Armored Core 4 (full version)

[Asura]

I REALLY want it to work. I bought the J version, and struggled with it, but once I got a dozen missions in and I really needed to understand the shop and garage, I just threw in the towel (it was far too much work to extract any enjoyment from it). I tried it online and got beat down for similar reasons. I can't wait to have it all in English and go online; I was a big Chrome Hounds fan and I think this could be superb.

[Asura]

For anyone else needing to know, we now have confirmation - European version of this does not work on a Japanese machine. If you have a Japanese machine, there is no way to play AC4 in English.

[MarioMark]

I got this today. It's ok. Not mint, or rubbish. It's medium.

Only ?29.99 at shopto.net if anyone was thinking about getting it.

[cavalcade]

Anyone got any strong feelings either way - I'm about to pop off in to town, and I'm not sure whether to buy it or not....

I can't find anyone who loves it, or hates it. But then perhaps that tells a story...

[chopemon]

in answer to cavalcade, i LOVE it

i just played a few missions and played with the customisation and i am now officially in love with it.

for any chrome hound players it has a very similar amount of customisation (though no garage interior, just minimalist 2D screens) including the decal and emblem editor.

the missions are fast and fun, some only lasting around 60 seconds.

the mech controls are a bit wonky as shooting is handled on the face buttons rather than the shoulders so you have to take your thumb off the aiming stick to shoot but this is helped by the auto lock on.

i am a massive fan of the mech style for armored core and cannot wait to get some more money from missions to buy more sweet parts.

the only let down is that it doesn't have the same multiplayer functionality as chromehounds. seeing as FROM did both games you might have thought they'd have bundled in the persistent war and clans. if it had these it would be the best mech game ever and possibly best online game on the 360

[saturn-gamer]

Its a decent game. But I find the menu's to be a bit clumsy. Like the way you can view prices, you have to push X. If I buy an item via that menu it seems that I pay, but when I want to leave the Ascis screen I have to pay again?!? Or am I wrong here?

Otherwise the missions are kind of short, but not repetitive. sometimes you'll win it, but get a negative money result due to damage and ammo wasted etc. Then you can decide to play again and do better.

[melenko]

ffs this still isnt even showing up on my till and due to getting out of work i was faced with tesco or asda. neither of which have it >.< looks like i'll be joining in in a few days

[Mardigan8]

Did a post I made get deleted in here earlier??

I will hopefully be on for some live action tonight and tomorrow. Just trying to get to grips with controlling the flight of the mech before I even worry about firing a weapon so its one thing at a time just now, hehe. A bit more work and I will be hovering, flying, boosting and sliding with pin point precison though

[Mardigan8]

Right, couple quick questions on the Mech customisation / purchasing side of things...

I understand you can create any schematic you want but cant actually use it unless you can pay for the parts but is there anyway to know how much a schematic is gonna cost as you are constructing it??

Also, if you want to use a mech that is available do you have to pay for the core unit before you can get it?? Meaning, if you want all the mechs you have to save up a ridiculous amount of money??

I understand that you know which parts you have bought because the ones you aint bought say "Data only" under them when you go to select so that helps but how the hell are you meant to build up a fleet of mechs when a single mech costs about ten times what a sinlge mission pays??

I may be missing something simple but the game does NOTHING to explain this side of things so the questions must get asked here am afraid

Dont get me wrong, am loving it. The combat is silky smooth and the mech animations are incredible... I just wish I could get into the customisation side of thigns so I can REALLY start to enjoy it and take some killer schematics online

[jimtendo]

Well, the thing i do is to just 'exchange' parts...

where selling part is exactly the same as buying a part - so you can chop and change parts, providing you have enough base money.

I've given up trying to buy all the parts and just resort to the method described above if i want to change schematic.
Pain in the ass method i know, but at least it saves cash.

[Mardigan8]

But every time I set up a schematic on a new mech using parts and weapons I already have it tells me I dont have enough money... actually it tells me I have 10&#37; of what is required to build that schematic... so does that mean every time I want to buy a new mech it is going to cost this silly amount of money??

[Mardigan8]

LOL... just had a breakthrough, hehe.

Found the buy / sell menu in the garage area and it is now clear why it costs so much for the schematics I am building. Didnt realise you can build a mech made up of parts from other mechs, that is pretty cool.

So the mech you choose at the start is the only mech you have until you can purchase parts to build other ones?? Nice... but can see it is going to take time and a **** load of money to get the real killer mechs

[Mardigan8]

Wow, 3 posts in a row... WIN

6 hours in and all the layers of the onion have been peeled. All that is left now is rock solid mech warfare and one of the most detailed and interesting customisation set-ups I have ever seen... its like a game in itself.

If I had one complaint about the game it is the level of guidance it gives you with the customisation stuff... nothing. No tutorial, no hints, it just assumes you know the set-up inside out and oes nothing to make it clear so if like you aint played and AC game before be preapred for a few hours of pain as you get to grips with the customisation mode. Its worth bearing in mind though, once you DO get a handle on it the entire game is fantastic. The customisation aint there as a mere add on to make you think you are changing things, every little detail has an impact... its like Forza with Robots

The only thing I have left to fully understand is the parts tuning using the VS memory or whatever it is called, I am going with auto tune just now but aint sure how this is impacting my mech as I cant see any change in the stats of it when I change things???

Gameplay wise its razor sharp and beautiful to watch, with some of the best mech animations I have ever seen. My GA Tellus variant is currently looking very mean and she will be on line tonight for a baptism of fire.

There is so much to explore with the mechs... weapon combinations, booster upgrades, customised arms, legs, etc. It can feel overwhelming at times but its all about experimenting with different setting and seeing what works.

Campaign wise I have finished Chapter 2 and completed all the available simulation data packs available so have plenty of schematics to choose from. At first I thought you had to buy the whole mech to get the parts rather than buy them individually so the realisation of this has helped greatly in improving my current (and only) Schematic.

So, there will be more campaing progress tonight and hopefully some NTSC live games if any of you boys have this... I can see me playing this for a LONG time to come.

[chopemon]

i'm plowing through it and am half way through chapter 4

towards the end of chapter 3 onwards there are lots of missions where you'll need to change up your mech depending on the mission and i'm really getting into the weapon combos.

back mounted grenade cannons FTW!!!

[Mardigan8]

i'm plowing through it and am half way through chapter 4

towards the end of chapter 3 onwards there are lots of missions where you'll need to change up your mech depending on the mission and i'm really getting into the weapon combos.

back mounted grenade cannons FTW!!!

Do you have a few different mechs or do you just have loads of parts available and interchagne them depending on the mission?? To save money I am only keeping the parts I am using for that current mech and selling the rest. I would quite like to build up a small fleet of mechs that I can alternate but the cost of buying an entire Schematic is insane.

I aint toyed with the grenade launcher yet but my primary combination of Rifle and Laser Rifle is slicing through Normals and Nexts pretty good