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Great for true Mech fans, a bit buggy for others

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 23 / 25
Date: November 23, 2000
Author: Amazon User

When we got a Playstation 2, the first PS2 game we put into it was Armored Core 2, by Agetec. This game style is definitely one we enjoy a great deal. Unfortunately, it appears they rushed this game out the door a bit too quickly.

The game design is really neat. Like most mech games, you start out slowly, getting money to customize your mech as you go. There are 50 'ranked' robots for you to fight your way through, as well as 35 missions to undertake to earn fame and fortune. There are hundreds of parts to choose from to customize your bot.

You can also go head-to-head by linking your PS2 to a friend's with the cable. Unfortunately the PS2 doesn't currently support modem play, so someone has to carry the unit to someone else's house to do this.

The plots are interesting - with three factions trying to get control of Mars, the missions you choose help influence the fate of these companies. The customization is almost overwhelming. You can custom-design your own logo with their built in paint program, buy parts for a huge variety of systems on your mech, and then test it out in various arenas against various foes.

Why the disappointment, then? The learning curve on this is VERY steep - the screens and layout could have been done much more intuitively. The game also runs extremely slowly. Sounds lock up, visuals will stick on the screen, etc. If you've spent hours and hours (if not weeks and weeks) working on designing the perfect mech, the last thing you want is for system failures to cause you to lose missions and die in battles.

A true mech fan might overlook these problems and enjoy the game, but those out to test the true power of their PS2 might want to look at other options.

Armored Core 2 is definitely a Blast

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 27 / 32
Date: November 10, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is simply amazing! It has everything a Mech battle lover could want. There are plenty of missions (about 35) and plenty of opponents in the Arena (49). Customization of your Mech is almost limitless (assuming you have earned the credits in battle) and the game isn't dumbed down to a silly shoot 'em up. Every aspect of your Mech comes into play during battle, and you are usually at a material disadvantage so you'll have to plan your attacks instead of just shooting wildly and wasting ammo (ammo costs credits and it will come out of your reward when you complete a mission). The diversity of the missions force you to equip your Mech for each particular mission or opponent, none of that "one super mech beats all" stuff here. A missile-heavy AC is useless on a mission where missile lock-ons won't function properly. The graphics are absolutely stunning! Each AC is incredibly detailed and moves beautifully. The controls take a little getting used to, but once you've mastered it, you'll do some amazing things in battle that'll have you watching the arena replays over and over. I won't even get into the Vs. mode, where you and a friend load up your custom ACs and see who's the baddest on the block. Simply put, a must have!

Lots of fun, but be prepared to earn it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: February 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game because I was looking for a non-sports title for my PS2 and wanted something with a little more combat than SSX (excellent game - see reviews). I'm glad I read reviews of it before I bought it! Armored Core 2 is a very good game, but it does have its flaws, and there is a learning curve involved. Some people may not want to take the time to get past the initial phase of the game.

The premise is simple - you're on Mars and own a mech, a remote-controlled, armed robot. Mars is controlled by several corporations, each with their own agenda, and they're looking for hired help to help them get what they want. That means you. You provide help by way of accepting missions. From time to time, corporations will contact your advisor with opportunities. You can review the mission, see how much it pays (sometimes you get an advance), and choose to accept or decline. Upon completion of the mission, you'll get whatever portion of the reward you're owed, as well as any bonuses you may have earned, but you have to pay to repair any damage to your mech and you have to pay for ammunition that you've used.

You can also earn credits (money) and parts by beating other mechs in head-to-head combat in the Arena. The Arena is a ladder-based challenge system - as you beat each opponent, you move up one rung and receive a correspondingly larger bonus. You don't have to pay for damage or ammunition in the Arena.

Here's where the work comes in. At first, you've got a very basic mech. Especially if you're not familiar with mech combat, as I wasn't, you'll get beat in the Arena or fail to complete missions. The expense of failing a mission is usually enough to set you back too far to continue, so you'll want to restart the mission. Easy enough? Think again.

The game doesn't lend itself well to this kind of progress (intentionally so, I think). If you want to redo a mission, you have to load a saved game (save after EVERY mission!), accept the mission, and start over again. It's not a quick process. Then again, it can still be done. In Arena mode, you can simply choose to fight the battle again, and can do so over and over until you win, although the losses are kept in your record.

As you progress through the missions, you get more offers, your ranking improves (you have a completion percentage based on how far you've gone), and you learn more about Mars, the corporations, and other things that are happening. Eventually, you'll have a well-armed mech and will be more able to do what you want. Corporations will also make more parts available to you, especially if you've been working for them, so don't think you're limited to the weapons, legs, and other parts you see when you start.

After each mission and Arena battle, you can take your credits and spend them in the Shop. Here's where Agetec makes up for the missions - you sell parts back for 100% of the purchase price, so you can experiment to your heart's content (well, maybe your wallet's) when you upgrade your mech. However, you can't get everything you want. Your mech has an energy limit and weight limits for the legs and the core, and you can't spend more money than you have. If you're too heavy or can't afford required parts, you can't go into battle.

The control scheme is typical for mech games, which means if you were expecting to use the analog sticks for movement, you'll be disappointed. In their defense, this system is more realistic. After all, if your mech has legs, it's not going to be able to spin around very easily! It takes a bit of getting used to (and you need to know that the L3 and R3 buttons are the analog sticks - push in to use), but once you've got the controls down, you'll be ready for battle. You can even use a USB mouse to design your emblem (the logo for your mech), and if you've got skills, you can design a really cool emblem.

The gameplay itself is good, although if there are many missiles on the screen, you'll definitely see some slowdown. Aside from that, it's nice once you've become accustomed to the controls, and there's something satisfying about taking out a plane or a chopper with one well-aimed missile. It's not all brute force, though. You'd love to be able to lay waste to a facility, but when you finish the mission and get your bill for the ammo, you'll wish you were a little more conservative.

You can play head-to-head against a friend, either in split-screen mode if you've got one PS2, or if you have two PS2s, two TVs, you each have the game, and you have one i.Link cable, you can play on your own systems.

There are many different types of mechs you can build, and the missions that you accept, in theory, steer your progress through the game (I've not played more than one game, so I can't verify that). I think the replay value of the game is pretty good, if you're a mech player, and I'm looking forward to going back and replaying some missions.

I've had a lot of fun with this game, but I've also had to be patient with it. If you've got the time, and if you like mech combat, this is a good game for you. If you're considering this for a younger person, or if you're new to the mech arena, you may want to look for something else.

This game is hard!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: January 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I really, really like Armored Core, but this is so much harder. No just picking up the game and easily making it through the first few missions in AC2. The controls respond in a way that I would think that a giant robot's weapons would respond. The graphics are great, with pretty of eye candy. Great sound and background music as well. Its major problem is that there is no analog control. You have to use the D-pad and hit the shoulder buttons if you want to strafe. Also, there doesn't seem to be as many bonus parts to find--don't quote me on that, though. The view is from outside and slightly above the AC, with it still being in your field of view. It's got a cool custom cockpit and the arena mode is a nice addition from the original. Expect to spend some time dying and probably getting Plused a few times before you get really good at it.

Gran Turismo for Mech-Heads

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 05, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Apples versus oranges some might shout, but to me there are several parallels between this mech-warfare game and the highly structured race game, Gran Turismo.

In both games, you begin with a basic "vehicle" (the first and Armored Core or AC, the latter a race car). Both vehicles are customizeable and upgradeable, and both require money to make your vehicles better. Both involve competitions (the former in the Arena against other ACs or on missions for assorted corporations that, upon success, pay for services rendered - the latter in races) to raise money to pay for your upgrades. Both require practice to master your machines. And, in my opinion, both are great games. In other words, if you like the features of Gran Turismo - the building and bettering of a vehicles - the challenge of mastering its operation - the thrill of victory over difficult opponents - and want a break from race games, give AC2 a try!

The play control isn't too tricky, I feel, once you learn the basic important movements. However, as you upgrade and switch your AC around, factors such as defense, mobility, energy, and the like, are all affected in different ways. This leads to countless combinations that, in my opinion, add to the fun.

The graphics are beautiful and the explosions are spectacular. There are so many different types of weapons - from rocket launchers to machine guns, shotguns to missle launchers to bombs - all featuring differing strengths and weaknesses (and ways to blow up your enemies!) that create yet more eye candy for the MechWar fiend.

The sound is nothing special, but once again, the explosions are quite exhilerating. I don't think the sound is bad, just typical of action based games, easily left to the background. For those of you who prefer female or male computer voices for your ACs, depending on how you upgrade, this sound can change.

Artisans have the option of customizing the colors of your mechs. There are many preset colors for impatient folks like myself to change the look of your AC with one click, or you can create your own combinations of colors out of scratch. ACs can also feature emblems which can be customized or created.

Thanks to all the combinations you can formulate when it comes to machinery, and all the missions and competitions, I feel this game will keep me entertained for quite awhile. If you like strategy, customization, competition, and just blowing things up, give AC2 a try. I think you, too, will find entertainment value in this for months to come.

Kind of game that makes you want to break a window.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 31, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Dont let the title of this review turn you away from the game. But belive me, it is completely true. I loved AC 1 and PS2 I knew would deliver. It did thankfully. The graphics are smooth and there is absolutely no clipping. No pixels when your up close and only minor slow down in mission levels (this happens very seldom, usually when 10 missles are flying at you with 20 MTs shooting at you, which is only like 2 levels.) AThe game is fun, but only once you break through the begining of the game because I couldnt tell you how many times I got the ... kicked out of me and had to dig myself out of debt. Some of the first couple levels are [very] hard, as are some of the later missions. As the title reads, once you play the 4-5 mission you will hurl your Dual Shock 2 controller through your window and sit there meticulously thinkin of how you can get your self out of a -30k debt. Once you get a chance to build up your mech, this game shines through the darkness. You can create a really personalized mech, changing color, parts, weapons, speed. Everything is customizable. I am now begining to truely enjoy this game because if you have patience you will get to the point of this game which makes this a must have. Piloting your AC through Arena mode is a definite plus to get your mind off of frustrating mission battles. The story even progress fluidly with "Mail" that you get after certain missions or arena battles. The graphics are awesome, story is awesome, and after some broken controllers, gameplay is awesome and definitly warrants this a purchase.

This game is worth buying!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First off, this game is very hard. You have 32 difficult missions to complete, all the while trying to advance through around 50 other challengers in the Arena. The graphics are smooth and are beautifully rendered using the PlayStation 2's great processor. You didn't need to play this game's predecessors, because the storyline in this game kicks off from the beginning. It is an intertwining plot about heroism, sacrifice, betrayal, and mysteries of another race, particularly, the Martians.

Another great thing is that there are over 200 parts you can earn and find in missions, the shop, and the Arena. Customizing your mech is one of the great aspects of this game. There are thousands of combinations, insuring you that your mech is unique.

For all of you parents out there, this game has only robot violence, no "blood and guts" as in most other video games. For the kids, this game insures a challenge, so don't be afraid to lose.

ARMORED CORE 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: October 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is the coolest game in the mech genre! I have played the japanese version and it rocked! this is a definite must for the ps2. after playing the japanese i am going to buy it. so if you like mech games this is the game for you!!!!

Armored Core 2-The best mech game I've ever played!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: February 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game was my first for Playstation 2 and I love it! It is hard and takes a lot of time to complete fully(you get a percentage of how much you've done). You will need to build an AC(Armored Core), win in the arena or complete missions for money and parts, then build an even better AC!

The game has exactly 202 parts that you can use to customize your AC. You have 14 areas of your mech to put the parts in: head, core, arms, legs, booster, fcs(firing control system), generator, radiator, inside, extension, back unit right, back unit left, arm unit right, arm unit left, and optional parts. An example of customization is the different legs you can use. You get to pick humanoid, reverse-joint(think of an AT-ST from Star Wars), quadruple(spider-like legs), catepillar(tank), or hover bases. You can create up to 3 ACs per save file. This gives you thrice the fun of building mechs.

You get a mech with basically the worst parts in the game to start off with. By completing missions and arena battles, you can save up for better parts to make your life easier. You can also find secret parts or have them given to you for advancement. However, by the time you get those better parts, the missions and arena opponents will be much tougher so don't be too confident.

There are basically three classes of mechs: light, medium, and heavy. The light ACs have relatively weak weapons but can outmaneuver heavier ACs. They have light armor but are harder to hit. Heavy ACs are behemoths armed to the teeth with thick armor. This makes them very slow and much easier to hit. Medium mechs are in-between the two. They can move at a decent speed and have pretty good weapons. Your AC type depends on how you like to play. I myself go with a heavy mech.

There are 36 single-player missions in the game to complete. The missions you get to do depend on what mission you have selected before it. You cannot finish all of the missions the first time around. You have to go back and complete the ones you missed after you have beaten the game(All missions become available to do in any order you'd like). Hidden within the missions are 12 AC parts(I'm not telling where they are!) that you need to find to get 100% on your game. Also, new parts become available depending on which missions you do and how many jobs you accept from the different companies.

You can also get money and parts in the arena. At first, there at 49 other Ravens(AC pilots) to compete with. As you progress through the missions, other Ravens tend to get in your way, forcing you to kill them. When you do this, new Ravens appear to take their places. There are 57 opponents total in the arena that you get to fight in 11 different arenas. Each opponent has a unique AC and tends to have a different style of fighting than the rest. You should be careful as you move up the ranks, their tactics and AI get much better than the morons at the bottom. You can also enter the arena with a friend's AC in split-screen or link-cable battles. You are also awarded 9 AC parts based on Arena ranking.

To actually complete the game 100% is a difficult task indeed. Obviously, you need to complete every single mission. Finding all of the hidden AC parts is a must. All Arena parts must be secured. You will also have to defeat Ares to become the Nine-Breaker(the #1 Raven). Lastly, you must defeat the eight new Ravens.

This game will take time but is worth it! This was my first Armored Core game and it makes me want to try out the others. It's fun and really addictive. I spent hours and hours(and lots of money for bandaids when the skin on my thumb ripped off) playing the game. Even when you lose, you will want to retry to win after adjusting your AC for new tactics. There are tricks and secrets to learn along the way. Human Plus(turning you into a cyborg for better functionality), override boost disconnect(for 1 minute of infinite energy; also known as Limiter Release), and being able to use overweight ACs. The controls are pretty east to learn but difficult to master. I love this game and I can't wait for the next Armored Core game, which I heard will have online play!!

Not Very Good, Obviously rushed out the door.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: October 30, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I was very disapointed in this game, especially having liked the original so much. This is an extremely buggy bit of coding. I have experienced, sounds locking up in the system, like a explosion during a battle and never clearing out and just keeps repeating -- even after going back to the menu system. Jumping up and getting vision through walls. Camera trailing that often results in a completely obstructed view. And then especially in the arena, after you win a victory, it will reload and then start a seemingly random number of seconds into a new bout before halting and then exiting out to the main menu system. But even given that, the graphics are not on par with other release titles such as SSX and Madden 2001. I would rate this as a skip it until AC3 comes out, that should be really good, since they have a lot of things to make up for here in my opinion.

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