Armored Core 2

Did You Know?

• A direct sequel, Armored Core 2: Another Age, was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2.
• Armored Core 2 was initially released in Japan on August 3, 2000.
• FromSoftware partnered with Agetec for the North American release and with Ubisoft for the European release.

Gameplay

Armored Core 2 is a third-person shooter in which players pilot customizable machines called Armored Cores. Cores can be fitted with different parts, weapons, and paint schemes, requiring players to balance weight and power usage. Credits earned through missions or the Arena allow purchase of additional parts. Missions present objectives in open levels, with enemies including automated MTs, mysterious Disorders, or other Armored Core pilots. After completion, repair and ammunition costs are subtracted from the reward; failure deducts those costs from the player's balance. The Arena features a 50-person ladder where the player starts at the bottom and climbs by defeating opponents. Some ranked pilots may be removed from the ladder if killed during story missions. Victories yield credits or parts usable in both modes. Local multiplayer supports split-screen or console linking via a Sony I-Link Fire Wire cable. Split-screen requires one copy of the game, while console linking needs two copies, two consoles, and two televisions, offering more location options. Players can load their custom Armored Core from existing saves into multiplayer matches.

Plot

Sixty-seven years after Master of Arena, Earth corporation Zio Matrix acquires plans for a Mars research project predating the Great Destruction and initiates a terraforming project. Other corporations, including rival Emeraude and smaller Balena, follow, bringing competitive dynamics and mercenaries from Nerves Concord. The Earth Government deploys the Large Scale Enterprises of the Central Committee as a puppet corporation to control Mars's economy. The player character takes missions from all corporations, gaining fame. As the corporate war ends, Zio Matrix attempts a coup, but the elite Frighteners, led by Leos Klein, turn on the government, assassinate its leader, and seize Martian technology. Klein, revealed as the legendary Nine-Breaker who defeated Nine-Ball, is kept alive by cybernetic enhancements. Having witnessed destruction from unchecked ambition, he calls for Ravens to join his insurrection, promising a Raven state. The government employs remaining Ravens to stop him, and the player character is tasked with confronting the Frighteners to save Mars's human populace.

Reception

Armored Core 2 received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. NextGen's Chet Barber called it one of the best PS2 titles available, unless the complex mech-building system or mechs themselves are unappealing. Famitsu gave a score of 33 out of 40. Graphical quality was praised: Game Informer's Andrew Reiner called lighting and environments absolutely incredible, GamePro's Cheat Monkey said graphics bring the AC world to life, and GameRevolution's Shawn Sanders found particle effects impressive. AllGame's Jon Thompson, however, did not find the graphics groundbreaking, writing that it still looks acceptable. Gameplay responses were mixed: GameSpot's Frank Provo called it the game's true beauty, while IGN's David Smith noted the progression curve occasionally leaps in bizarre directions. PlanetPS2's Jessyel Gonzalez agreed, stating the game demands every bit of patience to master. Criticism targeted the control scheme; Smith wrote that the old control scheme was dragged into the new generation, and Thompson added that mechs are not as responsive as they should be, with oversensitive targeting making combat a hassle.