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When we got a Playstation 2, the first PS2 game we put into it was Armored Core 2, by Agetec. This game style is definitely one we enjoy a great deal. Unfortunately, it appears they rushed this game out the door a bit too quickly.
The game design is really neat. Like most mech games, you start out slowly, getting money to customize your mech as you go. There are 50 'ranked' robots for you to fight your way through, as well as 35 missions to undertake to earn fame and fortune. There are hundreds of parts to choose from to customize your bot.
You can also go head-to-head by linking your PS2 to a friend's with the cable. Unfortunately the PS2 doesn't currently support modem play, so someone has to carry the unit to someone else's house to do this.
The plots are interesting with three factions trying to get control of Mars, the missions you choose help influence the fate of these companies. The customization is almost overwhelming. You can custom-design your own logo with their built in paint program, buy parts for a huge variety of systems on your mech, and then test it out in various arenas against various foes.
Why the disappointment, then? The learning curve on this is VERY steep the screens and layout could have been done much more intuitively. The game also runs extremely slowly. Sounds lock up, visuals will stick on the screen, etc. If you've spent hours and hours (if not weeks and weeks) working on designing the perfect mech, the last thing you want is for system failures to cause you to lose missions and die in battles.
A true mech fan might overlook these problems and enjoy the game, but those out to test the true power of their PS2 might want to look at other options.
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I bought this game because I was looking for a non-sports title for my PS2 and wanted something with a little more combat than SSX (excellent game see reviews). I'm glad I read reviews of it before I bought it! Armored Core 2 is a very good game, but it does have its flaws, and there is a learning curve involved. Some people may not want to take the time to get past the initial phase of the game.The premise is simple you're on Mars and own a mech, a remote-controlled, armed robot. Mars is controlled by several corporations, each with their own agenda, and they're looking for hired help to help them get what they want. That means you. You provide help by way of accepting missions. From time to time, corporations will contact your advisor with opportunities. You can review the mission, see how much it pays (sometimes you get an advance), and choose to accept or decline. Upon completion of the mission, you'll get whatever portion of the reward you're owed, as well as any bonuses you may have earned, but you have to pay to repair any damage to your mech and you have to pay for ammunition that you've used.
You can also earn credits (money) and parts by beating other mechs in head-to-head combat in the Arena. The Arena is a ladder-based challenge system as you beat each opponent, you move up one rung and receive a correspondingly larger bonus. You don't have to pay for damage or ammunition in the Arena.
Here's where the work comes in. At first, you've got a very basic mech. Especially if you're not familiar with mech combat, as I wasn't, you'll get beat in the Arena or fail to complete missions. The expense of failing a mission is usually enough to set you back too far to continue, so you'll want to restart the mission. Easy enough? Think again.
The game doesn't lend itself well to this kind of progress (intentionally so, I think). If you want to redo a mission, you have to load a saved game (save after EVERY mission!), accept the mission, and start over again. It's not a quick process. Then again, it can still be done. In Arena mode, you can simply choose to fight the battle again, and can do so over and over until you win, although the losses are kept in your record.
As you progress through the missions, you get more offers, your ranking improves (you have a completion percentage based on how far you've gone), and you learn more about Mars, the corporations, and other things that are happening. Eventually, you'll have a well-armed mech and will be more able to do what you want. Corporations will also make more parts available to you, especially if you've been working for them, so don't think you're limited to the weapons, legs, and other parts you see when you start.
After each mission and Arena battle, you can take your credits and spend them in the Shop. Here's where Agetec makes up for the missions you sell parts back for 100% of the purchase price, so you can experiment to your heart's content (well, maybe your wallet's) when you upgrade your mech. However, you can't get everything you want. Your mech has an energy limit and weight limits for the legs and the core, and you can't spend more money than you have. If you're too heavy or can't afford required parts, you can't go into battle.
The control scheme is typical for mech games, which means if you were expecting to use the analog sticks for movement, you'll be disappointed. In their defense, this system is more realistic. After all, if your mech has legs, it's not going to be able to spin around very easily! It takes a bit of getting used to (and you need to know that the L3 and R3 buttons are the analog sticks push in to use), but once you've got the controls down, you'll be ready for battle. You can even use a USB mouse to design your emblem (the logo for your mech), and if you've got skills, you can design a really cool emblem.
The gameplay itself is good, although if there are many missiles on the screen, you'll definitely see some slowdown. Aside from that, it's nice once you've become accustomed to the controls, and there's something satisfying about taking out a plane or a chopper with one well-aimed missile. It's not all brute force, though. You'd love to be able to lay waste to a facility, but when you finish the mission and get your bill for the ammo, you'll wish you were a little more conservative.
You can play head-to-head against a friend, either in split-screen mode if you've got one PS2, or if you have two PS2s, two TVs, you each have the game, and you have one i.Link cable, you can play on your own systems.
There are many different types of mechs you can build, and the missions that you accept, in theory, steer your progress through the game (I've not played more than one game, so I can't verify that). I think the replay value of the game is pretty good, if you're a mech player, and I'm looking forward to going back and replaying some missions.
I've had a lot of fun with this game, but I've also had to be patient with it. If you've got the time, and if you like mech combat, this is a good game for you. If you're considering this for a younger person, or if you're new to the mech arena, you may want to look for something else.
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First off, this game is very hard. You have 32 difficult missions to complete, all the while trying to advance through around 50 other challengers in the Arena. The graphics are smooth and are beautifully rendered using the PlayStation 2's great processor. You didn't need to play this game's predecessors, because the storyline in this game kicks off from the beginning. It is an intertwining plot about heroism, sacrifice, betrayal, and mysteries of another race, particularly, the Martians.Another great thing is that there are over 200 parts you can earn and find in missions, the shop, and the Arena. Customizing your mech is one of the great aspects of this game. There are thousands of combinations, insuring you that your mech is unique.
For all of you parents out there, this game has only robot violence, no "blood and guts" as in most other video games. For the kids, this game insures a challenge, so don't be afraid to lose.
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Dont let the title of this review turn you away from the game. But belive me, it is completely true. I loved AC 1 and PS2 I knew would deliver. It did thankfully. The graphics are smooth and there is absolutely no clipping. No pixels when your up close and only minor slow down in mission levels (this happens very seldom, usually when 10 missles are flying at you with 20 MTs shooting at you, which is only like 2 levels.) AThe game is fun, but only once you break through the begining of the game because I couldnt tell you how many times I got the ... kicked out of me and had to dig myself out of debt. Some of the first couple levels are [very] hard, as are some of the later missions. As the title reads, once you play the 4-5 mission you will hurl your Dual Shock 2 controller through your window and sit there meticulously thinkin of how you can get your self out of a -30k debt. Once you get a chance to build up your mech, this game shines through the darkness. You can create a really personalized mech, changing color, parts, weapons, speed. Everything is customizable. I am now begining to truely enjoy this game because if you have patience you will get to the point of this game which makes this a must have. Piloting your AC through Arena mode is a definite plus to get your mind off of frustrating mission battles. The story even progress fluidly with "Mail" that you get after certain missions or arena battles. The graphics are awesome, story is awesome, and after some broken controllers, gameplay is awesome and definitly warrants this a purchase.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Armored Core 2
Apples versus oranges some might shout, but to me there are several parallels between this mech-warfare game and the highly structured race game, Gran Turismo.In both games, you begin with a basic "vehicle" (the first and Armored Core or AC, the latter a race car). Both vehicles are customizeable and upgradeable, and both require money to make your vehicles better. Both involve competitions (the former in the Arena against other ACs or on missions for assorted corporations that, upon success, pay for services rendered the latter in races) to raise money to pay for your upgrades. Both require practice to master your machines. And, in my opinion, both are great games. In other words, if you like the features of Gran Turismo the building and bettering of a vehicles the challenge of mastering its operation the thrill of victory over difficult opponents and want a break from race games, give AC2 a try!
The play control isn't too tricky, I feel, once you learn the basic important movements. However, as you upgrade and switch your AC around, factors such as defense, mobility, energy, and the like, are all affected in different ways. This leads to countless combinations that, in my opinion, add to the fun.
The graphics are beautiful and the explosions are spectacular. There are so many different types of weapons from rocket launchers to machine guns, shotguns to missle launchers to bombs all featuring differing strengths and weaknesses (and ways to blow up your enemies!) that create yet more eye candy for the MechWar fiend.
The sound is nothing special, but once again, the explosions are quite exhilerating. I don't think the sound is bad, just typical of action based games, easily left to the background. For those of you who prefer female or male computer voices for your ACs, depending on how you upgrade, this sound can change.
Artisans have the option of customizing the colors of your mechs. There are many preset colors for impatient folks like myself to change the look of your AC with one click, or you can create your own combinations of colors out of scratch. ACs can also feature emblems which can be customized or created.
Thanks to all the combinations you can formulate when it comes to machinery, and all the missions and competitions, I feel this game will keep me entertained for quite awhile. If you like strategy, customization, competition, and just blowing things up, give AC2 a try. I think you, too, will find entertainment value in this for months to come.
