PlayStation 2

Armored Core 2: Another Age

Hey, if you've seen one Armored Core title, you've seen them all. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. This is easily the best of the bunch, and if you're a fan, or you've never played Armored Core before, this is the one to get. Prepare to spend a lot of time on this one.

Doing its best PC developer impersonation, From Software has created another stand-alone expansion pack for its highly touted Armored Core series. On the PlayStation, From Software developed two upgrades, Project Phantasm and Master of Arena, for its first Armored Core title. Project Phantasm simply expanded upon the adventure, with an armload of new stages and customization options. Seeing that many players truly enjoyed head-to-head melee, Master of Arena focused solely on enhancing the multiplayer experience. Giving gamers more bang for their buck, the initial Armored Core 2 upgrade, Another Age, is an admixture of both expansions.

Not everyone is an Armored Core fan. Usually, some gamers don't have the time to spend gluing robot parts together, or even care for this particular genre. There are hours, weeks, and months, even years of replay value worth buying the game for. Although I wouldn't recommend the game for single players, I think the hard-core Armored Core fans are in for a real treat. If you've never tried an Armored Core title before and like what you're hearing, from being able to customize giant Cores, playing through tons of new missions, battle with or team up against friends, then you might as well buy the new title, and become an Armored Core fanatic.

The "Armored Core" series has been around for a long time now, and it doesn't seem like the genre will stop anytime soon. And fortunately, Agetec's latest installment, "Armored Core 2: Another Age", proves to be the best of the bunch!

Another Age, the first Armored Core 2 expansion, was originally supposed to include network play that would make use of the forthcoming PS2 broadband adapter and modem accessories. Sadly, Agetec has decided to release Armored Core 2: Another Age sans the online capabilities, which could have made it one of the most exciting additions to the PS2's repertoire. Instead, Another Age has been released as a stand-alone compilation of 100 new missions, featuring competent two-player modes, as well as a dizzying variety of new and classic armaments and parts, allowing for unprecedented amounts of Armored Core customization.

As far as mech fighting games go, Armored Core 2: Another Age lives up to the proud tradition established with the first Armored Core game. New missions, an improved single-player campaign, and some new equipment make this an enjoyable trip down a familiar road. Only slightly different, Another Age fails in the fact that it is nearly a cookie-cutter copy of the original game. If the original was excellent to begin with, why not play it again?

In closing, Armored Core 2 Another Age tried to innovate but fell short due to a now defunct game engine. Admittedly the graphics have been, marginally, improved but Armored Core 2 Another Age is merely more of the same which, in this case, is not a very good thing. If you liked Armored Core 2 then pick up Armored Core 2 Another Age, otherwise wait for Armored Core 3.

Don't enter Another Age expecting a full-fledged sequel to Agetec?s giant-robot fighting franchise. This Armored Core 2 expansion pack adds about 100 missions and new multiplayer options but not a whole lot more. Another Age's controls have been tweaked, but not quite enough to kill the ol frustration factor: While you can now move with one analog stick, you still can't use the other stick to look around. Another Age also gives you even more mech pieces to play with, bringing the total number of potential mecha combos up from a mere kazillion to a much more impressive-sounding googolplex.