Project EARTH
The ongoing struggle for dominance on a scarred, yet inhabited Earth.
In the original continuity of the Armored Core series, Earth is the central setting for the conflicts depicted from 1997's Armored Core through 2001's Armored Core 2: Another Age. Following a cataclysm known as the "Great Destruction," humanity was forced underground. Corporations began fighting for dominance, leading to an increasing reliance on Armored Core pilots called Ravens. After the events of 1999's Armored Core: Master of Arena, humanity rebuilt and colonized Mars.
Through Armored Core 2 and its expansion Another Age, the fledgling Earth government struggled to maintain power as opportunistic corporations exploited the power gap and rebel groups resisted against the hegemony of government and business interests. The series was rebooted with Armored Core 3 in 2002, beginning a new story arc where, following a global nuclear war, humanity retreated underground. After centuries of rule by an artificial intelligence called The Controller, its decay led to the destruction of much of humanity's underground network, causing them to look toward the surface for safety. By the end of 2003's Silent Line: Armored Core, humanity had fully returned to the surface of Earth.
Quick Facts
- Primary goal
- Corporate Dominance and Resource Control
Lore & Background
Earth's history in the Armored Core series is marked by repeated cataclysms and recoveries. In the original continuity, the "Great Destruction" forced humanity underground, where corporations vied for control, employing Ravens as mercenaries. After Master of Arena, humanity colonized Mars, but Earth remained a contested world. In Armored Core 2 and Another Age, the Earth government struggled against corporate exploitation and rebel groups.
A rebooted continuity in Armored Core 3 depicted a global nuclear war that drove humanity underground for centuries under an AI called The Controller. The Controller's decay destroyed much of the underground network, prompting a return to the surface by the end of Silent Line: Armored Core. The final two games of this continuity, Armored Core: Nexus and Armored Core: Last Raven, involved the end of the existing power dynamic of corporations and Ravens fighting over the surface.
Another reboot in Armored Core 4 saw corporations seizing control of Earth's governments and waging war across the surface, leading to environmental pollution and the creation of floating cities in Armored Core: For Answer. Depending on player choices, humanity either barely survived or was completely eradicated. The third continuity, beginning with Armored Core V, featured a single corporation dominating a contaminated Earth, opposed by a resistance faction, while Armored Core: Verdict Day detailed another war 100 years later following an apocalyptic event.
Reader's Guide
The narrative arc surrounding Earth's restoration bridges the gap between the Space Colony era and the Return to Surface era. In early titles, missions focus on orbital defense and resource gathering in space. As the timeline progresses into AC3, objectives shift to ground-based combat on a recovering planet. Players witness the transition from fighting for survival in orbit to fighting for territory on Earth.
The story explores how corporations utilized this restoration to expand their influence. Missions often involve protecting terraforming equipment or securing zones that were previously toxic wastelands. This progression sets the stage for later entries where the environment is stable enough for large-scale industrial warfare. Understanding this shift helps explain why pilots operate in diverse terrains, from deserts to lush forests, reflecting the success of the reclamation efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the Project EARTH timeline?
This designation covers the original continuity where Earth serves as the central setting for conflicts from 1997 to 2001. It details the period after a major cataclysm when survivors rebuilt society while corporations waged wars for control.
How does the timeline progress after Master of Arena?
Humanity eventually colonized Mars while rebuilding society on Earth following the events of that game. The narrative continues into Armored Core 2 where a new administration found it difficult to assert authority against corporate interests.
More in Story & Timeline
Elsewhere in Armored Core
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