Publisher Agetec | Year of inception 1997 Genre Third-person shooter | |
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Platforms PlayStationPlayStation 2PlayStation PortablePlayStation 3PlayStation VitaXbox 360Mobile Phone Designers Hidetaka Miyazaki, Shōji Kawamori Games Ard Core: Verdict Day, Ard Core V, Ard Core: For Answer, Ard Core 4, Ard Core: Last Raven | ||
Armored core 1 review
Armored Core is a mecha-based video game series developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile phone platforms. Armored Core games are third-person shooters, in which the player pilots a large mecha called an Armored Core. Armored Core: Verdict Day is the fifteenth and latest title in the series; it was released worldwide on September 2013.
Contents
- Armored core 1 review
- Evolution of armored core
- Common elements
- Armored Core games
- Other media
- References
Evolution of armored core
Common elements
Story elements vary widely throughout the series but gameplay is generally focused on the player's character as a silent protagonist, acting as a mercenary, completing missions assigned by various in-game corporations and individuals. The player's character pilots his or her mecha (armored core) to perform duties such as destroying enemy units/facilities or protecting a designated element from the attack by the opposing forces.
The game places a heavy emphasis on customization; the structure of the mecha the player uses in combat is standardized and modular, consisting of a number of interchangeable parts. The mecha is composed from parts the player obtains by finding them in missions, fulfilling certain requirements, or by buying them from an in-game shop. Money is earned by finishing missions; typically each mission has a set reward for its completion from which deductions are made based on damage taken, amount of ammunition used, and completion time. Certain missions also offer bonuses for completing optional objectives.
Certain games in the series offer additional part categories but the following are shared among all games:
Armored Core games
Between 1997 and 2006, PlayStation games enjoyed a yearly release schedule. As of 2013, fifteen games have been released.
Other media
Armored Core: Tower City Blade is a manga by Fujimi Shobo based on the game. It was serialized in Dragon Age Pure between March 14 and April 14, 2007. A project called Armored Core: Fort Tower Song was to consist of a book and an anime also released in 2007. The book was completed but the anime was not. From Software announced in 2011 that the anime had been canceled due to View Works shutting down.