Armored Core 2: Another Age

Armored Core 2: Another Age

North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s) FromSoftware
Publisher(s)

‹See Tfd›

Series Armored Core
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release date(s)

‹See Tfd›

  • JP: April 12, 2001
  • NA: August 20, 2001
  • EU: September 27, 2002
Genre(s) Action, third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer

Armored Core 2: Another Age is a mecha third-person shooter video game in the Armored Core series, developed by FromSoftware, which also published it in Japan, for the PlayStation 2 in 2001. Agetec and Metro 3D released the game in North America and Europe respectively.

Storyline

Five years after the coup attempt led by Leos Klein the Earth government struggles to realize one of its original objectives, relocating people from the underground cities to the Earth's surface. These plans are hopelessly delayed because the government has had to shift its focus from resettlement to military buildup. A necessary move in the government's eyes, needed to keep both the corporations and the situation on Mars in check. After facing various setbacks, the corporations that once held sway on Mars are in positions of diminished influence. This does not sit well with them and each is secretly rebuilding their personal armies in order to contend with the government's growing might. Tensions between the corporations and government are at a breaking point. With all of the government's efforts currently focused elsewhere, resentment toward the institution from the general populace is at an all-time high. Tired of being neglected, people living in the underground cities have taken matters into their own hands and incidents of armed revolt are a daily occurrence.

Background

Corporations

Government

Independent Groups

Gameplay

The expansion to Armored Core 2 runs on the same game engine as its predecessor but features a number of changes in the way the game is played. There is no trial mission in Another Age that kicks the game off, the player is simply thrown into the world with their AC and their first job offer right there waiting for them. The Arena, which played a significant role in Armored Core 2 has been removed completely, along with the "Arena Report" in your save data, but a fair number of the game's missions involve one-on-one combat with other Ravens in a set-up not unlike Armored Core 2's Arena. Another Age has sparse expressed plot, it is more a portrait of the life of a mercenary, always bouncing about from place to place and not getting tied down to any one particular cause. Occasionally recurring elements pop up from time to time as the game progresses, but there is no defined storyline to the game. While there is virtually no storyline there are 100 separate missions that make up the mass of the game, the largest Armored Core title to date, and each mission plays out in a specific area of the world map screen that would reappear in following AC titles down the road. Another Age is also noted for its cameo appearances. Past enemies from previous Armored Core games Stinger and Nineball appear as bosses in several special missions that are unlocked once you clear all 100 of the game's missions.

Also of note is that for the first time in the Armored Core series, analog controls are supported. While Armored Core 2 did use the analog stick buttons (L3 and R3) on the DualShock 2, player control was still based on the D-pad and whatever other buttons were mapped to view/motion control.

Reception

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 35 out of 40.[1]

References

  1. プレイステーション2 - ARMORED CORE 2 ANOTHER AGE. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.61. 30 June 2006.

External links

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