Armored Core 4 Puts the Series Online and Makes It Faster, But the Mech Formula Stays the Same

Armored Core 4 brings the franchise’s mech combat to two next-generation consoles, and the leap is mostly a success. The pacing is faster, the controls are tighter, and the online multiplayer finally arrives outside Japan — but the core of the game remains what it has always been. That is both a strength and a problem.

Trailer, via IGN.

The Setting and Its Story

The game is set in a future where overpopulation, dwindling resources and civil unrest have destroyed the nations of Earth. Corporations have taken over, and six major corporations launch a coordinated uprising called the National Dismantlement War. That war overthrows all countries and brings in a new order of corporate peace, the Pax Economica — a world of colonies, forced labor and secrecy.

In this world, five years in, the colony of Anatolia is in crisis. It was once independent because of a wealthy professor named Jarnefeldt, whose death leaves the colony without income. A researcher named Emil Gustav takes over. He modifies a veteran pilot into a LYNX — a mech pilot of highly advanced NEXT Armored Cores — and sells his services to corporations that lack their own NEXTs. The player, who is also referred to as “Anatolia’s Mercenary,” is that pilot. A late professor’s daughter named Fiona Jarnefeldt agrees to act as his operator.

The setup gives the game a reason to exist beyond combat. The player is not just a hired gun, but a hired gun with a colony to protect and a wealthy father to avenge. That is a stronger starting point than the series has had before.

The Combat and Its Customization

The combat itself is the heart of Armored Core 4. Pilots enter a mech, fight missions for credits, and spend those credits on parts and weapons. The system is built on customization: hundreds of parts, each with its own stats, can radically change a chassis. Players can tune parts subtly to fit their playstyle. The game streamlines many features from earlier entries while keeping the complex system that defines the series.

A new twist is that many parts are not available at the start. Instead, they are unlocked in groups as the story progresses. This pacing keeps the game from overwhelming new players right away, though it also means the best parts are always a mission or two away.

The Pace of Play

The controls are more accessible than previous entries. The arena mechanic returns for 1-on-1 matches against computer opponents, but the story missions are where the game shines. They give the player a reason to fight beyond just earning credits. The pacing is faster than earlier games, which makes the missions feel more urgent.

The game is split between single player, multiplayer and split-screen modes, with online play arriving for the first time outside Japan. Players on the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live can gather up to seven other players for deathmatch modes, and the Xbox 360 version introduces achievements to the series. These modes are a welcome addition, even if they are not the main draw.

Where It Falls Short

The game does not reinvent the Armored Core formula. It is a reinvigoration, not a redefinition. The customization system is deep, but it is the same system fans have seen for years. The story gives the player a colony and a father, but it is a thin shell. The missions are clear and the combat is tight, but the game lacks the variety that a true reinvention would have offered.

The online multiplayer is a step forward, but it is hard to call it a leap. For most of the series, the mode existed only in the Japanese version of Armored Core 2: Another Age. Now it is finally available to everyone else, and that is a real improvement. The deathmatch modes are a solid addition, but they do not change the core of what the game does.

The Verdict

Armored Core 4 is a solid entry in a long-running series. It takes the best parts of the franchise — the customization, the combat, the story missions — and makes them work better. The game is not a revolution, but it is a clear improvement. The online multiplayer, the faster pacing and the stronger story give it a reason to play that earlier games lacked.

The game is not without faults. The customization system, while deep, is the same one that has defined the series for years. The story is thin and the modes are solid but familiar. For a franchise built on precision and repetition, this is not a fatal flaw. It is simply a reminder that the series has not changed direction.

The game deserves credit for taking real risks while keeping the things that make it work. The result is a mech game that is easier to pick up and harder to put down than its predecessors.

Key Facts

• Title: Armored Core 4
• Developer: FromSoftware
• Publisher: FromSoftware, Sega, 505 Games
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
• Release date: 2006
• Online multiplayer: Up to 8 players (7 additional players)
• Game director: Hidetaka Miyazaki, debut entry
• Score: 6.7 of 10

What Works Best

1. The faster pacing and tighter controls
2. The online multiplayer, the first outside Japan
3. The stronger story setup with Anatolia and Jarnefeldt
4. The deep customization system, still with depth

What Needs Work

1. The story remains thin despite the setup
2. The modes are solid but familiar
3. The customization system is the same as before
4. The online multiplayer is a step forward, not a leap

Armored Core 4 · FromSoftware · mech combat · PS3 · Xbox 360