This is HeroicTofu, reporting somewhat live on Armored Core V!
Here at HT Central, we have a brand new game in the Japanese Armored Core series, hailed for it's emphasis on mech customization! So what can we expect from the newest sequel!? Well I'm glad you asked MWO forum goers! We have quite the departure for the series! For the first time since the game's original inception, the emphasis on the gameplay revolves around the online element! You create your own team or join an existing one, you can do missions co-op and even battle other teams for control of different territories!
But what about the gameplay itself?! Well Mech Fans, I report to you that the gameplay has changed quite a bit from older titles. The speed of the game is more reminiscent of the original Armored Core and vastly different from For Answer! Combat seems more manageable as a result as you don't have random enemies flying all over the place! If you aim a shot at a mech, odds are, you'll actually hit it in this game!
However, there are a few drawbacks of note! Flying around the game has all but disappeared in this rendition! You can jump and hover, slowly descending, but the thrill of flying all over the place is no longer there. Is it bad? No... But it's different. It actually more reminds me of the jumpjets in MechWarrior!
Also, the enemy AI... well, I've fought a few enemy mechs and because I circle strafed consistently around them, they never even hit me on many an occasion. It doesn't appear to react very well! That's not to say there isn't difficulty, as certain missions have proved challenging, but the AI is very weak in my own humble opinion! And how humble it is!
How is the mission variety? ...Well. The most unique mission so far (I haven't beaten the game yet!) was destroy all enemies before the time limit ends... This isn't to say this wasn't the case in For Answer, but I do long for the gigantic, larger then life Arms Fort battles of yore!
But what about the customization Tofu!? The weapons, the body pieces, the emblems, the paint?! They're all there and then some! And From Software is actually letting you use *gasp* letters in your mech's emblems! There are risks of getting banned for offensive emblems mind, but this is an area where the game has way more customization then ever before. You can even customize your mech bay with different trinkets that appear to do nothing but look cool!
So how does the game compare so far to the rest of the series? I like it! It's fun, it's giving me the necessary mech interaction my system needs! I'll be focusing more and more on the online play as I continue to build up my mech! In my opinion, From Software has designed the game to be modular and content friendly towards DLC, without skimping on what makes the game a game in the first place!
So, that's Tofu's 3rd day analysis!
If you want to play together, I'm on the Playstation 3, my PSN name is HeroicTofu, add me on your friend's list, and I'll get you into the team I've built (Mechbuilders! Shameless promotion!? In my Armored Core?! It's more likely then you think!)
Tofu, signing out and to the left!
Edited by HeroicTofu, 22 March 2012 - 05:39 PM.