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[DCharlie]

okay - i just played it again

this game is NOT 60fps. sorry - either that, or i'm going mad - but i'm 99.9% it's not.
It's also still very very average.

Again - will try and put something concrete together here - but i really do fear that if people import this on the current impressions that Bebpo might just get linched!

 

[dark10x]

>_<

I'm so conflicted.

DC says AC4 has a terrible framerate, but Blue Dragon has a very smooth framerate

Bebpo says AC4 runs at 60 fps and is generally smooth while Blue Dragon has an awful framerate

*boggle*

 

[kaching]

-Online is cute, but it's no Chromehounds because all it is, is short 1-5 min burts of action in a small arena. Shoot, dodge, shoot, shoot, game ends. No longterm goals, no interesting playtypes. Maybe it's fun to take your custom mech against a friend or two, but AC4 is a single player game with multiplayer tacked on.

But isn't what AC MP has been about all along - arena combat where the depth comes from the different tactics you can employ once you dig deeper into the mech customization?

 

[painey]

wow i wasnt impressed by this game until I just saw those photos of it playing on that Sony TV.. looks totally different to the other shots ive seen

 

[DCharlie]

DC says AC4 has a terrible framerate, but Blue Dragon has a very smooth framerate

Bebpo says AC4 runs at 60 fps and is generally smooth while Blue Dragon has an awful framerate

*boggle*

i look forward to being proved right! *prepares crown*

have to agree that bebpos shots smoke the jag fest boreness of my shots. Will have another go.

 

[Lyte Edge]

I think the best advice I'd give people on the fence is to wait a bit longer. Let more people play AC4 first before you import. Give DCharlie more time to play it...this might be another Chromehounds for him. Give Bebpo time to flipflop on it as he might do. We've all just barely started playng the game.

i look forward to being proved right! *prepares crown*

have to agree that bebpos shots smoke the jag fest boreness of my shots. Will have another go.

Er, it's not so jaggerfic on my TV, either. Maybe these Bravias do something to the PS3, I dunno.

I know the two aren't even in the same genre, but Lost Planet is so much better than AC4 is. That's the real problem I have with this game. I play it and then I just want to load up LP instead.

 

[DCharlie]

Er, it's not so jaggerfic on my TV, either. Maybe these Bravias do something to the PS3, I dunno

i've not got a bravia yet... i'm running a projector.
not sure why it looks so bad for me and not for bebpo...

 

[kaching]

I don't know, I've never found any of the shots for this game particular impressive, whether official frame grabs or unofficial offscreen grabs. The mechs themselves seem nicely detailed and articulate enough but I've always thought the extent to which they're using post-processing filters to be excessive and mostly just comes across to me as compensation for some pretty sterile environments. But again, not exactly anything unexpected from what I've seen of the AC series thus far.

 

[Lyte Edge]

i've not got a bravia yet... i'm running a projector.
not sure why it looks so bad for me and not for bebpo...

I'm basically agreeing with Bebpo here, so that's two against one this time around. Perhaps it's the size of our TVs (mine is only 20 inches) hiding the image flaws you'd see a lot easier on a huge projector screen.

Mind you I don't think the game looks amazing or anything, but it's not crappy, either. I'm also missing custom soundtracks...I'd love to be playing AC4 using the Ghost In The Shell PSX music. Seems like it would be a good fit.

 

[Lyte Edge]

I don't know, I've never found any of the shots for this game particular impressive, whether official frame grabs or unofficial offscreen grabs. The mechs themselves seem nicely detailed and articulate enough but I've always thought the extent to which they're using post-processing filters to be excessive and mostly just comes across to me as compensation for some pretty sterile environments. But again, not exactly anything unexpected from what I've seen of the AC series thus far.

Yeah, that's pretty much what it is. The mechs look very nice, but the environments are bland and devoid of life. It's mostly on buildings that the dreaded jaggies are showing up, too.

 

[DCharlie]

I'm basically agreeing with Bebpo here, so that's two against one this time around. Perhaps it's the size of our TVs (mine is only 20 inches) hiding the image flaws you'd see a lot easier on a huge projector screen.

well, yes.

anyways, bebpo is right - in the 'Water surface' level the game does appear to hit 60fps... until you get out of the tunnel you start in and then it seems to just slice itself back to 30fps.

i'm sure it's probably trying to hit 60 all the time - it's just not capable of it , well, pretty much any of the time :/

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

-Online is cute, but it's no Chromehounds because all it is, is short 1-5 min burts of action in a small arena. Shoot, dodge, shoot, shoot, game ends. No longterm goals, no interesting playtypes. Maybe it's fun to take your custom mech against a friend or two, but AC4 is a single player game with multiplayer tacked on.

Now that's disappointing. I was hoping for something like Chromehounds in an AC enviornment but what you're describing sounds unbelievably lame.

 

[Lyte Edge]

well, yes.

anyways, bebpo is right - in the 'Water surface' level the game does appear to hit 60fps... until you get out of the tunnel you start in and then it seems to just slice itself back to 30fps.

i'm sure it's probably trying to hit 60 all the time - it's just not capable of it , well, pretty much any of the time :/

I just tried another level and it was a lot jaggier than the previous one I played. They keep using different filters and I think it hides it on some stages.

Regardless of the image quality and the frame rate, the game plays well, and the frame rate does not seem to be affecting the game play, so I don't really care what it's running at on what part of the stage.

We should be discussing the game play, not the framerates.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Thank god for some multiplayer, I'd like to hear more about that.

I know this series has a big following, but the PS2 games were so unbelievably boring.

 

[DCharlie]

last level was fairly fun, and the graphics took an upturn.

*goes back to playing*

 

[geox]

Thanks for impressions!

Intro HD 420MB at game videos
http://gamevideos.com/video/id/8134

 

[momolicious]

the game looks very confusing

 

[dark10x]

So, regarding framerate, does it drop frames (become choppy) or display them all (become slow)? That's what I'm curious about. AC2 was field rendered on PS2, so dropping from 60 fps meant slow motion time.

 

[Bebpo]

So, regarding framerate, does it drop frames (become choppy) or display them all (become slow)? That's what I'm curious about. AC2 was field rendered on PS2, so dropping from 60 fps meant slow motion time.

I think the first.

Also it's nice that unlike the trailers which had horrible v-sync issues, the retail game has no screen tearing at all. I think they choose the framerate hits over screen tearing and I support that.

Nevertheless, Lyte Edge is right, the graphics/framerate are good enough and not worth nitpicking over so no more tech talk from me after this.

I was hoping it would be a good addition to Chromehounds, with a better map and such, but it sounds like they didn't bother? How is the storyline for single player then?

The maps are better for single player. For multiplayer :lol :lol ...no. The multiplayer maps are just big squares with like a few objects in them.

The storyline seems fairly non-existant. The storyline of the ACE games smokes this in both plot and presentation. I'm guessing the storyline is similar in presentation/plot to previous AC games.

One more thing, is it actually worse than EDF3?!

Uhhh...graphically not at all. EDF3 drops a lot more and a lot further (down to like 10fps at times), and in co-op mode it's always below 30fps. AC4 is like what you said about AC2 where it's 60fps with dropping all the time (not to 10fps but to 20-30fps). The levels are basically 60fps when you are flying around with no enemies in site, but then it jumps back and forth between 30-60 once the action kicks up.

 

[dark10x]

One more thing, is it actually worse than EDF3?!

 

[DCharlie]

Nevertheless, Lyte Edge is right, the graphics/framerate are good enough and not worth nitpicking over so no more tech talk from me after this.

seriously - you were complaining about slow down in BD making your game twice as long and it being a problem - yet now it is (to me) blatantly obvious this game has a bad frame rate - an action game no less - it's 'good enough' ??? wowzerslogic.

Anyways, i'm standing by what i said - the frame rate is pretty bad - although i have to admit the game is showing some Jackyl and Hyde characteristics... the desert levels do look very nice , but almost everything else looks so average.

Seems to be simple enough though : no filter - looks bad, with filter - looks fantastic. Please patch to filter all levels?

Shots , now that actually look decent!

 

[drohne]

fap. exactly how much of this is in english again? i'm particularly interested in parts descriptions and such.

 

[Bebpo]

seriously - you were complaining about slow down in BD making your game twice as long and it being a problem - yet now it is (to me) blatantly obvious this game has a bad frame rate - an action game no less - it's 'good enough' ??? wowzerslogic.

AC4 has a better framerate than BD and I'm sure it will have an even BETTER framerate on X360 in a few months. BD is 30fps with drops and screen-tearing, AC4 is 60fps with drops and no-screen tearing. Big difference and 30-60fps changes don't bother me like 1-30fps ones do.

fap. exactly how much of this is in english again? i'm particularly interested in parts descriptions and such.

None. The game is ridiculously hard if you don't read Japanese pretty well. Wait for the domestic and possibly superior version in March.

 

[DCharlie]

AC4 has a better framerate than BD and I'm sure it will have an even BETTER framerate on X360 in a few months. BD is 30fps with drops and screen-tearing, AC4 is 60fps with drops and no-screen tearing. Big difference and 30-60fps changes don't bother me like 1-30fps ones do.

okay - and again - this is not the experience i'm having. So perhaps my Ps3 is broken

for me :

blue dragon 30fps - locked - no screen tearing - mild slow down in some victory poses and some attacks

AC4 - 30fps - excpet in a tunnel or area with limited view and little scope - then = 60fps (?) - sub 30fps almost constantly. Area with fake orange lighting very poor yet desert area solid 30fps.

*shrug* it's you and Lyte vs me!

anyways, agian - as Duck will point out - we are arguing about frame rates and not talking about the game... actually, i'm enjoying it a lot more the more i get in. I'm starting to think the first few levels are a massive massive mistake.

 

[Bebpo]

Anyhow, I'm not sure if you've gone to options yet, but turning off auto-boost, auto-weapon_change, auto-lock-on, makes the game play a lot better IMO.

 

[dark10x]

blue dragon 30fps - locked - no screen tearing

BD is 30fps with drops and screen-tearing

*confused*

 

[Lyte Edge]

Well Dark, if anything...it's 30fps. ^_^;

*shrug* it's you and Lyte vs me!

I think I may be more of a neutral party.

I'm starting to think the first few levels are a massive massive mistake.

Way, WAY too harsh. The first few levels also need to be a bit more simplistic and easy to help get people accustomed to playing the game.

 

[DCharlie]

Way, WAY too harsh. The first few levels also need to be a bit more simplistic and easy to help get people accustomed to playing the game.

they need to be simplistic but why does that have to extend to the geometry and effects?!?

anyways, couple more shots - time for bed ..

no more AC4 for a few days ...

 

[Bebpo]

Got to chapter 4 and I think I've had it with this game.

It looks great and I want to keep playing soley to see how each new area looks, but no game has been as stressful I_WILL_BREAK_THE_DISC as AC4 in recent memory. Unless I'm playing completely wrong (which is possible) the game is just bullshit for a lot of stuff.

For instance, when I unlocked the simulator arena (a place where you can fight 1 on 1 vs. cpu robots and win money/parts) I was happy to find out that you can load up your mech with ANYTHING IN THE SHOP and take it into arena battles without having to purchase the items (you only need to purchase the items to take it into story battles). So it was cool decking out my mech with all the latest stuff in the store and fighting some battles. But by the 3rd arena (out of like 20+ opened so far) battle, even with all the best armor/boost/flares/guns/rockets/etc... the guy toasts me in under a minute and I can't even get 50% of his life away. After an hour of trying and dying over and over in 30-40 secs I given up and called it impossible and I think I'm done with the game until I can find a clear save one day and then go back and check out all the cool looking levels.

You'd think if you were developing a game for a launch audience, aka a NEW audience who will give your franchise a shot besides just your tiny niche AC fanbase, you would not make the game so incredibly frustrating that they never want to play another AC again. From can be idiots at times.

Someone sure liked MGS3...

 

[Dahbomb]

Ok so you basically just described DMC3 (non-SE NA version) in a nutshell with the third post. Brutal difficulty that makes you either get better or replay previous mission to earn enough cash to make yourself better by default. The game controls faster, looks amazing, has crazy effects and plays better, poor man's ZOE2 confirmed.

I just hope the framerates are decent enough when I get to play them because I really want to play this since I am almost completely sold on this game.

Also are there multiple difficulty settings?

 

[Bebpo]

Ok so you basically just described DMC3 (non-SE NA version) in a nutshell with the third post. Brutal difficulty that makes you either get better or replay previous mission to earn enough cash to make yourself better by default. The game controls faster, looks amazing, has crazy effects and plays better, poor man's ZOE2 confirmed.

I just hope the framerates are decent enough when I get to play them because I really want to play this since I am almost completely sold on this game.

Also are there multiple difficulty settings?

There is hard mode if you replay old stages and uhhhmmm this is nothing like DMC3. DMC3 was well designed so if you died you felt it was your fault. In AC4 when you die it's because you can't afford the right part yet.

Also DMC3 didn't have 1 minute long load times and <5 min levels.

The difficulty in AC4 is all stat based. The AI's are idiotic and just go straight at you or if they are a boss they spaz dash left and right.

Comparing ZoE2 to this game, whether poor or not is a disgrace to ZoE2.


If you want to play AC4 go play the latest PS2 AC game and imagine better graphics and you have AC4.

 

[DCharlie]

this game has been through the Bebpo wash cycle in my absence i see. Thank god no one imported the $80 game on the initial impressions!

 

[chespace]

Disappointment total at the shite multiplayer from the impressions so far.

I love mechs as much as I do post-proc effects so this game looks to be a graphic whore's soapland... but... reading Bebpo and DC's impressions have basically told me that despite the awesome graphics, AC4 is just another AC game without much done to improve flow, scenario, and/or frustration.

Guess it's fanservice for the hardcore AC fans that won't really bring in any newcomers into the fold.

Will pick this up for 360 just for the better online experience.

So what's the story on PS3 importing? I haven't been keeping up but is PS3 region free?

 

[DCharlie]

So what's the story on PS3 importing? I haven't been keeping up but is PS3 region free?

yup - totally region free for games it would see... at least so far.

 

[Cormacaroni]

this game has been through the Bebpo wash cycle in my absence i see. Thank god no one imported the $80 game on the initial impressions!

:lol

 

[chespace]

yup - totally region free for games it would see... at least so far.

Nice. Any PS3 games I should import while I'm here?

I'll probably get my PS3 in Jan.

 

[DCharlie]

Any PS3 games I should import while I'm here?

not as such.

 

[mckmas8808]

More pics please.

 

[DCharlie]

More pics please.

i`m not at home, will do so tomorrow

 

[Dazzyman]

Whats the language situation mate, is it all JPN?

 

[Bebpo]

this game has been through the Bebpo wash cycle in my absence i see. Thank god no one imported the $80 game on the initial impressions!

My initial impressions on the first page that said the game was frustratingly difficult with long loads between each mission, and that people shouldn't be picking it up unless they belong to the AC niche?

Maybe you should read the posts sometimes instead of just replying with generalizations. I've been saying AC4 looks great, which I stand by, but after an hour or two of it I was already bitching about the gameplay difficulty, which I stand by.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

So which is better? Chromehounds or AC4?

 

[Bebpo]

So which is better? Chromehounds or AC4?

I didn't really like either ;_;

/waiting for ACE3

 

[duckroll]

/waiting for ACE3

Every week I check up for Famitsu news hoping to see a sign of this! Please Banpresto! Make it so!

 

[DCharlie]

My initial impressions on the first page that said the game was frustratingly difficult with long loads between each mission, and that people shouldn't be picking it up unless they belong to the AC niche?

your initial impressions started off in the other impressions thread - you then span off this thread (looks at title...)

Your initial thoughts were the usual Bebpo standard and, as evident, based off a few levels play :

Oh man, Armored Core 4 is NICE.

Coming from a mech action game background, AC4 so far is EXACTLY what I imagined a next-gen mecha game could be like.
Just getting started, and definitely need to play more, but right now I'm really pleased and this is the first PS3 game since Resistance that's felt like really good stuff and a complete experience

In here we just get a couple of glimpses

It plays as well as the trailers.

... this was just feeding peoples hype gland. And what on earth does this actually mean? It plays like the trailer footage, which was a montage of every rocket thats in the game speeding past your mech? Hmmm....

Maybe you should read the posts sometimes instead of just replying with generalizations. I've been saying AC4 looks great, which I stand by, but after an hour or two of it I was already bitching about the gameplay difficulty, which I stand by.

my problem is i DO read your posts - and here by your own words - how can you say this is a complete experience, plays as good as the trailer, with a couple of hours play?

What is killing me here is this game is blattantly average right from the off and then we get the usual HYPE TRAIN, BEBPO PAIN cycle. AGAIN.

I don`t want to sound like a grandad , but i think a lot of people listen to what you say and may well import (or not) based on your snap reports - you are perfectly entitled to think whatever you want about the game, but the initial hype/hate you throw at games is -always- too extreme. I felt you were potentially going to be hung drawn and quartered - because this game is so obviously `middle ground` that an $80 import might see some of the members here come looking for you!

So which is better? Chromehounds or AC4?

So far, easily Chromehounds - but i`ve no tried the bigger battles online yet. Then again , the lack of an ongoing war online makes this a huge step down from CH.

 

[underfooter]

What does this game have that the Capcom 360 mech game doesn't other than unimpressive screen shots?

Seriously, I'm uninformed.

 

[Bebpo]

... this was just feeding peoples hype gland. And what on earth does this actually mean? It plays like the trailer footage, which was a montage of every rocket thats in the game speeding past your mech? Hmmm....

That it looks and controls as smoothly as it looked in the trailer?

What is killing me here is this game is blattantly average right from the off and then we get the usual HYPE TRAIN, BEBPO PAIN cycle. AGAIN.

Well I completely disagree that the game is average right from the start. My ONLY flaw with the game is the difficulty that kicks in 2-3 hours into the game and the loading which doesn't become a problem until the difficulty kicks in and your forced to replay levels over and over. Things that are commentable straight off the start like Graphics, Control, Speed, are all quite good IMO.

If the difficulty was toned down to a level where anyone could enjoy it and the load times were sped up, this would be pretty close to an AAA next-gen mech game. That's my opinion as someone who plays a lot of mech games. You may think differently, and you're entitled, but right off the start (and for the first hour or two) the game was very awesome and almost AAA for ME.

So far, easily Chromehounds - but i`ve no tried the bigger battles online yet. Then again , the lack of an ongoing war online makes this a huge step down from CH.

This also depends on if you play single player or multiplayer. AC4 single player >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chromehounds single player from the 4-5 hours I've put into both. But Chromehounds >>>>>>>> x1000 >>>>>>>>> AC4 multiplayer since Chromehounds is fleshed out and AC4 is just deathmatch.

You can tell the games were made to compliment each other with Chromehounds for the multiplayer audience and AC4 for the single player audience. I think it's possible that they'll make a adjustments to AC4 for the US/UK version and if they do it could be a great single player experience like Chromehounds is a great multiplayer one.

 

[Dahbomb]

What does this game have that the Capcom 360 mech game doesn't other than unimpressive screen shots?

Seriously, I'm uninformed.

Capcom didn't make Chromehound, Sega did.

Also AC4 features faster and more intense game play with lots of cool visual effects and a shit load of customization.

 

[DCharlie]

That it looks and controls as smoothly as it looked in the trailer?

eek - then again, i have to just say that i completely disagree with that appraisal.

Well I completely disagree that the game is average right from the start. My ONLY flaw with the game is the difficulty that kicks in 2-3 hours into the game and the loading which doesn't become a problem until the difficulty kicks in and your forced to replay levels over and over. Things that are commentable straight off the start like Graphics, Control, Speed, are all quite good IMO.

again - i disagree basically. I guess that`s the end of the discussion.

If the difficulty was toned down to a level where anyone could enjoy it and the load times were sped up, this would be pretty close to an AAA next-gen mech game. That's my opinion as someone who plays a lot of mech games. You may think differently, and you're entitled, but right off the start (and for the first hour or two) the game was very awesome and almost AAA for ME.

wowzer - yes, we obviously have very very different tastes. AAA gets slapped on a lot of games too easily these days, but yea - this wouldn`t be anywhere near that for me right now.

This also depends on if you play single player or multiplayer. AC4 single player >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chromehounds single player from the 4-5 hours I've put into both. But Chromehounds >>>>>>>> x1000 >>>>>>>>> AC4 multiplayer since Chromehounds is fleshed out and AC4 is just deathmatch.

Actually - as bad as CH single player is compared to Multiplayer , i`d take it over AC4 easily right now - although again that is unfair as i put a lot of time into CH Single player and i`m nowhere near that mark in AC4. Another thing to be said is that CH single player differs from class to class - some are boring SP experiences, others aren`t. The last mission is amazing as well, pity they weren`t all like that.

Which classes did you play through?

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

What does this game have that the Capcom 360 mech game doesn't other than unimpressive screen shots?

Seriously, I'm uninformed.

Capcom? If you mean Lost Planet, then you really are uninformed. If you meant to say Sega and Chromehounds well Chromehounds was like a spiritual successor to MechWarrior 2. It was a slower, more strategic, squad based mech combat with tons of customization and a persistant online war between 3 nations where you were a participant.

The AC games are much faster (think ZOE) with enclosed arenas and are more akin to fighting games with tons of mech customization.

So AC is a fast paced single player game while Chromehounds is a slower, somewhat sim-like, squad based mulitplayer game.