For a significant stretch, From Software carved out a niche for itself with its mech-centric action games. Among these, Armored Core stands as a remarkable achievement. The game made its debut on the original PlayStation, establishing a franchise that continues to captivate a dedicated fan base even two decades later.
And guess what? With the exciting news that Armored Core (1997), alongside its intriguing extensions – Armored Core: Project Phantasma and Armored Core: Master of Arena – will soon be available on PlayStation Plus Classics, there’s no better moment to dive deep into the history of this legendary series.
Switching gears back to 1997, the very first Armored Core launched, a brainchild of collaboration between From Software and the legendary Shoji Kawamori, a prominent figure in the realm of anime mechanical design. It originated at the dawn of the original PlayStation era, born out of an idea to create a game centered around customizable mechs. This innovative concept eventually evolved into the customizable Armored Core units, set against the backdrop of an Earth struggling to rebuild itself post-Great Destruction under corporate dominance, presenting players with a choice-driven story and mercenary adventures for hire.
Released in Japan and North America in 1997, and landing in Europe by 1998, the game was lauded for its intricate customization features, resource management strategies, and mission-focused progression. The control scheme, although complex, gave an incredibly immersive experience of being at the helm of a personalized war machine, encouraging players to revisit the game multiple times to fully unravel its storyline.
Fans of the series will be pleased to know that Armored Core will make its way to PlayStation Plus Premium on March 18.
In response to the overwhelming support and feedback from the gaming community, From Software rolled out two expansion packs for Armored Core in rapid succession. The first was Project Phantasma, released in 1998, which enriched the game’s narrative and introduced the much-loved Arena mode. In this mode, players could engage in mech duels to climb the ranks and earn remarkable rewards.
Starting March 18, subscribers to PlayStation Plus Premium will gain access to Armored Core: Project Phantasma, along with the other titles.
Following that came Master of Arena in 1999, which, true to its name, expanded on the Arena mode and made it a central focus. A continuation of Project Phantasma, it allowed players to import their progress, preserving all achievements and customizations. These elements laid down the foundation for the franchise’s hallmark features, many thanks to Kawamori, who continued to contribute his unique design instincts to give the mechs their signature look and feel.
In the year 2000, From Software eagerly embraced the new PlayStation 2 technology, introducing a sequel to Armored Core as a launch title in North America. Armored Core 2 transported gamers to a Mars embroiled in civil strife decades after the original trilogy’s storyline concluded back on Earth. The advance to the more powerful PS2 hardware came with significant graphical improvements as well as new gameplay mechanics. A standout feature was the Overboost function, which enabled mechs to make quick, energy-consuming dashes. Not long after, the story returned to Earth in Armored Core 2: Another Age, offering over 100 fresh missions and marking itself as one of the first PS2 titles to use online play capabilities with the console’s Network Adaptor in Japan.
Moving forward to 2002, Armored Core 3 was introduced, expanding the series on the PlayStation 2. Although the storyline took a new direction, the familiar setting of a devastated Earth, where humans reside in underground shelters controlled by an ambiguous AI named The Controller, remained. Among the new gameplay features were allied units called Consorts, which aided during missions, and the strategic option to discard weapons mid-mission, thereby reducing mech weight for enhanced performance. The cherished Arena mode, missing from the AC2AA installment, made a tempestuous comeback in AC3.
Silent Line, following AC3, pushed the narrative to the surface threats on Earth, and the saga continued throughout several releases including Armored Core: Nexus of 2004. Despite changes in game mechanics during Nexus which prevented data import from previous titles, this era, capping off with Nine Breaker and Last Raven, remains foundational to the franchise. For those with a PSP, many games from this period found their way to the handheld format, expanding the series’ reach.
Fast forward to 2023, and we’ve finally arrived at Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon—a much-anticipated comeback for the series that dropped a decade after Armored Core: Verdict Day. This new chapter not only revitalized the classic feel of Armored Core, but it also welcomed a fresh wave of enthusiasts, many of whom had never before explored the mech-combat genre. Thanks to its immense success and the warm reception it received, AC6 seems to be heralding a new dawn for the venerable series. Only time will tell where From Software decides to steer the Armored Core narrative next.
