I tried to do the Soldier campaign but got really bored and that was about the end of that. Way too slow paced for me. I don't like having to walk from point A to point B. In AC4 you can boost across the entire map in under a min and that's about the speed I like in my mech games.
Dont try and collect all the parts, the shop system is usually set up in such a way that you dont lose money for selling parts, if this keeps that tradition, then you need to sell to buy new parts, not horde existing ones. wait till later to do that. Playing this way makes it much easier to deal with the increasing costs, etc. Replaying the same mission over and over is never very fun.
In general, the initial missions in AC games are there so you can play around and get a feel for what type you like, then you can sell and dive into better parts for that type, based on your play style / the level. Obviously spider legs are not optimal in a jump heavy mission, neither is a heavy mech.
Play around get 2-3 configurations available then tweak those. If you part horde like you are playing an RPG you will fail miserably.
I tried to do the Soldier campaign but got really bored and that was about the end of that. Way too slow paced for me. I don't like having to walk from point A to point B. In AC4 you can boost across the entire map in under a min and that's about the speed I like in my mech games.
understood - but how can you comment on CH single player experience when you`ve only done (unfortunately) the worst SP campaign? Or did you literally see that you had to walk from A to B and then that was it - ie: you didn`t like the speed and never went back to SP?
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.
Honestly, if the framerate isn't too bad, then this game is MINE. I really enjoy these mech games... it's a pity that the multiplayer is straight deathmatch, but haven't all AC games been like that ? (of course, no excuse, From should add more team based CTF or something).
It's good to see the morons fleeing the ship on this one. Guess what!
You're not getting your ZoE crap until Kojima and his cronies say so. That doesn't mean you can't take the time to learn how to play one of the best mecha games in existence. This is the Virtua Fighter to Virtual On's Street Fighter; sorry I can't make a comparison to ZoE - because ZoE is like Hungry Hungry Hippos with strobe lights.
Another important tidbit I didn't see mentioned here is that ground boosting is "free", as I understand it no longer saps your energy. So that's a bonus.
I'm probably going to pick this up when it comes out in the US just so I can finally get on-line and shoot jerks in the face. This is my kind of deathmatch game, and I haven't bought an AC game in four years because From Software / Agetec has been complete bumbling idiots about implementing on-line play in the Western releases.
Another important tidbit I didn't see mentioned here is that ground boosting is "free", as I understand it no longer saps your energy. So that's a bonus.
That sounds more like your, and everybody else's, unfamiliarity with the game. Boosting has always been a tactic in AC games. AC is the video game equivalent of walking and chewing bubblegum for reviewers. They just can't figure out how to target, while maneuvering, and boosting at the same time.
I'd say the major problem with boosting and AC games after AC1 is the stage design has consistently become shittier and shittier. In AC1 you had nice populated city stages, so you could boost behind cover for a moment to collect yourself.
Things got crazier in AC2 when they introduced the Overboost. What's worse are the jackwads that OB toward you while launching a volley of missiles. Effectively OB missile jousting with your ass.
I'd like to know more details on the versus maps please. How many? What sort of setting? Small, Medium, Large? Screen shots would be better!
Also, have they removed the vertical limit from the stages?
It's also nice to see they allow AC's to hover over water now. Before only hover leg types could do that, and I can't count the number of times Sea Manky and I lost matches falling into the drink like a spaz.
There's about 8 maps and they range from small, medium, large. They're pretty much all just square arenas in places like Deserts, VR room, Cave, Water, but some have small or large objects littered around to hide behind.
Also, have they removed the vertical limit from the stages?
It's also nice to see they allow AC's to hover over water now. Before only hover leg types could do that, and I can't count the number of times Sea Manky and I lost matches falling into the drink like a spaz.
Yeah it's nice. The main problem I have right now is if you're defending something and an enemy appears and your moving towards it and it shoots a volley of missles over your head, I can't figure out anyway to turn 180 fast enough to shoot the missles down and protect the escorted object. Needs a 180 flip button >_<
The main problem I have right now is if you're defending something and an enemy appears and your moving towards it and it shoots a volley of missles over your head, I can't figure out anyway to turn 180 fast enough to shoot the missles down and protect the escorted object. Needs a 180 flip button >_<
You might want to try a different FCS. Your Core has an automated anti-missile defense system.
A common newbie mistake is picking an FCS with a deeper range, but smaller lockbox. IIRC, an FCS with a larger lockbox will allow wiggle room for your core to shoot the missiles out of the sky.
You may also want to equip some decoys. Those were extremely helpful in AC3.
Using decoys in conjuction with a core with good missile defense will increase your survival odds.
Also, there used to be a part in earlier games that addressed the 180 issue. They were Extensions IIRC. One would boost you 90 and another 180 degrees - again IIRC. I can't imagine them taking these out without replacing these.
Overall though you won't find one AC loadout that solves all mission problems. It's a good idea to keep a couple designs in your garage.
Can you provide a bit more detail on the versus maps? Is there a lot of cover, any multi-level stages, are the cover objects destructible?
Also, can you import images for emblems? This wasn't in previous editions of the game; but it would be awesome if you could.
I know what you mean. I had to hide behind buildings and exploit the computer AI to win (The bots will get stucked in some weird corners). I played through to #1 but interestingly, the last 3 guys are the hardest, especially the last one (They are like retired soldiers). The #1 guy is not so tough.
With the AC series having been a strictly one-on-one affair for versus play, and serious ammo capacity problems arising during 4-player matches, how exactly does an AC have enough ammo to take down seven others in an online deathmatch?
With the AC series having been a strictly one-on-one affair for versus play, and serious ammo capacity problems arising during 4-player matches, how exactly does an AC have enough ammo to take down seven others in an online deathmatch?
I got this game for Christmas and wasn't feeling it much. The graphics were kind of bland and the missions where boring. Total traidbait! But then I played the game online and completely changed my opinion. It's Virtua On(well almost)!!!
Take Out Bandit:
1 vs 1, Team 4(2 on 2) and Team 8 (4 on 4). Also BattleRoyal 4 and 8.
A friend of mine whose a hardcore AC player and has played all the AC games just finished AC4 so here's some final impressions from someone who actually knows what they are talking about on this subject:
[17:02] .: just beat ac4
[17:11] Bebpo: cool
[17:11] Bebpo: how many chapters?
[17:11] .: technically only 4
[17:11] Bebpo: lol
[17:11] Bebpo: what
[17:11] .: 6th chapter only had 1 mission like the first one
[17:12] Bebpo: oh
[17:12] Bebpo: hmm
[17:12] Bebpo: is that short compared to the other AC games?
[17:12] .: yea
[17:12] .: and the missions themselves are really short in comparison
[17:12] .: 1-2 minutes
[17:12] .: old games used to be 10+ each
[17:12] .: or a little shorter
[17:12] Bebpo: yea
[17:13] Bebpo: were the levels pretty hard in the end?
[17:13] .: nah, i just had trouble with one, but then i changed my design and it was pretty easy
[17:13] Bebpo: hmm
[17:13] Bebpo: are there more parts later on?
[17:14] .: barely
[17:14] Bebpo: hmm
[17:14] .: you get a couple from arena, like 2-3 from some missions
[17:14] .: nothing really worth switching out
[17:14] Bebpo: new ones don't open up each chapter?
[17:14] Bebpo: I mean did you basically use the same mech from ch.2->6?
[17:14] .: yea, you get a couple
[17:14] .: yea
[17:14] .: pretty much the same one
[17:15] .: throughout the whole thing
[17:15] .: but that's cause it kicks ass
[17:15] .: and then i have like a couple variations for missions where i needed to change some stuff
[17:15] .: and my arena design
[17:15] Bebpo: so how would this game rank compared to the other games?
[17:15] Bebpo: did you like it more or less
[17:15] .: yea, it's an awesome game, just wish there was more too it
[17:16] .: like they got rid of the branching missions from the old ones
[17:16] .: cause you'd have to like chose sides between 3 or more companies
[17:16] .: this was kind of just like straight through
[17:16] Bebpo: what's your final playtime?
[17:18] .: 14:21:05
[17:18] Bebpo: woah
[17:19] Bebpo: ok, that's pretty lengthy still
[17:19] .: what with all the arena stuff
[17:19] Bebpo: yea
[17:19] .: but yea, in comparrison it was pretty easy, probably cause the unlimited boost makes movement so much easier
[17:20] .: hard is probably like old school difficulty
[17:20] Bebpo: any other major changes
[17:20] Bebpo: from the previous games
[17:20] Bebpo: for better or worse
[17:23] .: major changes are just like, - way faster gameplay, - less of a branching story, - shorter yet more hectic mission
[17:26] .: oh, and the customization is kind of different
[17:26] .: what witht he stability stuff
[17:26] Bebpo: how so?
[17:26] Bebpo: what the hell does stability do?
[17:26] .: you never used to be able to add stuff on top to change stability
[17:26] .: i still dont know
[17:26] .: i just put the stuff on to make my core look tight
[17:27] Bebpo: haha
[17:27] .: which is probably what most people do
[17:27] .: gives you more options to change the look of your core
[17:27] .: supposedly it affects the way it moves
[17:27] .: i couldnt really tell
[17:27] .: and then the tuning screen is changed
[17:27] .: you get tuning points from winning arena matches
[17:28] .: you used to have like a set amount to tune all your stuff or something
[17:28] Bebpo: ic
[17:28] .: and primal armor is new
[17:28] Bebpo: yeah it seemed like the tuning was more like ACE
[17:28] Bebpo: adding points to stuff
[17:28] Bebpo: like speed/attack/def
[17:28] .: yea
[17:28] Bebpo: what did you think about PA?
[17:29] .: i thought it was pretty tight
[17:29] Bebpo: change the way the game plays a lot?
[17:29] .: yea
[17:29] .: you dont get raped as much
[17:29] .: and i guess you have to take it into consideration when choosing your weapons
[17:29] .: how much they penetrate
[17:29] .: and whatnot
[17:29] .: but i guess in the end it just replaces the old shell/energy weapon damage
[17:30] .: so it's pretty much the same
[17:30] .: but now you get a cool shield effect when you get hit
[17:30] .: there was a major lack of anti missle defense equipment in the game
[17:31] .: probably cause they figured you can just boost out of the way now
[17:31] Bebpo: could you?
[17:31] Bebpo:
[17:31] .: yea
[17:31] .: quick boost makes that game
[17:31] .: shit's awesome
[17:31] Bebpo: haha
[17:31] Bebpo: do you ever use the overboost?
[17:31] Bebpo: seemed pointless to me
[17:32] .: my favorite missions are rushing through hundreds of enemies dodging all their shit
[17:32] .: nah, drains too quick
[17:32] .: it was more useful in the old games when you couldnt move as fast
[17:32] Bebpo: have you tried online?
[17:32] Bebpo: with your endgame mech
[17:32] .: not yet
[17:33] .: there was a crazy mission near the end of chapter 5 where
you're like against 4-5 ac's and you have like 3-4 ac's on your side helping you
Hey bedpo, is there a way to add someone to your buddy list from within the game? I can invite (which brings up the XMB friends list just like RR7) but if I want to add someone from the lobby I can't. :/
The branching structure of previous AC games was lame anyhow.
What I mean by that is if you showed preference for one corporation over another, the other corporations wouldn't - say stop offering your missions as you advanced. Which is something that would have been a nice addition to the series single player mode.
Say you prefer the GA Corporation and take missions for them to undermine the other companies; it would be nice to see GA giving you a discount on equipment; and other companies offering you fewer missions.
Additionally the branching story had no affect on your game ending. Which isn't really important, but if you want to pretend there's some significance to a branching story; then make damn sure your game is designed to demonstrate this somehow.
Hey bedpo, is there a way to add someone to your buddy list from within the game? I can invite (which brings up the XMB friends list just like RR7) but if I want to add someone from the lobby I can't. :/
WOW, I just discovered everybody I played with is in the Players Met section of the XMB!!! Is this the first PS3 game that actually supports that feature? It's pretty cool cos it also lists WHEN (date and time) and WHERE (game name) you met each one of them. And u can obviously send a friend request from there.
Bebpo's friends' impressions have sold me on this. I'm gonna wait for the NA PS3 release though as I think they may polish some things up a bit more. Seems the JPN release was rushed a bit. Awesome to see the PSN integration is already improving too. Can't wait. It's been a long time since I played through AC3.
1.10 patch from 12/28 changes (game lets you choose which version you want to play with):
-OB and PA recovery time quickened
-Bullet weapon PA usage strengthened
-PA ability of light parts strengthened
-Bullet Defense effect repaired from scratch
-A part of tune ability strengthened
-Balancing on a part of EN weapons
Also TTP, I booted up the game and I remembered that after it's done downloading the patch instead of resetting or starting the game it just changes the text to say "download is complete. Please reset the game yourself". Definitely problematic for importers ^^;
Also TTP, I booted up the game and I remembered that after it's done downloading the patch instead of resetting or starting the game it just changes the text to say "download is complete. Please reset the game yourself". Definitely problematic for importers ^^;
Hmm, so yeah now that I asked my friend how to play the game is a lot more fun and not as painfully difficult (still hard though. It still took me 3 tries to finish the first mission of ch.4 where I was).
I had been using Bazookas, Plasma Canons, and standard rifles. Basically strong but they were slow and missed a lot and I had to fight from pretty close range so I'd take a ton of damage. My friend recommended laser rifles for fast and strong ground fighting with medium amount of ammo and vertical missles for long-range homing attacks. Going with that, fighting was a lot more fun and I was actually kicking a lot of ass. Good stuff. Since I'm already like 50/60% through the game I think I'll probably try to actually see the game through to the end.
Hmm, so yeah now that I asked my friend how to play the game is a lot more fun and not as painfully difficult (still hard though. It still took me 3 tries to finish the first mission of ch.4 where I was).
I had been using Bazookas, Plasma Canons, and standard rifles. Basically strong but they were slow and missed a lot and I had to fight from pretty close range so I'd take a ton of damage. My friend recommended laser rifles for fast and strong ground fighting with medium amount of ammo and vertical missles for long-range homing attacks. Going with that, fighting was a lot more fun and I was actually kicking a lot of ass. Good stuff. Since I'm already like 50/60% through the game I think I'll probably try to actually see the game through to the end.
Is there a way to just increase the ammo of a given weapon? I run out of ammo pretty fast :|
Edit: oh, and WTF about the lack of a quick retry option? Geez why are some devs so ****ing stupid? You wait 20 secs for a mission to load, you die 5 mins in... and it goes back to the mission selection screen after *another* loading moment. Why for the mother of god, WHY? You know your loading routine and memory management suck, so why dont you try to avoid disc access where you CAN? >_<
This rant also applies to Motorstorm vehicle selection screen. It's the reason I'm not choosing a vehicle other than the first one appearing anymore. It could have been sooo easly avoided by just replacing the 3D graphics with some simple icons [like GTHD] or letting you "tag" a preferred vehicle of a given category so that's the one it loads up from the get go.
AC games are almost always good but they're complex enough that it really confounds most players and that shoots their enjoyment down immensely. The single player experience could definitely be better though.
With the whole Popstation craze, I was digging through my stack of unplayed PSX games and pulled out the original Armored Core. I've kinda been playing it lately, seems like a neat series.
And then I see the pictures in the first post. Damn, we've come some way.
I love Chromehounds, but just can't get motivated toward Armored Core 4, which drops in a month. Absolutely love the 'tankish' design of the Hounds (makes them feel a little more realistic) vs. this games giant robots with arms and swords flying around the screen all crazy.
Do any of you guys have any more updated impressions after having the game for a while?
I even have extra credit left over at gamestop that is just sitting there.... just not feeling the trailers.
So guys, how did this game turn out in the end? I live in Europe - wondering if it's actually worth buying (full price) when it gets released in April.
I always respected the AC games for having great customizations but the controls and camera were always a low point for me. Will they fix the controls in AC4?
