Armored Core Master of Arena

by Agetec

Product Details

• ASIN: B00004RBOM
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches ; 7.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,417 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

The third game in the Armored Core series follows in the footsteps of the second game - last year's Armored Core: Project Phantasma - in that it's more like an add-on pack than a new game in the line. Armored Core: Master of Arena provides new missions, arena opponents, and other assorted bits, but the interface, graphics, and overall feel are essentially the same. If you haven't played an Armored Core game yet, there's some explaining to be done. You're a Raven, a mercenary pilot of a giant robot known as an armored core. You lend out your services to various companies and agencies that hire you for missions such as bodyguard work, search and destroy runs, or even the occasional rare-item retrieval. From there, you can use your earnings to buy additional parts to improve your mech, so you can do your job better, make more money, buy new parts, and so on. Areas of your robot that can be configured include the head, core, arms, legs, CPU, generator, back weapons, hand weapons, and special parts. A wide variety of items are available, allowing you to create a fairly distinct AC of your own. This customizability is one of the best things about the series. Beyond going on missions, the Ravens also like to compete against each other for top ranking within the organization. In a kind of future gladiator-style match-up, two mechs enter one of a number of disparate arenas, and only one leaves. To the victor goes prize money and occasionally an extra part; to the loser, nothing at all. These features remain in Armored Core: Master of Arena. In fact, the similarities between the last two games are overwhelming. The graphics are almost identical, which is unfortunate because they're looking more and more dated as time goes by. What once deserved an a score of eight a few years ago is now lucky to get a six because the visual standard has been raised, but none of the game's camera problems (your AC sometimes gets in the way of your view) have been fixed. The missions in AC:MOA are largely variations of earlier ones. In one, for example, you're parked on the top of a submarine and must fend off attackers from above. At one stage of AC: PP, you were parked on top of a helicarrier in the same way. This isn't to say that's bad, it's just more of the same. There are some fun and somewhat fresh new stages in AC:MOA - such as one where you attack a huge armored fortress - but they're exceptions. Many of the missions are pretty hard to accomplish, which makes one wonder how players who haven't imported ACs from previous games can survive them at all. Besides the missions, there are also several new, mostly well-designed arenas, new weapons and parts, and even PocketStation support, which lets you download your AC into the unit to compete against friends. Most distinct from previous AC games, though, is AC:MOA's multiplayer and configurable enemy options. First, its multiplayer mode is different from that of Armored Core: Project Phantasma. In AC: PP, two original copies were needed to compete in PlayStation Link Cable play. Armored Core: Master of Arena, however, comes with a second disc, making it a little easier to link up and fight. The second disc is also noteworthy because it offers a few more enemy mechs to battle, as well as the ability to create your own AC opponents, much the same way you've tooled together your own machine but with some basic AI levels to boot. It's a nice function, but it's not quite as cool as it sounds since you're limited to fighting one mech at a time. Even with these new elements, Armored Core: Master of Arena is really only recommended to die-hard fans of the line. It's much more of a stand-alone game than the last one was, but it's still not nearly the full-fledged sequel that it should be. The series could use a complete graphics overhaul, an update to the camera and controls, the ability to fight several mechs at once in an arena, and maybe even some bio-organic parts, just to mix things up a bit. People interested in checking out the Armored Core trilogy should start with the first game, which offers the same essential play you'll find here in a more comprehensive package. There's been no word on a US publisher yet for AC:MOA, but it wouldn't be a surprise if an Ascii, Crave, or Jaleco signed it up for late '99. Keep an eye on our news section for word. [Editor's note: This review was completed without testing out the PocketStation function, as two units were not available at press time. The piece will be updated at a later date once these units become available, though it's assumed this mode will have little bearing on the game's score.] --Joe Fielder
--Copyright ©1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Product Description

Brand New and Sealed Sony Playstation 1 Game. Backed by a 45-day guarantee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Master Returns!, March 17, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Armored Core Master of Arena (Video Game)

The latest expansion pack for Armored Core has arrived. It features 20+ new parts and the return of Nine-Ball, the #1 Raven in the original AC.

With new missions and 150 new enemies in the Arena Disk, AC: MOA should keep you occupied for quite a while. Highly Recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Armored Core Masters of Arena, October 1, 2001

By 

Cody O'hara (Milton, ND USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armored Core Master of Arena (Video Game)

Hmmm... Well, This game is the same tired formula of the two previous games mixed into one giant package. I enjoyed this game, not because of the great missions, not because of almost endless battles, but the thing that most impressed me was the ability of ultimate customization of your mech. (I built all the gundams and tallgeese, and the dolls!) The options are almost limitless, as you can build the aformentioned. The site to do this is www.gamewinners.com. just go into playstation games, and you'll find it. eventually. Back to the game, The graphics are somewhat mediocre, the controls are somewhat murky, and the number of missions are inexusible. (19? please.) But, in light of all these flaws, This game is either rentable or purchaseable. do either as soon as possible, or if you have a playstation 2, BUY armored core 2: another age. It's just like Project Phantasma.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rchangel(+), July 11, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Armored Core Master of Arena (Video Game)

I want this to be sort of a last word on this game. If you have any background in mecha combat, anime, or simply good taste you will like this game. The degree to which you will like this game varies directly with your affinity for those things which i have mentioned. The game itself is good. The graphics are on, the sound isn't spectacular, but it does the job. The storylie is imaginative and involving and the mechanics (menus, loading, disc swapping) are all just fine. If you are picking this game up as your first in the series you will have to work hard. Some of the complaints i see on other reviews about battling are based on the fact that new players are fighting Plus+ es. As far as i know you can only become a plus in the first game. All that speed, boosting power, magical radar, DEADLY laserblade that shoots stuff is earned by becoming a plus, not to mention launching overweight, overpowered mechs which i enjoy all the time. Spending your time in the first couple games collecting equipment and earning special abilities comes in very handy in MOA. I noticed in EX Arena all of the battles in humanoid legs are pretty easy until the last. It's like this. If any player got my mech together (16 slot core, heavy arms, medium humanoid legs, moonlight saber, finger machine gun, tri-barreled lookin' back weapon, slug gun, wide fcs, dynamite generator, best boosters(i can't bother with the exact stats)), and fought the kind of power boosting, weapon switching, six missle dodging, machine gunning, laserblading, smoking firestorm of a battle that i did, they wouldn't complain. This game rules. If you like mechs If you like anime/japanese style combat(front mission, gundam, patlabor, votoms, voltron, zeyromer, etc.) You will love this game. Whiners with no experience, ambition, and appreciation for a decent game and the whole giant robot phenomenon need not apply.