Armored Core V - Opinions and Reviews

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/armored-core-v

link to meta critic for whole bunchy of reviews. Well only 3 at the moment unless you count the one from Playstation UK, but nobody counts that.

So far its a favorable response but its getting hit in the marks department for lack of learning curve and unsatisfying single player experience (not suprising news). It is getting much praise where the multiplayer/gameplay  and customization are concerned. Which is all I needed.

They complain the store doesn't have enough parts. It's got over 500, most games you're lucky if you can choose between 20 guns.

I've been playing for a bit and I'm really impressed so far. When you first start up it makes you join or create a team (I started up the Iron Age Lynx already, should be searchable. Password is 2o2p) Once you're on the main screen it feels very much like Chromehounds. It shows the world map and what teams have taken what territories. You can opt to jump right into a free battle, which is just typical PVP stuff. You can sign up as a mercenary to go on joint missions with other teams, or you can take your team on a conquest to invade and take some territory of your own.

The combat feels nothing like the last two AC games with the super fast constant boosting and flying, it's much closer to the original Playstation games. The aiming and shooting and such is all very intuitive. Shoulder button for shoulder weapon, right and left trigger for right and left weapon, click left stick to boost, it's all stuff we've been using in every other game.

Making your mech is a little more streamlined. There's still just as many stats to consider, but it looks like they've done away with the FCS tuning you had in the last games. But they also let you customize the workshop and I don't have anything for that yet, so it's possible that's something you have to unlock/purchase later. Your parts can now get junked if they take damage in combat. I'm not 100% on how this works just yet but it looks like some RPGs where your gear breaks when you die and does less damage or has less defence. You can repair it of course, but it's costly.

I think anyone who really enjoyed Chromehounds should give this game a try. There's no online pass so you can rent it easily enough. It'd be really cool to see a 2o2p army taking over the world.

7?

Wow, wow, wow.  Played some games with Taco last night and I'm impressed.

The options for customization are above and beyond that of what Chromehounds was. In the 3 hours that we played, I probably spend 70% of that time in the garage tinkering with different shit while Taco patiently waited for me to play some missions, lol.

Was late for work this morning but damn that was fun and I'll probably do it again tonight 

right on dude. How was the online? I heard many otheres couldn't access the store and single player campaign progress wasn't being saved for some reason... You guys experience any of that? They may have been on PS3 not sure.

God Dammit!! Its gonna be really hard driving by both Best Buy and Gamestop on the way home tonight without stopping to buy this. Shit! I haven't finished playthrough 1 on ME3 and am still about a 1/3 of the way through KOA and GOW3 DLC drops next week.

Go rent it and give it a try, you'll get hooked. This beats the pants off KoA.

Taco, how many on a squad, 5? Do you already have 5 your running with?

The menu system is a little wierd. There definitely is a learning curve. Controls are pretty straightforward.. other than switching weapons- thanks Taco for the help on that one. 

Got to play a quick match or two with Taco last night- had a few connection issues, but when it was working it was damn fun. Looking forward to getting a full group and taking on human opponents... that's what I remember most from Chromehounds. We need to take over this world just like back in the day.

I finally found a review 

This one seems to sum up my experience as well.

http://www.ugo.com/games/armored-core-v-review

I finally found a review 

This one seems to sum up my experience as well.

http://www.ugo.com/games/armored-core-v-review

I think I'll give in.  I played CH to death and if ACV is anything remotely similar, it wil scratch an itch I've had for a few years.  I'll probably pick it up tomorrow on the way home from work.  It's a no-timmie squad, right?

Yeah, it's gonna be a 2o2p only squad. We conquered our first territory tonight with me, Evil, Levi and Pulsaris. Unfortunately you need a fair amount of team points to do a conquest mission. They're easy enough to get, just play missions but we need more members actually playing missions.

If nothing else, give it a rental and hop in a few games with us, see if ya like how it feels. I think it's a lot closer to CH than the last AC games were, especially the invasion missions we've been mostly running tonight.

I will give it a rent I guess. I miss CH... Hated the other AC games though.

Well if you hate it then you hate it. Cool that you are giving it a try though. I get online with it friday night. hopefully I have time for some games. I wont screw with the garage right away.

Just ordered mine, my local Gamestop was sold out, go figure.  I should have it sometime next week.

LOL, thanks Polteg, I haven't had much gaming time as of late, but I will definitely try to get on more once i get my hands on my copy.

Couple new reviews and scores up on Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/armored-core-v

It's sittin at 71 right now, and most of the negative is about the lackluster campaign and complex garage.

"OXM" wrote:

The comparative simplicity of Order Missions provides a less rocky start, but these merely delay the game's doom-wall of difficulty. Even after saving up money to buy parts, high-quality components don't make things easier. There's no ultimate robot to work towards, it's all about function and compromise. Better components buy you more options, but that only helps if you understand the rules.

Most story missions rely on hefty amounts of trial and error, but getting it right doesn't even feel satisfying: it's like playing cards against someone who cheers every time you win, but refuses to teach you how to play. Everything you do is tied back to the multiplayer - a mighty clan-based system that impresses, but adds even more complexity. Armored Core V's initial ease turns out to be a token gesture. This is hardcore.

This is why the series won't take off. If there's not some mega weapon they can get within 5 minutes to do all the work for them, nobody wants to actually put effort into learning anything. Am I the only one who remembers when having to actually think wasn't something to be frowned upon?