The Cave

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Armored Core 4 Review
Publisher: Sega
Developer: From Software
Rated: Teen
Off-line play: 1-2 players; 2-8 system link
Online multi-player 2-8
Content Downloads (?)

**WARNING** If you are not a fan or are familiar with the Armored Core series, I do not suggest you pick up this game and play. Please start out on a earlier game and get familiar with the game style first.

Number 12 in the series, Armored Core 4 is one of the most difficult in the whole AC line of games. The game is so difficult at first that most players new to the series will not stay around long enough to get the hang of it. The story line Consist of 6 chapters, the first and last only containing 1 mission. The user interface is a pain in the ass to navigate, having no real purpose but to confuse. The ACSIS *garage and other user options* could have been set up a little cleaner. The AC builder looks so sloppy the way the have it set up, would have been better if each section would have had its own portion to its self, instead of being one jumbled mess. After you beat the last mission, it opens up free play view, where you can select any mission you haven't played. Hard mode is only accessed by pressing the blue X button, and you only have the option of playing missions that have been beaten in Normal mode.

The controls I am happy to say are still customizable, being able to set your buttons up the way you want them to be, I would personally suggest a configuration with the weapon fire being on bumpers while boost and quick boost are on triggers. Makes boosting and firing a lot easier when turning and moving. Though a lot of people I have talked to have stated they felt the controls were sluggish, I personally thought they worked out fine, though being a long time fan of the series, I am used to being able to adapt to different controls through all the games.

Game play wise, the player starts out with three Cores to choose from, with more parts and schematics showing up later in the game. Most parts will be made available in the store for just advancing the game, but the best parts are only given as rewards for completing certain missions. The FRS allows you to upgrade purchased parts to fully maximize their usage. Most missions will be against what are called Normals with some missions requiring you to go against other Cores. With 39 achievements to be had here, a player with good skills or a guide and the right AC, can have them all with in a week. Online play for this game I personally thought was not worth it. It seemed thrown together with no real planning involved. The only download content available for this game are the automatic Regulation changes. This game would have been way better with parts and new schematics being made for download, but it did not happen.

For the hard core fan, I say this is a must have. For the casual gamer looking to try it out, rent it.

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Armored Core For Answer
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: From Software
Rated: Teen

This review will be short.

Yes, they did this game right, even though it still has issues. A new player to the series can pick this up and still have fun.
Where this Armored Core 4 went wrong, AC: For Answer fixed.

Controls respond faster and have more custom options. I recommend style B controls. The user inter face has been reworked, having the core builder, stabilizers, and FRS tuner in their own options, making things a lot cleaner. Where in the previous game, when you wanted to look at the free play menu, you had to beat the game and scroll to the page to view all the missions in one spot instead of looking through each of the chapters mission by mission. Now, free play has its own menu where it allows you to view what Normal, Hard, and Arena missions you have completed from the start of the game, instead of having to beat it. More parts are made available in this game also, making for some very good design options.
One issue I have with the 360 version of this game is, unlike previous installments where they had second games in the same line, you're not allowed to transfer the data from AC4 to AC:FA. Damn you PS3 users. Just Kidding.

Online mode is a hell of a lot better then the previous installment, bringing back online matches and the new partnership options. Check  http://www.xbox360achievements.org/forum/showthread.php?t=113204  for a understanding of how the partnership works. Only thing wrong with the partnership is they should have allowed it to be done in 2 player split screen also.

And again, no content downloads but for the regulation updates. It would have been nice to have new parts not available in the game.

So for the hard core fan, a must buy. To new players, buy it, its fun, and a lot easier.