ile the latest entry in the Armored Core series under the category of “announced for PS3, but quietly coming to Xbox 360 as well.” In fact, this is the first AC title to release on anything outside of a PlayStation console. Perhaps this qualifies as the most drastic shake up to FromSoftware’s hardcore mech franchise this time around, outside of the next-gen graphical upgrade.

Mechs look pretty much as good as you’d expect them to, but it’s the ambiance that really impresses. You’ll infiltrate an enemy base in the pitch black night lit only by the occasional overhead flare, gunfire, and after burners; dash through a blinding sandstorm; and make your way across polar ice as it cracks and floats away under your massive robotic body. Of course, there are still plenty of standard future cities and open deserts.
Missions are pretty straightforward (destroy these guys, protect these guys, etc.), and don’t usually last more than a few minutes. Combat is fast-paced and easy to pick up, unlike everything else in the game. The story is so convoluted you’ll eventually just stop caring why you’re taking out rebel factions and neo-terrorists.

Mech customization is just as complicated as ever. What will make the hardcore AC fan drool will completely turn off the average action gamer (do we really need to worry about four separate booster categories?). Armored Core’s persistent fault as a series is its inability to cater to both audiences.

Multiplayer is what’s really going to get the fans riled. After fine-tuning your ideal mech in single player, you can bring it online and face off against anywhere from one to seven opponents. Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of match variety outside of deathmatch and team deathmatch, and there’s no respawning so matches don’t last much longer than five minutes tops. But the framerate remains solid and it’s a good forum for the AC set to talk shop and trade schematics.