Summary A must have for the menality required.

Cons: Lack of soundtrack, lack of background information, lack of parts, lack of versatility in the arena (simulation)
Pros: Tradable schematics, unlimited amounts of AC designs, much easier emblem design, insane graphics, intense fast paced combat.

Reviewer's Comments

AC4 is nearly everything an AC fan would want from a next-gen gaming plat form in an AC title.

I would have to say that the most difficult and probably most frustrating new feature of this game would have to be the QB function (Quickboost). In AC3, such a part equipped to the shoulder slot of your AC was available, now they have forced it into your armored cores, making it so that even the slothiest of heavy AC designs can keep a lock on you when you try to get right behind them. Unfortunately this function leaves only room for light weight to extremely light weight designs.

Agreeing with what the last guy wrote in the review before me, I would have to say that AC4 is lacking in a lot of original parts. I have yet to see the 'KARASAWA' Rifle, or any other such weapon. Examples... In AC3 you could equip a back part that was a 'double back' unit. It was a linear cannon with ten shots to the clip, very powerful. This game just lacks a lot of old parts, including the entire set of hovering legs. Now, you just have automatic boosters which keep you above the water, thus ruining another edge players had over eachother. Who could walk on water and who couldn't.

The new layout is nice, and nearly leaves the screen empty. Nice for some, but not for me. In the older versious of AC, I would always customize the cockpit by color and instrument panels. (Which I used all of them.) If you're truly an AC fan, you'll miss the idea that your heads have different voices and talk to you at the begining and end of each mission.

Now, the best part. I bought the game back in summer 07, it's now winter 07, nearly 08. I am still addicted to the game, and I don't have live capabilities. I always pit my new designs on the toughest ACs, Red Eye and Stilleto. Those two are the best. Stilleto, because of it's insane amount of firepower and accuracy, and Berlioz I think his name is, because well, he's number one in the simulations. I have over fourty different schematics and I have three teams of three which compliment eachother very well. I hardly ever, ever, use a heavyweight AC. I can think of nothing other than multiplayer. I am a very well accomplished AC Engineer who loves to push each design to the limit so that it really shines. Example: I can create an AC who has a kickass amount of firepower, is insanely fast, and while flying, recharges it's fuel.

What really bugs me though, I just remembered, is the huge gap. When did we go from armored cores, to 'nexts'? The Armored core that you get to see at the end is HUGE and has overboost, (Which they intially didn't). What happened? Did people run out of funds to make acs, and just use nexts? Ugh, lack of background from the story makes me sick sometimes, so I just go with it.

Overall, this game is nice for newbies and veterans alike. Veterans have the up on newbies as we have me knowledge with how to make things go together. I would reccomend this game for anyone, except for those who aren't good at putting things together.

Also, you have to read the instruction manual (for once) to understand everything. I didn't know what stabilizers were for (until I read the manual) I just thought they were there to make your next look cool. Even so, I haven't noticed any advantages by using them or not using them.