For a long stretch, From Software had carved out a niche for themselves with their mech-based action games. Chief among these was the Armored Core series, which originally launched on the PlayStation and has since captured the hearts of gamers over the past twenty years.
Now, with news that classic titles like Armored Core (1997), Armored Core: Project Phantasma, and Armored Core: Master of Arena will be joining the PlayStation Plus Classics lineup, it’s the ideal moment to journey back through the franchise’s rich history.
Armored Core got its start thanks to a collaboration between From Software and Shoji Kawamori, a renowned mechanical designer from the world of anime. In the early days of the PlayStation, the team envisioned a game centered around player-customizable mechs. This idea matured into the concept of modular components attaching to a base structure known as an Armored Core. Set in a dystopian future where Earth lies in ruins post-Great Destruction, big corporations call the shots, and a group of mercenaries called Ravens are motivated only by riches.
Released in Japan and North America in 1997, with Europe following a year later, the game stood out for its depth in customization, resource economics, and mission-based advancement. It had a unique control scheme that immersed players deeply in the cockpit of their custom mechs. Plus, the narrative branched based on players’ mission choices, ensuring plenty of reasons for replay. Starting March 18, Armored Core will be available with PlayStation Plus Premium.
Armored Core: Project Phantasma followed closely, driven by fan passion and feedback. This iteration brought a more story-centric prequel and introduced the beloved Arena mode where players could battle other mechs for recognition and rewards. It will also be accessible on PlayStation Plus Premium from March 18.
Next came Armored Core: Master of Arena, a title that doubled down on Arena mode. As a direct sequel to Project Phantasma, it allowed players to import saved games from earlier releases, letting them carry over those valuable customizations. These foundational PlayStation titles set the standards that the series would follow, with Shoji Kawamori ensuring the mech designs maintained a distinctive edge. You’ll find Armored Core: Master of Arena on PlayStation Plus Premium starting March 18.
Venturing onto the PlayStation 2 scene, From Software was quick to leverage the console’s potential with Armored Core 2. This title, a launch companion for the PS2 in North America in 2000, catapulted players decades beyond the initial entries. The story shifts to a Mars embroiled in civil war. Armored Core 2 boasted significant graphical enhancements and introduced Overboost for rapid movement, albeit at the cost of a quick energy drain. This was followed up by Another Age, which returned the narrative focus to Earth’s political chaos. Another Age was notable for incorporating online play in its Japan release.
In 2002, Armored Core 3 arrived, bringing its own twists and evergreen settings back to the PS2. It introduced new allies known as Consorts and the ability to discard weapons mid-mission for enhanced agility. Despite not being a direct sequel, it continued cultivating features beloved in the series. Silent Line built on its gameplay, further exploited by the subsequent games Nexus, Nine Breaker, and Last Raven, extending the narrative enveloped within Armored Core 3’s engine.
Armored Core 4 marked the series’ transition to the PS3, draping players in HD graphics. Offering yet another fresh start in the series, it reimagined pivotal game mechanics. Features like Primal Armor and Allegorical Manipulation System ushered in a new complexity. Armored Core for Answer continued this thread a decade later, narrating a grand tale of coalition between humans and corporates seeking refuge in sky-bound cities called Cradles.
2012 welcomed Armored Core V on the PS3, debuting a strategic twist away from the fast-paced action of its predecessors. The combat became more methodical, harkening back to the PlayStation’s origins. Titular shifts hinted at changes, emphasizing strategy with smaller mechs navigating cityscapes. This strategy-heavy approach carried into Verdict Day, highlighting the competitive struggles for mysterious Towers one century post the events of AC5, along with the introduction of customizable AI companions known as UNACs.
All roads have led to the show-stopping Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. Released in 2023, it marked a glorious return after a decade of slumber, much to the delight of veteran fans who have long awaited it. With AC6 attracting fresh faces to the mech combat genre, the series feels poised for a resurgence under From Software’s helm. The anticipation builds as we watch where they’ll steer Armored Core next.
