The early Armored Cores

[Ghegs]

Are the PS1 Armored Core games still fun and playable today, or have they aged badly? I know they don't have analog support, at least. The graphics I don't really mind, I play PS1-era racing games a lot and I'm fine with those. But does the gameplay in the first Armored Cores hold up, or should I just jump into the PS2 titles? I don't have any experience with the series...

[brunoafh]

I think most people agree that the PS2 games are a lot better in terms of just about everything, but I do think the PS1 games are worth a look. The controls are a bit rough but with some time it is really not that bad to get used to. Basically just a more rigid version of how the PS2 games control.

I revisited the series from start to finish awhile ago, and found that Master of Arena (PS1) ended up being one of my favorite ones. I would take it over the arena driven PS2 game (Ninebreaker) for sure. If you don't want to play them all I would at least recommend checking out that one just to see how you feel about it. It is pretty easy to get into and inexpensive.

[ExedExes]

I played the demo of the first one years back. Made me want a PS1. I loved that game. Customization options galore, pretty cool missions, tons of weapons.

[Gunstar Green]

Master of Arena > Armored Core > Project Phantasma

Phantasma isn't bad but it feels kind of unpolished and is just more of the same but worse. It's also the most expensive of the bunch.

If you're going to get one, I agree that Master of Arena is probably the best. Either way I feel like you can safely skip Phantasma and not miss much. Phantasma feels like a rushed expansion pack. Master of Arena feels like a sequel.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I played Armored Core 2 and liked it. It was a bit awkward to control, but not bad. Seems like it would have played much better with PC controls.

Main problems are the frame rate and the slowly panning camera. That got me killed too many times. There's a great game in there, but it was ahead of its time. The PS1 couldn't keep up.

[Gunstar Green]

The PS1 couldn't keep up.

Well to be fair it had to be pretty hard for the PS1 to keep up given that Armored Core 2 was a PS2 game.

Trolling aside, I agree the controls are stiff and awkward in the old Armored Cores and would've worked a lot better with a mouse and keyboard. I could say that about a lot of PS1 games though.

Frame rate is one of the things that separates Master of Arena and the first two PS1 games. It's much smoother. Project Phantasma, which might be what you mean my Armored Core 2, had the absolute worst frame rate of the bunch. It really chokes at times.

[TEKTORO]

I actually play Armored Core ala Steel Battalion style with the Sony Dual Analog joystick (SCPH-1110), Works amazing with Mech Warrior 2 as well. Master of Arena is a great package and must have as a AC fan.

I actually haven't felt the need to play any Armored Cores past the PS1 versions but looking to jump back in with Verdict Day (undecided on ps3/360).

I ask Brunoafh which PS2 version is the best, since there are so many I rather add the best one to play?

[brunoafh]

I ask Brunoafh which PS2 version is the best, since there are so many I rather add the best one to play?

I would say it's a toss up between Another Age and AC 3. The franchise was at its peak here, and these games are just everything that is awesome about old school Armored Core at its finest. The gameplay was really tuned in and just feels the best to me, and the customization is always interesting and doesn't feel like wading through a bunch of useless parts to get to the obviously superior ones like it starts to in some of the other ones. I also really like Last Raven, but it is known for being very punishing and not friendly to new comers though. Really, all of the PS2 games are pretty good for the most part. But those are my favorites.

I would also pretty strongly advise avoiding Ninebreaker. It's not necessarily bad, but I have no idea what they were thinking when they made it, I don't think anyone does. The game is only training/arena levels, there is no story, no missions, and hardly any rewards. On top of this, it's very long and very difficult. An AC game for masochists. You just aren't getting a typical Armored Core experience here, that's mainly why I don't like it much. For a 100% arena game, From Software's Frame Gride is so much better.

[Gunstar Green]

I honestly never heard of Frame Gride, I need to check that out. It really sucks that their non-AC mecha games rarely see US release.

[TEKTORO]

Thanks for the input brunoafh!

I'll do some more research and see which ones I'd want to get, good thing they are pretty easy to find.