HUMAN PLUS/OP-INTENSIFY NEEDED (Or else...we'll use that AR2)!!
The Armored Core series is about building a customized robot and blowing stuff up as you progress into the game. Last Raven is the latest in a long string of AC games. Action is fast unlike the plodding Mechwarrior series, and smooth unlike the jerky SLAI.
Already a vrey deep game since the first on the PSone, you'll spend as much or more time designing ACs as actually playing them. This isn't your average run and blast through levels and finish, or rather that only scratches the surface. It's easy to whip together a basic AC, but you can spend tons of time tweaking it and experimenting.
With the number of parts and weapons, combined with human VS, the amount of variety you can have is staggering. AC has replay value unlike virtually any other game on the market, if this is your type of game.
Due to the gameplay and replay factor focus of the series, Armored Core is not known for having a decent story. It has always been about corporation wars with Ravens acting as the frontline soldiers. This time, it is different. Being the direct sequel to Nexus, the world was in ruin. Instead of fighting each other, the three remaining corporations of Mirage, Crest, and Kisaragi all merge into one unified organization: the Alliance. The Alliance then tries to control every aspect of the world. People were not happy with the Alliance's actions. Enter the Vertex, a new Raven organization created to combat the Alliance. Jack-O, its leader and the former leader of Raven's Ark in Nexus, announces plans to wage an all-out war within 24 hours. This is where Last Raven starts.
This is the first Armored Core game with multiple endings and as such, the plot changes based on what path is chosen. Ravens switch sides, retreat combat to fight another day, backstab fellow Ravens on their side, or take on both the Alliance and Vertex. Recurring Raven battles happen depending on what ending a player wishes to follow. Overall, the plots do a good job of immersing the player further in the world of Last Raven. It is far from perfect, but it is similar to that of a mech show like Gundam now. The best AC in terms of storyline.
No doubt, Last Raven is the best in terms of AC gameplay. From Software did a very good job listening to the fans and it clearly shows. Nearly every major flaw found in past AC games have been solved in LR.
To start, LR fixes some of the major flaws found in Nexus. Namely, the heat system. Boosting no longer heats the AC quickly, as does Overboosting or taking fire. Second, the game speed moves much faster than the sluggish speed of Nexus. It is similar to AC: Silent Line in terms of the game speed, which is a good thing. Weapon accuracy and tracking has been decreased as well to ensure skill takes priority, whereas Nexus made good design top priority. Still, a good player needs a good AC design so that aspect is important. Parts-wise, everything has been changed and the result is the most balanced AC game to date (almost). Broken parts (overpowered) are hard to find, weaker parts are more useful, etc. Dual wielding, introduced in AC3 and Silent Line, has been toned down drastically to put blade-wielding combatants on a more even playing field. Laser blades have been improved and now have blade tracking again. The Exceed Orbits, which were dominant in Nexus and Ninebreaker, have been downgraded in accuracy and tracking. Overboost, which was hardly as effective as EOs in the two aforementioned games, is now better and causes less heat stress. Tuning can be reversed and is free of charge. Even if one found broken parts for VS use, From Software has something to say (seriously I don't see any). Some wanted a feature that would make organizing tournaments with banned parts in future installments easier. More evidence of From paying attention to fans, the part regulation is the answer. Every part can be banned and one can save current part bans on the memory card. As for VS play, the game runs at 60 fps with little to no slowdown, which was evident in Nexus. Arenas since AC3 are in VS mode, but with a new addition of arena dimensions and map. It is a small feature, but can be used for strategy purposes. The other VS features are the same as in Nexus, no changes.
Onto story mode, the game plays like any other AC. Accept missions and complete them, find new parts in missions, buy new parts and make ACs, fight in the Arena, etc. There are new features From included. Data files on Ravens, enemies, places, and just about everything in the world of LR can be found and read. Speaking of Ravens, the player can hunt down story Ravens and gain cash from killing them. Going with the Alliance allows more chances to kill Vertex's Ravens, and vice-versa. Not all story Ravens die upon first encounter, hence recurring Raven battles. As far as missions go, they certainly do not end quickly as it was in Nexus. Some missions have additional missions, while others have surprises in store for the player. There is now a start-up sequence when a mission starts, which is cool. The garage can now store up to 5 ACs, yet another fan request fulfilled by From. Also, From implemented more detailed mission briefings with the accompanying VA. It rarely leaves the player confused and identifies the enemy threats and field conditions. With the 5 AC garage, one can use a different AC for different situations.
Arena battles work differently now: the player must place a bet(have certain amount of money) before battling. If victorious, cash is rewarded but if not, the amount of money lost is what was bet. Some will be happy to learn that replays can now be saved onto the memory card. About time From Software finally implemented this feature in an Armored Core game!
Next, for the newcomers of AC, the VR AC Test is no longer a simple 2 enemy test. It is like Ninebreaker in the sense that one can choose different scenarios such as aerial enemies, or a lone AC battle, for test purposes. Now, a newcomer can make the transition to Armored Core more easily.
The last addition From Software included is the part damage system, yet another fan request that has been granted. Unlike in Silent Line where certain weapons easily broke other weapons, part breaking differs from weapon breaking. Hitting specific areas of the AC damages that area and eventually destroys it. Damaged parts lose functionality and broken parts clearly are unusable. Fortunately, they can be bought again in the shop once broken. Overall, From Software has listened to the fans and it results in the best gameplay seen in an AC game.
Most notable to this installment is the increased AI. Unlike AC3 and Silent Line, even Nexus, the AI tends to modify its tactics based on your AC design. So just because your flimsy lightweight AC is getting owned by heavy GL's, comming back with a heavyweight will only introduce you to the world of laser blade attacks, not to mention the fact that the AI will take advantage to your reduction in speed and completely out meanuver you.
This, at times can hinder the experience, especially if you play this on the most difficult level (have a go at Schneider and see what I mean). The fact that every enemy AC gets the much sought after optional part OP-Intensify/Human Plus System, making it seem like they can boost forever and use heavy weapons while in motion doesn't help at all. Seriously, this greatly makes the game dangerously unfair and unbalanced. You'll be smashing your PS2 controller into the wall wondering if the game you just bought happened to be a defect.
Nothing much can be gained after clearing the entire game apart from a Free Mission Select and an Extra Arena where you duke out with the other Ravens from the Story Mode. I would rather prefer to design as one of the Ravens featured as the enemies (my favourite is Genobee) with all the limitations removed but there isn't any option for that however.
To me after Nexus and Nine Breaker, Last Raven doesn't cut it in my books except from AC2 to Silent Line. Die hard AC fans will drool over everything but in the end, the sure way to clear this game alive is with OP-Intensify. No Op-Intensify? Too bad. The AI will always win so get ready that AR2!