07-12-2009, 07:55 AM
Nope, everything in ZOE:4 is fully unlockable in ZOE:FA 
About starting somewhere, the missions are good to get some know-how on the game, and if you complete the game twice, it unlocks all of the parts for you to use IIRC (I just finished the game twice and all the parts were available, dunno if the scenario path you take will mater). FRS points (AKA tuning points) are awarded by completing missions and finishing them on HARD mode.
Also, raw speed is calculated by your boost power AND is modified by the specific part you are using, and not the total weight of the AC, which goes against the long standing tradition of weight affecting your top speed. In a sense, each part has a hidden Aerodynamic stat which will affect your top speed in FA. Weight affects the acceleration of your AC.
To put it to the test, equip the light SOBRERO core, which has a higher aerodynamic stat on an AC, fully load the machine to its max weight cap, then record its top speed. Then Equip the heavy SOLDNER core, which has the lowest aerodynamic stat on the same machine, adjust the weapons or internals to fit the weight of the machine, then record its top speed. You'll see that the SOBRERO core equipped AC has a higher top speed than the one with the SOLDNER core despite their total weights being equal.
A more detailed test can be seen here: http://www.armoredcore.org/forums/index....opic=10973
About starting somewhere, the missions are good to get some know-how on the game, and if you complete the game twice, it unlocks all of the parts for you to use IIRC (I just finished the game twice and all the parts were available, dunno if the scenario path you take will mater). FRS points (AKA tuning points) are awarded by completing missions and finishing them on HARD mode.
Also, raw speed is calculated by your boost power AND is modified by the specific part you are using, and not the total weight of the AC, which goes against the long standing tradition of weight affecting your top speed. In a sense, each part has a hidden Aerodynamic stat which will affect your top speed in FA. Weight affects the acceleration of your AC.
To put it to the test, equip the light SOBRERO core, which has a higher aerodynamic stat on an AC, fully load the machine to its max weight cap, then record its top speed. Then Equip the heavy SOLDNER core, which has the lowest aerodynamic stat on the same machine, adjust the weapons or internals to fit the weight of the machine, then record its top speed. You'll see that the SOBRERO core equipped AC has a higher top speed than the one with the SOLDNER core despite their total weights being equal.
A more detailed test can be seen here: http://www.armoredcore.org/forums/index....opic=10973
