Welp, I got Armored Core 2 after all... my review.

If anyone is interested in this game anymore. But this is new to me, and new to our country. Just came in, they said.

I bought this nonetheless, as I thought this would be very good game; as I\'m into mech-games. I just couldn\'t wait for ZOE as I asked when the store-owner would get it, and he didn\'t know. "Not soon", he replied. So I thought buying this, for quite a good price, and then save for ZOE and get it when it comes ( I will have money for it soon ).

Actually this is First Impressions, as I haven\'t had time to play the game much. Only few first missions. So I haven\'t really got into the game yet, and I will post my review of the game later. If you\'re willing to read this whole post, I\'m pleased.

( I read some reviews and there\'s this talk about Analog-sticks, that this game doesn\'t use them, but heck, it does; or am I completely misunderstood something? )

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The first thing that struck me was the awesome opening movie. I loved it, and it is very well done, to say the least. I got the feeling that this could be a very good game...

Well, the menus are cool, as well. This isn\'t an important matter, but a nice detail still. So, the training-mission starts, and is quite easy; and doesn\'t show the power of the game yet. It is quite lame, but it\'s the training-mission nonetheless. The graphics, wich are truly top-notch, are the first things you notice.

Then, you notice the beautiful movement of the AC you\'re controlling, and how the light shines off from the Armour. It\'s really sweet, eye-candy, and the best graphics I\'ve seen in a ps2-game. I\'m not saying the graphics would be better than, to say, Bouncer or Zoe, but I haven\'t seen those games so I can\'t compare them.

Then there\'s the pure enjoyment of shooting other AC\'s. It\'s just beautiful. And the mech\'s... they move like they should! Some reviewers complain about the slowness of turning - well, I don\'t. I think it\'s great, and done for a purpose, as you now have more strategistic points to give to an attack; you really have to think where from you attack and how - you gotta have fast reflexes and sharp mind - as you\'re slow on turning and 180 degrees turn could get you almost killed when you\'re facing an hard opponent.

Then I noticed the Arena -section of the game, after I became a raven. I love the little detail of getting mail, as well. I challenge the first AC on the Arena-ladder, and beat it - it was really tight battle. I love this Arena-section as well; and when you\'ve truly updated your mech to look like one heavy machinery, I think this will be 10 times more enjoying - this arena addition.

The first missions are overly easy ( the first two ), and I go trough them without really bad problems. But I can judge that this will be a difficult game even from these first missions.

But, that\'s it for the first impressions. In a nutshell: I love this game, whether there\'s Zoe coming soon or not - and I think I made the right decision when buying this over Oni, wich felt quite good; but I got so many warnings that you get bored to it fast, that I let go of the plan to buy it.

Thanks for reading this rather long post.

Thanks for the review.

Here in the UK armoured core 2 is in its preview box but that was a few days ago it could be out now.

Im personally waiting until 30th of march and getting Gun Griffon Blaze. Its apparently short but is pure fun all the way through.

Richard.

I borrowed the import version from a mate

the graphics are kinda psOne in some areas, but impresive in other (wait till you get to the later levels ) and there is some major slowdown in some parts of the game. The sound is okay, but the music is horrible. I just turn off the music and it is fine. The gameplay is really nice, the levels are sometimes a bit small but can be a tough challange. The arena mode is just plain fun. have you tried the 2 player mode, Very nice! Overall its a nice game, if you are really into mech games buy it, otherwise rent it!

graphics 7
sound 7
gameplay 7

= 7

Darth gimme a score about 100

Where were ypu guys last night when I was running this live over the net.  It was kinda jerky, but it was my first effort.

AC is a really good game, i wasnt thiking about returning it when i rented it lol, but for one thing i bet you havent seen... the slowdown, at certain tiem of the game when you in action, there will be so much slowdown,i mean really bad slowdown that you can literally see each frame go by!, but i didnt let that get to me.

I own all the AC games and the #1 reason I didn\'t like this one:  Most of the weapons are useless.  It\'s energy weapons or nothing in the upper arena battles.  And this game continues the tradition of not really being to know what you\'re getting into when you take a mission so you usually have to play it twice to beat it.

Well, like I said; those are still first impressions, wich mean I\'m not far in the game

But it\'s already tough.

Give you a score, Adan? Welp, it might be quite early to give yet, but lets give them by the first impressions:
Graphics: 90 - very impressive. The mechs are Beautiful

Gameplay: 82 - very nice. Haven\'t got the hang of the control yet really. This score may rise when I know them better. Gameplay in overall is very tough and fun, and the mechs turn and walk like mechs should.

Sounds: 89 - very good; the mechs really sound like they should; it\'s like watching a Star-Wars movie - just imagine AT-AT\'s, and you get the idea The laser-sounds are nothing spectacular \'tho.

Music: 75 - I haven\'t listened to the musics really yet, but to judge from what I\'ve heard, they\'re quite bad. Nothing that they lower the atmosphere but they won\'t get your adrealine up.

Overall: Must buy for mech-game fans BUT THIS BY FIRST IMPRESSIONS!!! TRUE REVIEW LATER

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Overall Score: 88

he..darth how far are you into the game? Just see the later stages, they are breath taking!

The game was cool, although you scored the game higher then I would\'ve.

I\'d give it an 80 outta 100, I just expect more from the PS2 even thought the game was good fun and stuff. I feel the need to leave room to grade the plethora of games coming out that should be better the AC2

Hey Darth, you said that AC2 was new to your country. where do u live?

I want both but I only can afford one. Which one would you guys recommend? AC2 or GGB?

In Finland, ps2gamer

ddaryl: the score is still from my first impressions. Wait for my review and you shall get my true score for the game.

I haven\'t seen the later levels... breath-taking? That\'s good...

I thought you wouldn\'t be interested in reading my post here as this game is \'old\' for many of you. I\'m just in such un-lucky position that I tend to get the good new games later than most of you.