The Raven Republic
Energy shields are the ugly duckling of the Armored Core series; From one of the franchise’s most useless pieces of gear, they have evolved into an essential component that is literally part of every AC you fly.
When they first made their appearance in AC, EN shields weren’t quite as effective as we all hoped they would be. While their defense boost did turn your AC into a brick wall, their energy drain and weight ensured you also had just as much mobility as one.
Go grab it now on the PSN for $14.99, and re-live what many of the old-hat Ravens say is the best and last true Armored Core game ever made. See our coverage leading up to the release of the game for features and extras present in this incarnation of Armored Core from the appropriate tag.
Here’s an interesting little peripheral if you’re interested in getting more out of your Armored Core experience. Sony released its first Dual Analog Controller, officially known as the PlayStation Analog Joystick back in 1996, which look like a pair of flight sticks (or twin-sticks if you ever played Virtual-On). Unlike the overwhelming 40 button Steel Battalion controller for the Xbox, these twin-sticks are much more intuitive for mech gamers looking for a simulation fix.
RR is actually in possession of 2 sets of flight sticks c/o Trace, and hopefully we’ll be able to mod these peripherals to be compatible with Armored Core controls. Inspiration comes from a hobbyist named lkjhgfdsaisamu from Youtube and his videos demonstrating their compatibility with Armored Core. He carefully warns that these sticks have been heavily modded using parts from a Dual Shock controller, as the analog function is strictly relegated to the left stick functions only (Similar to the analog nub controls on the PSP incarnations of AC). See the modded flight sticks in action after the jump:
Studio MekTek recently released Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries for free to the internet. From their own press release:
Finally, the long awaited moment has arrived!
Studio MekTek, in association with Smith and Tinker, INC., Virtual World Entertainment, LLC, Catalyst Game Labs, and Microsoft Games, is happy to announce the release of Mechwarrior4 Free.
Of all the weapons in Armored Core, none share the consistency that the Parrying Blades have ever since they were introduced. Consistent, that is, at being utterly useless. While all parrying blades can and will hurt you real bad if they ever connect, there lies the problem: IF they ever connect.
This video simply brims with an awesome display of fireworks, Kojima Particles, missiles and beams that can only come together in a carefully choreographed display of timing, positioning, and probably having a little too much time in one’s hand playing Armored Core: For Answer, which leads to spectacular results. Simply put, a pyrotechnic and dance show unlike any other. Stuff like this makes synchronized swimming look like a joke.
Thanks Atdsutm for sharing this.
The official From Software sponsored Armored Core Championship Tournament has completed its preliminary round for its 3rd season and uses the recently released Last Raven Portable on the PSP platform. The well documented tournament has a wonderful set of videos coming from the Kinki and Tokai prefectures of Japan as of the moment.
A quick look on the new videos reviles the absence of new parts included by From from any of the Portable series releases, which leads us to think that the top players in this tournament prefer tried and true formulas rather than embark on a risky experiment with their designs. In addition all the designs used the very powerful TP booster, which was banned in many tournament circles outside Japan as well as our very own Philippine Armored Core Tournament for the past 5 iterations. Much of the fights also boil down to a war of attrition, with hangared pulse weapons and handguns taking center stage.
Video links to the Armored Core Championship Tournament Season 3 after the jump:
Update: Results for Kanto area included
Whether From Software really thought that two bazookas per AC was an unsatisfactory ratio of awesome, or whether somebody in their team had serious penis envy issues, we don’t know. What we do know is that the outcome of this brainstorming resulted in something equal parts WTF, and equal parts pure evil – the bazooka arms.
