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 Armored Core: Verdict Day is the fifteenth entry in the long-running Armored Core mecha series by FROM Software (of Demon's/Dark souls fame). It's the second game in the Armored Core V "generation." Effectively, it's an ACV expansion pack with a new singleplayer campaign, rebalanced parts, and a new multiplayer environment. It launches September 24th in North America for PS3 and 360. Official Website Gameplay:  Armored Core game's gameplay hasn't changed too much over the series' lifespan. You are the pilot of a giant robot, a titular Armored Core, and you take mercenary contracts with a varying range of objectives. Your foes range from tanks, helicopters, and rival ACs to massive superweapons, giant trains, and the occasional spider monster. Armored Core V scaled the series down somewhat; instead of the 15-meter tall super-fast flying NEXTs from AC4 and 4A, the cores in V and Verdict day are squat, slow, 5-meter dwarfs. With the decrease in scale comes an increase in strategy, now that you can't boost around everywhere you're a much easier target if you get caught unawares. Easy targets are dead targets too, AC's in the V generation can go down in anywhere from 1-3 hits from the larger weapons. The games are closer to Chromehounds and Mechwarrior than your typical Japanese mecha game.  Verdict Day is home to a full single-player campaign, along with a number of non-story related bonus missions. Every single mission in the game has 2-player online co-op. If you're having trouble in a mission, you can get your friend to drop in and help, with the caveat that it lowers the amount of money you get. Similarly, you can also hire random player mercenaries to help you out on missions for a price.  Between missions you get access to the garage, where you can customize your core. AC games contain literally hundreds of parts and have absolutely unparalleled amounts of customization and tweaking. Throw as much as you can on your core while balancing the weight, energy consumption, defense, offence, turning rate, etc. You can also give your core a custom paint job, create decals, and create your own emblem. Spend hundreds of hours carefully crafting a sticker of your anime waifu and put her on your shield! Or don't. Please don't. Verdict Day retains the rock-paper-scissors style of weapon damage from ACV. Each weapon deals either Kinetic, Chemical, or Thermal damage, and every part has different defense ratings for each. In general, light cores have the best KE defense, medium have good CE, and heavy have good TE. If you're having trouble in a mission, the usual solution is to change your AC's weapons so that they hit the weak points of the enemies. Multiplayer:  The main draw of Verdict Day is the new "Verdict War" system. Players form teams of up to 20 people and engage in 5 on 5 fights with other teams over territory. Battles start when one team decides to invade another's territory in hopes of taking it for themselves. Attackers have the easier time strategically, they can win simply by destroying several npc targets, but defenders have the home field advantage, which manifests in a better starting position and the ability to set up large amounts of friendly turrets before the fight. When the fight starts, 4 people on each team enter their cores and attempt to kill each other, and one person gets to be the "operator" for each team. The operator doesn't exist on the field and can't affect the battle directly, but they gets a top down view of the whole map with the ability to see each player's perspective as well as through stationary sensor beacons that the players in the cores can deploy. The operators help their team by setting up waypoint markers, scanning enemy cores for weaknesses, and calling in radio scans to scout enemy territory. If you're an Armored Core V vet like me, you'll remember how absolutely hosed matchmaking was. We're talking 10+ minute wait times for games, if you even got one. FROM's said that they've "fixed" it for Verdict Day, so fingers crossed.  If you don't have friends, or no goons are online, Verdict Day introduces the ability to let the AI pilot your cores while you take the operator's chair. Like any game with friendly AI, FROM's made a lot of promises about their quality, but there's no guarantees yet. Additionally, you can hire unaffiliated player mercenaries to fill any gaps in your team, the same as in singleplayer missions.  At the start of a Verdict War "season," teams get to choose between which of the three factions they fight for. Not much info has been released on them yet, but FROMSOFT has stated that they'll be making sure no one faction gets too powerful by freezing membership of any faction that gets too big. If the Verdict War system doesn't interest you, there will be a "free battle" matchmaking system for 1v1 duels and 8-player free-for-alls. Free battles come in ranked and unranked varieties, with a ranked leaderboard if you're a competitive type. Teams can also set up practice invasion missions, or just have a team lobby for fun. ACVD Link: Namco has now set up a service where you can check out your game and team stats online. Here's a quick guide, courtesy of TPSDude: quote:Here is a walkthrough for what Dire posted, you do not need to link you PSN/XBL account to the Bandai-Namco ID for it to work. Trailers: "Seige": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z22hoOk4vo "No Future for Mercs": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2G2f34CL1w Environment trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-OF03YALH4 A note on the publisher: Armored Core is a niche series. Verdict Day is a niche game. Namco does not make money from this game. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only reason they're publishing it is some sort of elaborate thank you to FROM for making Dark Souls. Armored Core V had absolutely horrible support. Servers were down at launch, the game didn't contain some bosses, and every patch came several months after Japan got it. Keep this in mind before you buy Verdict Day. Reviews: Eurogamer: 8/10 quote:As it stands, however, Verdict Day is more than just a marked improvement over Armored Core 5. It offers more parts, more maps and new missions while expanding the already tight mechanics with an AI crafting system and an overhauled online mode that encapsulate what Armored Core does best: options, creativity, strategy and teamwork. It's unashamedly hardcore - and all the better for it. Nanomashoes fucked around with this message at 02:38 on Oct 2, 2013 |
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Sep 21, 2013 23:18
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Goon Teams PS3: code:Nanomashoes fucked around with this message at 17:14 on Oct 8, 2013 |
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Sep 21, 2013 23:18
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Really they should just make Chromehounds 2.
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Sep 22, 2013 07:06
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Whoa, I didn't realize Armored Core had co-op play these days. If I wanted to play through the campaign with a friend, am I better off buying Verdict Core or the original?
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Sep 22, 2013 07:29
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If I hadn't known FROM made other quality games I would've assumed they were trying to pull some kind of scam with ACV.
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Sep 22, 2013 07:33
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Roguelike posted:Whoa, I didn't realize Armored Core had co-op play these days. If I wanted to play through the campaign with a friend, am I better off buying Verdict Core or the original? The SP co-op stuff was really short in the vanilla game, and I don't get the impression that will change with the expansion. ACV in general seems to be all about the versus MP clan wars crap, which I think is much more popular in Glorious Nippon. The story was and campaign felt very barebones.
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Sep 22, 2013 07:42
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Gazaar posted:If I hadn't known FROM made other quality games I would've assumed they were trying to pull some kind of scam with ACV. ACV's online didn't work because there were essentially 18 different queues and each one could only match against a single specific queue. Best case scenario in Verdict day is that there's only 3, worst case is that there's 9-10. Either way it's gonna be a noticeable improvement.
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Sep 22, 2013 08:04
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Loved 4A, didn't enjoy 5 - is this one worth picking up for the singleplayer, and how does the campaign compare to earlier games?
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Sep 22, 2013 08:12
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Bedlam posted:Really they should just make Chromehounds 2. I miss my trusty 6 howitzer low-rider hound. 
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Sep 22, 2013 08:13
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field balm posted:Loved 4A, didn't enjoy 5 - is this one worth picking up for the singleplayer, and how does the campaign compare to earlier games? I honestly can't tell you until the game is out. There's an unsurprising lack of information about the game online (half the stuff from the OP is cobbled together from barely translated interviews on fansites), and the NA release is actually coming out 2 days before the JP one. The game has absolutely no marketing budget because Bamco. They are not a good publisher, if you hadn't figured it out.
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Sep 22, 2013 08:20
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As much as I love AC games, it does worry me when I see frame rate drops in trailers.
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Sep 22, 2013 15:45
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Jeez. There used to be a time when I was all over new Armored Cores. Now?  Is From still using that same stupid always-on DRM they used in V which locks you out of even starting the game if you don't have an internet connection or their servers just aren't feeling it that day? Because that poo poo can go straight to hell. Thank you.
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Sep 24, 2013 04:34
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I remember greatly enjoying IV, but this sounds like it will inevitably let me down.
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Sep 24, 2013 05:43
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Loved 4 and For Answer but hated V so I'm not looking forward to this.
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Sep 24, 2013 06:07
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nine-gear crow posted:Jeez. There used to be a time when I was all over new Armored Cores. Now? I played the singleplayer in V fine without being connected at all  I really like the controls and feel of V's gameplay, but the campaign is OK as far as I've played, not as awesome as some of the stories though, I hope Verdict is better. Also this is the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVf_5WPpQfI
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Sep 24, 2013 06:11
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Reive posted:Also this is the best: Please, that's not even the best on that album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVbdk9_eXxU As doom and gloom as I sound about V, I still had a lot of fun with it. The game itself is solid, it's just that the multiplayer could have been so much better.
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Sep 24, 2013 06:41
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Its kind of amazing honestly, cause yeah V was a mostly pretty competent game, but multiplayer was so devastatingly broken it just took a big ol poo poo on the whole package for most people back then. The movement mechanics were super satisfying, the kinetic/chemical/thermal dynamic was interesting in theory but had major problems in practice, operator mode was a ton of fun, etc. Verdict Day could potentially be great if they've fixed the multiplayer and polished everything else, but I'm not holding out much hope. I'm probably gonna play it anyway though because I'm a huge loving idiot. 08th team represent 
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Sep 24, 2013 06:50
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Reive posted:I played the singleplayer in V fine without being connected at all How odd. Every time I couldn't get online or From/Namco took their serves down for maintenance and the game wouldn't let me past the log in screen ala Sim City.
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Sep 24, 2013 07:31
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PS3 team is live, check the second post for details. I'll be playing through the campaign today, and I'll try to answer all of your questions. The game let me import all of my ACV data, including emblems and parts, meaning that I own every legacy part already, including the Giga Missile  .e: Online already seems a lot more active. The world map updates with every new match played, and it's a pretty constant pinging. EGF is up right now, so we'll be joining Sirius for the SA blue and  .If any enterprising 360 goon wants to set up a team, post it in the thread and I'll add it to the second post. Nanomashoes fucked around with this message at 23:00 on Sep 24, 2013 |
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Sep 24, 2013 22:50
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Nanomashoes posted:Please, that's not even the best on that album: This goon's got the right idea.  I like this one as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPi9smv0vpw
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Sep 24, 2013 23:28
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Wait, is this one of them fully stand alone games or an Armed Core: Xtreme Legends thing where it is kind of stand alone but you need the previous game to get all the poo poo?
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Sep 24, 2013 23:34
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Lazy Programming posted:Wait, is this one of them fully stand alone games or an Armed Core: Xtreme Legends thing where it is kind of stand alone but you need the previous game to get all the poo poo? It's fully standalone, like 4A, Silent Line, Nexus, Last Raven, Another Age, etc.
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Sep 24, 2013 23:35
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Wait there was an Armored Core 5? I didn't even know that, I loved 4 and some other random games in the series (I never played For Answer, I feel like I probably should since I liked 4 a lot?)
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Sep 24, 2013 23:37
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I'm getting my copy after work. I'll also be joining the pa3 team too.
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Sep 24, 2013 23:44
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Just popped my copy in and this install bar can't finish soon enough. Will be joining Goonal Cortex.
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Sep 25, 2013 00:55
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Oh hey, fyi, this game is on PSN too, so you can goonshare it with another guy for only $25. It's only 5.5 gigs too, so it's not insane to download or anything.
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Sep 25, 2013 01:06
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Did they increase the number of team memebers? Vanilla had a limit of 20 i think, which led to having to make alt clans and co-ordinating matches a pain.
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Sep 25, 2013 01:10
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TPSDude posted:Did they increase the number of team memebers? Vanilla had a limit of 20 i think, which led to having to make alt clans and co-ordinating matches a pain. It's still 20 AFAIK. I'll do my best setting everything up in the second post. Anyways single player campaign is 10 missions long, same as ACV. Expect a similar length.
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Sep 25, 2013 01:17
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Can't believe I missed this coming out, I'll probably go pick it up tomorrow for PS3. Gotta get my robot fix.
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Sep 25, 2013 01:18
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As long as it's actually possible to sit down and play the game with out 40 minutes of waiting or grinding the same 2 mission I am ok with this. Armored Core always rules.
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Sep 25, 2013 01:20
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goldjas posted:Wait there was an Armored Core 5? I didn't even know that, I loved 4 and some other random games in the series (I never played For Answer, I feel like I probably should since I liked 4 a lot?) For Answer has quite a few missions where you're fighting gigantic fortresses. They're pretty sweet missions and it also has more co-op options then 4.
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Sep 25, 2013 03:01
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For Answer also has a seriously kicking rad plot. I mean, like most Armored Cores, it's fairly minimalistic, but poo poo gets pretty real in some of the routes. ESPECIALLY the true evil one.
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Sep 25, 2013 03:46
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Nanomashoes posted:It's still 20 AFAIK. I'll do my best setting everything up in the second post.
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Sep 25, 2013 03:47
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Infinity Gaia posted:For Answer also has a seriously kicking rad plot. I mean, like most Armored Cores, it's fairly minimalistic, but poo poo gets pretty real in some of the routes. ESPECIALLY the true evil one. I have no problem saying that For Answer is the best AC game. Those loving OVERBOOST!!!!!!!!!!! missions so god drat good.
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Sep 25, 2013 03:48
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homeless snail posted:Are there still an assload of order missions though? Like 6 or 7 for each story mission, yeah. Maybe more. E: just tried a mutliplayer game with some AI companions to see what the match times were like. Got one in less than a minute. There are only two multiplayer queues now. Guys, I think FROM might have fixed the online. Nanomashoes fucked around with this message at 04:34 on Sep 25, 2013 |
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Sep 25, 2013 04:11
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I can start a 360 team but is it region locked ? I'm EU
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Sep 25, 2013 04:38
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randombattle posted:I have no problem saying that For Answer is the best AC game. Those loving OVERBOOST!!!!!!!!!!! missions so god drat good. I liked it enough to S-rank all the missions to max out my FRS. Occupation of Arteria Carpals on Hard 
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Sep 25, 2013 04:38
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Sh4 posted:I can start a 360 team but is it region locked ? I'm EU Devs have confirmed it's not region locked. Go wild.
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Sep 25, 2013 04:41
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Is there a demo? If not any impressions yet?
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Sep 25, 2013 05:55
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Bedlam posted:Really they should just make Chromehounds 2. I remember how people were saying Hawken and Mechwarrior Online were gonna be the same thing but better. That certainly did not turn out to be true 
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Sep 25, 2013 06:07
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