Software:Armored Core 3

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Short description: 2002 video game
Armored Core 3
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)FromSoftware
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Kenichiro Tsukuda
Programmer(s)Koji Nakanishi
Artist(s)Takeo Kido
Takahide Hamauchi
Composer(s)Tsukasa Saitoh
SeriesArmored Core
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
ReleasePlayStation 2
PlayStation Portable
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Armored Core 3 is a 2002 third-person shooter video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2. It is the sixth entry in the Armored Core series. Armored Core 3 acts as a reboot for the franchise and begins a storyline that would continue through Software:Armored Core: Last Raven. In 2009, Armored Core 3 was ported to the PlayStation Portable.

As a reboot of the franchise, Armored Core 3 returns the setting back to the post-apocalyptic setting of the earlier PlayStation trilogy. The player is a mercenary in a future where humanity has been driven underground and is ruled by a powerful artificial intelligence called The Controller. Despite The Controller's rule, corporations fight each other for dominance.

Armored Core 3 is largely unchanged from its predecessor. Players operate mech units that they may customize with credits earned from completing missions and fighting in an arena. Customization extends to every aspect of a player's Armored Core unit, including the individual parts, weapons, paint, and emblem. Local multiplayer modes allow for up to 4 players to fight each other with their custom Armored Cores.

Gameplay

Armored Core 3 continues the series' core mechanics. Players pilot Armored Core units, massive customizable mechs. In order to earn money to customize their Armored Core, players must complete missions for three major corporations.[7] This money can then be used for weapons, items, and parts to improve their Armored Core.[8]

Missions, like in earlier titles, retain their focus on completing objectives and destroying enemies.[9] Mission costs like repairs and ammunition supply are automatically deducted from the reward. Voice acted briefings prior to missions provides a small amount of story regarding the mission.[10]

Returning after a removal in Another Age, the Arena is a free-form game mode that allows players to fight other pilots to rise in rank.[9] Winning Arena matches can provide players with credits and parts that can be used on their Armored Core unit.[11]

Like its earlier counterparts, Armored Core 3 hosts a local multiplayer mode that allows players to fight their friends via split screen or console linking with a Sony I-Link Fire Wire cable. As a new feature, the Fire Wire cable allows for up to 4 players to connect their consoles rather than the previous maximum of 2 players.[10] An offline bot mode for fighting computer opponents is included.[11]

As a new feature, Armored Core 3 supports USB mice for emblem design.[10] Additional features include computer-controlled allies that assist with missions and detachable weapons.[11][12] Armored Core 3 also supports Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound.[13]

Plot

Armored Core 3 serves as a reboot for the Armored Core franchise but retains many similar elements to the original Armored Core. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Armored Core 3 depicts a world where humanity has begun to live underneath the Earth's surface after a catastrophic global nuclear war broke out on the surface. The human beings who survived formed a subterranean society called "Layered". Layered is ruled by an artificial intelligence known as "The Controller", which dictates almost everything that happens in the world. The two major corporations, Mirage and Crest Industries, and a relatively more minor one, Kisaragi, all vie for dominance and control over the land and assets in Layered. At the game's outset, The Controller seems to be experiencing frequent errors, which has led to a growth of support for a rebel group, known as Union, that wishes to overthrow The Controller.

The player takes the role of a Raven, mercenaries that are registered with the neutral Global Cortex organization. Over the course of the game, the player is provided with missions for the various factions by Laine Meyers, the player's manager, and the player can choose who to support. In later missions, it is revealed that The Controller is manipulating the various factions in order to destroy infrastructure and support systems for Layered, leading to a direct confrontation with The Controller. After the player destroys it, an emergency program opens Layered's blast doors and allows for surface access for the first time in centuries.

Release

Armored Core 3 was initially released in Japan for the PlayStation 2 on April 4, 2002.[14] FromSoftware partnered with Agetec and released a North American version on September 5, 2002. A European version was released in partnership with Metro3D on May 30, 2003.[15]

Armored Core 3 Portable

Armored Core 3 was re-released for the PlayStation Portable as Armored Core 3 Portable. In Japan, it was released on July 30, 2009.[16] A North American version was released on October 21, 2009, while a European version was released on May 19, 2010.[15][17] The re-release included widescreen support and an ad hoc multiplayer mode.[18]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2PSP
Edge8/10[21]N/A
EGM7.5/10[22]N/A
Eurogamer6/10[9]N/A
Famitsu34/40[23]N/A
Game Informer8/10[24]N/A
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[12]N/A
GameRevolutionB+[11]N/A
GameSpot7.5/10[10]N/A
GameSpy82%[7]N/A
GameZone8/10[8]N/A
IGN7.3/10[13]N/A
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[25]N/A
PSM7/10[26]StarStar[27]
Aggregate score
Metacritic74/100[19]43/100[20]

The PlayStation 2 version of Armored Core 3 received "mixed or average" reviews, while the PlayStation Portable version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[19][20] In Japan, Famitsu gave the former console version a score of 34 out of 40.[23]

Critics positively received the variety of mission objectives and the continued customization depth of the franchise but were unimpressed with the incremental nature of the game, barebones story, and continued control problems. Eurogamer's Martin Taylor called the variety of objectives "impressive", though later added: "Sadly, the prevalence of missions that have you either bumbling around streets or in various industrial buildings starts to become tiresome and samey" due to "uninspiring locales".[9] In regards to the game's complicated gameplay, Shawn Sanders from Game Revolution stated that "none have been able to compete with the complexity and depth that is the Armored Core series".[11]

The lack of meaningful updates to the core experience was a sore point for many reviewers. In a mixed review, David Smith from IGN wrote: "From Software could do so much more with these games, and instead it seems committed to doing the same damn thing over and over".[13] GameSpot's Greg Kasavin called the design "dated" and criticized its "unspectacular presentation".[10]

As in previous titles, the game's lack of depth to its story was criticized. Dylan Parrotta from GameZone called the story "under-developed at best and totally unintelligible at worst".[8] Outdated and overbearing controls were especially derided by reviewers. When discussing the lack of dual analog control, Eurogamer's Martin Taylor said: "This glaring oversight in the control scheme hinders the player far more than it should, and makes targeting roof-mounted or flying enemies a task in itself".[9]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "-= A G E T E C (v1.0-ALPHA) =-". 2002-12-04. http://www.agetec.com:80/news.asp. 
  2. ↑ "FROM SOFTWARE WEB SITE". 2002-08-11. http://www.fromsoftware.co.jp/etop/whatsnew/. 
  3. ↑ "What's New?" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2003-05-30. https://www.eurogamer.net/news300503whatsnew. 
  4. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (2009-10-23). "Armored Core 3 Portable Now Available on PlayStation Network" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/10/23/armored-core-3-portable-now-available-on-playstation-network. 
  5. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". 2009-05-21. http://www.fromsoftware.jp/main/press/ac3p_release.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "Armored Core 3 Portable - PlayStation Portable - GameSpy". http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/armored-core-3/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Steinberg, Steve (October 9, 2002). "Armored Core 3 (PS2)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050217160713/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october02/armoredcore3ps2/. Retrieved December 17, 2018. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Parrotta, Dylan (September 17, 2002). "Armored Core 3 Review". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006081028/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19719.htm. Retrieved December 17, 2018. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Taylor, Martin (June 23, 2003). "Armored Core 3". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_ac3_ps2. Retrieved December 17, 2018. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Kasavin, Greg (September 11, 2002). "Armored Core 3 Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armored-core-3-review/1900-2880000/. Retrieved December 16, 2018. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Sanders, Shawn (September 3, 2002). "Armored Core 3 Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150907235737/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/armored-core-3. Retrieved December 17, 2018. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Star Dingo (September 9, 2002). "Armored Core 3 Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050212135016/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/26142.shtml. Retrieved December 17, 2018. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Smith, David (September 9, 2002). "Armored Core 3". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/09/armored-core-3. Retrieved December 16, 2018. 
  14. ↑ "Armored Core 3 | FromSoftware - フロム・ソフトウェア". https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=020. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Armored Core 3 (2002) release dates". https://www.mobygames.com/game/armored-core-3/release-info. 
  16. ↑ "Armored Core 3 Portable | FromSoftware - フロム・ソフトウェア". https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=074. 
  17. ↑ Hinkle, David (April 15, 2009). "Famitsu: Armored Core 3 coming to PSP". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2009/04/15/famitsu-armored-core-3-coming-to-psp/. Retrieved December 16, 2018. 
  18. ↑ Andrew_Fitch 2009-11-11T08:42:06. 314Z (11 November 2009). "Armored Core 3 Portable review" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/armored-core-3-portable-review/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Armored Core 3 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved April 25, 2019. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Armored Core 3 Portable for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-3/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. Retrieved April 25, 2019. 
  21. ↑ Edge staff (July 2002). "Armored Core 3". Edge (Future plc) (112). 
  22. ↑ David H. (October 2002). "Armored Core 3". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (159): 179. http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1487770,00.asp. Retrieved 2018-12-17. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 (in Japanese)Famitsu (Enterbrain) 915: 75. June 30, 2006. 
  24. ↑ "Armored Core 3". Game Informer (GameStop) (113): 80. September 2002. 
  25. ↑ "Armored Core 3". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis): 142. October 2002. 
  26. ↑ "Review: Armored Core 3". PSM (Future US): 30. October 2002. 
  27. ↑ "Review: Armored Core 3 Portable". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (28): 86. January 2010. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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