When it comes to game reviewing I like to think that I keep a fairly open mind, agreed there are certain genres that I am not so fond of but overall I let the game do the talking. Armored Core 4 is one of those titles that I have at many times picked up in stores only to put down in favour of a gritty FPS. However, upon a recent trip to the cinema to see my appetite for some mech-on-mech increased to an eager anticipation when I had to take on this particular review. From load-up, the intro is fantastic raising the expectations, but what follows is a mere disappointment and my hunger was left nowhere near satisfied. Allow me to explain.

Armored Core 4, despite the clues in the name, is actually the 12th instalment in the series, how they quite work this out at 4 is anyone's guess. The plot and overall premise of the game is fairly simple. Set at a point in the future where the demand for resources has out stripped supply, global corporations have overthrown governments declaring full scale war and imposing their own brand of law on what's left. You form part of the resistance in the role of a who is taking the fight back to the corporations. The story is confusing at best but worst of all meaningless as it has very little bearing on what missions you undertake with the plot only being fleshed out in the progression of chapters.

The missions form a fairly linear pattern in chapter-form but allows the gamer to pick the order in which they are undertaken; even skipping certain missions and progressing to the next chapter if they so wish. There are a good 30+ missions in all, which for most titles would provide hours of entertainment, but here a mission is typically 2-5 minutes long resulting in a quick main story which can be completed in 2-3 hours worth of play, obviously depending on difficulty and the gamer's expertise. The length of the missions leads to one of the most frustrating aspects, just as the action hots-up, it's all over and you are returned to the mission screen, sometimes spending more time waiting for the level to load than actually playing. To complete the missions only the main objectives need to be realised which means that you can complete the mission but still be heavily surrounding by the enemy; why the developers chose to take this approach and not extend the levels to include escape to extraction points is unexplained. Using this method means that it takes a few levels to master the controls as the missions are over far too quickly and you're barely able to warm the fingers. Along with the length, restrictions over the area is constantly maddening, thrown into an urban cityscape the urge to explore is irresistible but upon doing so the player will reach the edge of the combat area, step over this and it's mission failed. This occasionally occurs in mid-battle and is very disappointing.

Along with this, the other feature they have in common is how dull and repetitive they are. AC4 has one speed and that is fast, those that require slow and patient play would be left in afterburner fumes. One tactic seems to prevail above others, keep moving and shoot whatever gets within the target sights. Chapters and levels form a similar routine of guarding an object, shooting airborne targets and fending off invading enemies and as anyone knows, repetition breeds boredom. Graphically the environments are fairly detailed and can offer a fair amount of destruction but due to the speed at which the game is played little attention can be paid to these details, but nothing manages to live up to the opening credits.

So far with have short missions, unappealing level design and non-too fanciful graphics, some of you might be asking where is the fun in this game and it comes from one simple feature, the ability to customise your mech. Although confusing, your mech can turn into anything you want; within reason. Heads, torsos, legs, weapons, paint jobs, etc., are all interchangeable until you should happen upon that perfect combination. Although the most detailed portion of the title it will only have limited appeal to those that are of the mech persuasion, those with only a passing interest will probably spend very little time here. Of course customising costs money, the currency in AC4 is earnt through completion of the levels and the points awarded for the skill with which you do so. The gamer will be measured in the time of completion, damage taken and amount of ammo consumed, the greater you fair from the game's estimation the larger the currency awarded.

In addition to the single player campaign there is the feature enabling users to battle it out either online, split screen or system link. Unfortunately the mode is restricted to 8 players but does give the option to choose which worldwide zone they wish to take up and whether the games are ranked or non-ranked. Online modes take the usual team up, versus and battle royale form. Taking on real people is more rewarding but nevertheless unfulfilling as it's all too familiar. For those that have spent hours customising their mech it's the chance to show it off in all its glory and even share schematics, not for the gamer I would suggest.

Whenever I review a game I take the time to find out other peoples' opinion in order to ensure that I'm not giving a too biased final score. AC4 has the ability to split people right down the middle, it's a Marmite (Vegemite, in some quarters) game. Those that love to customise mechs and own previous incarnations are sure to love it, those like me that only find limited appeal are sure to find it disappointing. There is fun to be had, gliding a ton of metal around armed to the teeth blowing stuff up does have its moments which cannot be denied but will not grab the attention for long and is best played in small bursts. There is nothing next-gen about the title in the least; only slightly improved graphics. There was the scope to do more, indeed in the 20th outing in the series you might expect the developers to, but the latest outing suffers from being too short, too limited and too repetitive.

68%

By Tom Carpenter

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