 front mission I have played being a close second)
Haven't played the other 2 ZOE yet, so the jury's still out on that.
Does S.L.A.I. count as eastern? gonna have to look that up.

[StompingOnTanks]

Yeah, Armored Core is notorious for it's complex and overcomplicated controls. Once you get enough practice they feel pretty good though. Just keep at it.

SLAI, I have no idea. I liked SLAI though. That's third on my list tied with Gungriffon Blaze.

[xengk]

Does it have to be a mech/robot sim?

I particularly enjoy the Front Mission series for the mech/robot customization and tactical gameplay.
Plus booster roller blade looks cool.


The Super Robot War series up until Alpha 3, purely for nostalgia value and ridiculous fight animation.
Later titles are too bog down with team management and tedious multiple enemy respawn per map.


Currently also playing Mobile Suit Gundam Online on and off.

[Anjian]

StompingOnTanks, on 07 December 2013 - 04:33 AM, said:

Yeah, Armored Core is notorious for it's complex and overcomplicated controls. Once you get enough practice they feel pretty good though. Just keep at it.

SLAI, I have no idea. I liked SLAI though. That's third on my list tied with Gungriffon Blaze.

That would surprise me. I find Armored Core's controls to be relatively simple and intuitive. Everything feels lighter and more responsive. Its like comparing a tricked up Honda to the pickup that is MWO. But then again, I only seriously played the series from 4, 4Answer, V and Verdict Day.

What I do find is that many of the missions in the game to be particularly difficult.

Best trailer ever for a mech game. I think 4 Answer is the best Armored Core in the entire franchise.

[StompingOnTanks]

Anjian, on 12 December 2013 - 11:16 PM, said:

That would surprise me. I find Armored Core's controls to be relatively simple and intuitive. Everything feels lighter and more responsive. Its like comparing a tricked up Honda to the pickup that is MWO. But then again, I only seriously played the series from 4, 4Answer, V and Verdict Day.

What I do find is that many of the missions in the game to be particularly difficult.

Best trailer ever for a mech game. I think 4 Answer is the best Armored Core in the entire franchise.

I cannot agree more about the trailer. Armored Core has some of the best cinematics of any game without a doubt. AC4A is certainly one of my favs.

The controls from the PS2 era were pretty clunky until Nexus. Example: The right stick was useless, and you used two shoulder buttons to aim up and down. They never bothered to adapt the control scheme for dual thumbsticks until Nexus.

Armored Core certainly has the best soundtracks of ANY game I've ever played.



Also: HOLY HOTCAKES, THE MOTHERWILL IS BACK?!? *Hasn't played ACVD yet.*

[Anjian]

I bought all the FreQuency (FromSoftware's inhouse band) albums off in iTunes. The music from Armored Core is amazing. An AC experience isn't complete without the soundtrack.

I live AC4, 4A, V and Verdict Day. I would think though that 4A hit a high note that probably is very difficult to equal in any mech game.

This mission shows how story, characters, and the music flow together with the action to create an experience that just rocks. This mission is also a lot tougher than it looks, at least when I played it. The music theme of this mission, "Remember" is remixed into the final boss battle in Verdict Day.




Going to another game, I would think Chromehounds is one of the best, if not, probably the best mech game i have ever experienced online. One can dispute that this game is "Eastern" or "Western", because it is quite Western in theme. The Caucasus region south of Russia goes up in flames, and becomes the battleground for three factions, Morskoj, representing the resurgent Soviet style faction, Tarakia, heavily supported by a NATO/EU like alliance, and Al Sakar, supported by a resurgent Ottoman Empire. Morskoj emphasizes simplicity and brute strength, Tarakia emphasizes balance and technology, while Al Sakar emphasizes speed and stealth. The game is mostly fought online, where victory, and a sufficient number of critical victories, can lead control of territory to one faction or another in a persistant world.

While the game screams stompy mechs ala Mechwarrior style, its actually produced by FromSoftware in Japan, makers of the Armored Core and Dark Souls franchise.

Elements of Chromehounds were incorporated into Armored Core V and Verdict Day, thought not without controversy from Armored Core fans.

Edited by Anjian, 13 December 2013 - 06:56 PM.

[Cactus In The Rear]

Armored core. I played 3 and 4A.

[StompingOnTanks]

Anjian, on 13 December 2013 - 06:55 PM, said:

"You slimy politicians and all your empty calls to arms. I'll sink the whole lot of you to the bottom of the ocean."

"You ready, Fragile?"

One of the most memorable quotes in the entire ******* franchise. I loved that mission.

I wish there was a story path where The Raven and White Glint survive though.

Edited by StompingOnTanks, 27 February 2014 - 05:45 PM.

[NautilusCommand]

Chromehounds, by far. I love that game and it is the saddest thing the servers aren't up anymore.