50 hours later: it's one step back two forward.

[Outsider]

While my first impression was that it's a poor man's Armored Core with less everything, after I completed every mission and got MOST of the unique equipment pieces (some just won't drop) I gotta say my opinion of this game changed quite a bit.

For one I still stand by the notion that customization is inferior to AC. In both visual and gameplay terms. No internal parts, limited shoulder slot control, no different types of legs, inability to paint certain areas and emissions etc etc it's all still present.
If laser swords powered by femto can emit blue blade, there is no reason why I can't paint my mech's visor blue as well. Pilot customization kinda sorta patches it, but not really.

BUT.
In terms of game's progression, replayabilty and gear acquisition it's a huge improvement over AC formula.
Looting parts and weapons from enemies is much better than just buying it from the shop.
Giving unique items to farmable bosses is much better than finding them hidden in the missions that you won't be able to replay until you finish the story.
Randomly generated dungeon is pure gold. I just wish there were more tilesets and room types for it, but it's the single best game mode in the entire package.
Being able to dismount mech and do stuff on foot is fantastic and accentuates vehicle status of the mech, rather than it being playable character.

And most importantly movement and combat, the single most important aspect of all and every game, is a straight up improvement over Armored Core. Combining better parts of 4th and 5th generations, while discarding the bad, it's truly a pleasure to control your custom-built mech and blow stuff up.

In the end I think this game improves over Armored Core. Dumbed down customization is a fair price to pay for better core gameplay and better gameplay modes.
I'm going to sacrifice a virgin or two for satan so we can have improved and expanded sequel in foreseeable future without corporate meddling and stupid console exclusivity.

I mean seriously, who would now play this on switch lmao.
Gotta update my review as well.

[Scavenger]

I feel like they also really dropped the ball.

They make you feel like you could join up with a merc outfit, but you can't.

They could have expanded PvP to allow merc groups, they didn't.

They lead you on at the beginning making you think you can choose a side between Zen, Sky Union, or Horizon and... you can't.

Would have been nice to be able to pick a faction, have access to faction only gear, have faction only side quests, and have 3-way faction PvP fights, allow people from different factions to join into a merc group, and fight your own friends in faction play, and a whole lot of other stuff they COULD have done, but didn't, because some ball was dropped somewhere.

But hey, what do I know, I'm just a gamer.

[きょすけ]

I completely agree with you on the pros of the game, although I really feel sad about the dumbed down customization aspect, and it's kinda worse in my case, as I'm very nitpicky when it comes to aesthetic.

I love being able to farm gear, although this could be very unforgiving if you are aiming to collect all the gears available, due to RNG (still looking for that damned gargoyle room, despite having made hundreds of 2nd level runs), and the exploration is really enjoying, although as you said, I'd like to see more variety. Heck, I wouldn't mind exploration missions based on manufacturer (zen, sky union and so on) in order to have more control over possible drops.

[radio_babylon]

Originally posted by Außenseiter:

While my first impression was that it's a poor man's Armored Core with less everything, after I completed every mission and got MOST of the unique equipment pieces (some just won't drop) I gotta say my opinion of this game changed quite a bit.
...snip...
Gotta update my review as well.

id just like to say i am hugely impressed with this statement. it is extremely uncommon (understatement of the year) to ever see anyone be sharply critical of a game, then after further evaluation, change their opinion... and virtually unheard-of to then ADMIT to it unprompted, along with their reasoning.

personally, im always happiest to discover where ive been wrong in my thinking about something. one learns nothing from being 'right.'

i wish more people would do the same, not just with games, but things generally. would make the world a much better place :) so, thanks for setting a good example

[Exarch_Alpha]

The icre cream schtick is silly but overall I think the game is very solid and I liked it more than Mechwarrior 5.

[DoleBananas]

Originally posted by Scavenger:

I feel like they also really dropped the ball.

They make you feel like you could join up with a merc outfit, but you can't.

They could have expanded PvP to allow merc groups, they didn't.

They lead you on at the beginning making you think you can choose a side between Zen, Sky Union, or Horizon and... you can't.

Would have been nice to be able to pick a faction, have access to faction only gear, have faction only side quests, and have 3-way faction PvP fights, allow people from different factions to join into a merc group, and fight your own friends in faction play, and a whole lot of other stuff they COULD have done, but didn't, because some ball was dropped somewhere.

But hey, what do I know, I'm just a gamer.

So there's a few things that I find issue with, and this is definitely one of them.

Customization could be better. You'd think you'd be able to color all parts of the mech as well as the lights and FEMTO colors. You'd think you'd be able to transmog individual parts instead of your entire arsenal, as well as be able to apply patterns to specific color sections.

Besides that, on the gameplay front, I feel like they could've tried to do a little bit more with the onfoot/out of arsenal combat. It would be interesting to use a rifle, machinegun, or other weapon on foot rather than a weird floating funnel thing. That and overall they could've done a bit better than just... Throwing in Monster Hunter mechanics like optimal range or shock traps and a 'canteen' ice cream shop.

[Mr. Stimpson]

Is the movement more like AC, or Gundam VS?

And thanks for your thoughts. You should put this up as a Steam Review.

[Outsider]

Movement is very similar to both ACFA and ACVD.
It's not like Gundam VS at all.

[Romara]

I feel like I'm living in crazy town.

Let me clarify, I REALLY like this game, I bought a Switch just to get the demo. I bought it on Switch day one. I bought it on PC day one. I have played Armored Core since the demo disc on the 1997.

EVERYONE seems to REALLY like this grind thing, I don't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ get it. Parts are parts. Mechanical bits with pieces that can be replaced and repaired. What in the holy hell, physically, are slots? WHY do some parts have more? What, in my opinion, was Armored Core at it's best is when the playing field is totally level, barring skill. Parts by shop(and preferably able to be tuned after that.), gives everyone access to the same bin of parts, and it's up to them to make something of it.

It's frustrating to have a good build idea, but be handicapped because you haven't spent enough hours doing exploration missions long enough to acquire both the three slotted parts necessary
to achieve maximum upgrade potential, and the critical mark 3 and 5 upgrades in every relevant category multiple times.

Now, I don't mind working for parts. Locking them behind a difficult challenge is one thing, it's the randomization that gets me. I do not have the time to grind bosses over and over on the off chance I will gain a blueprint for a piece of armor or a new weapon, and my ability to compete in PVP suffers for it.

Sorry for the rant, but overall I DO agree with you. Movement and overall combat flow is great. It honestly feels more like a reboot of the original Armored Core; tons of potential, with a bevy of rough edges. It needs an expansion/"sequel" like Project Phantasma, or Master of Arena.

I just hope the studio made enough money to refine what they've done here.

[Outsider]

1) Grinding is fun. But fun is very personal thing, some people hate grinding. I happen to like grinding, I was grinding money in Last Raven just so I can buy out the entire shop. There was no reason to do it.
2) Slots are optional in this game. You can kill the hardest boss solo without any slots with just skill.
3) It's a single player game, so you can skip whatever parts you don't like with cheats. Only pvp-focused people complain about it. Nothing wrong with hacking yourself full gear of whatever you want and play with it however you want. It's a video game, video games are made to have fun.
Then again if you're concerned with pvp then I dunno what to tell you. Maybe try playing competitive games instead, like Gundam VS or Virtual ON. You don't have to grind in those, and I'm pretty sure modern versions have anti-cheats in them.

And yeah I really want a sequel with more and better content.

[きょすけ]

I have to be quite honest: I like the grinding, but I want a more "organized" grinding: right now i'm trying to farm the gargoyle rooms in the second exploration mode, in order to get the 3 special swords. I've made about 100 explorations runs and I have yet to see this cursed room.

[JustACorpse]

Originally posted by Außenseiter:

1) And yeah I really want a sequel with more and better content.

This is all I want at this point. The base gameplay is quite good. It just needs more to do with it.

[Outsider]

Originally posted by きょすけ:

I have to be quite honest: I like the grinding, but I want a more "organized" grinding: right now i'm trying to farm the gargoyle rooms in the second exploration mode, in order to get the 3 special swords. I've made about 100 explorations runs and I have yet to see this cursed room.

I've seen it twice, but never it dropped a melee weapon.

[きょすけ]

Originally posted by Außenseiter:

I've seen it twice, but never it dropped a melee weapon.

WHAT? So you destroyed all gargoyles and still no sword? Damn it, I thought that at least in this case they would always drop at least one sword :(

[Outsider]

One time it dropped flamethrower and another time it dropped toxic weapon.
Both are unique, so at least there's that.

[Outsider]

Literally got another statue room after I posted that lol.
Let's see what it has.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2015786131