History VideoGame / ArmoredCore

** ''for Answer'': Depends on the route

* TooDumbToLive: You potentially, if you fail to accommodate for the settings and targets of your various missions and arena outings. It's all too easy to make a heavyweight AC armed to the teeth but poor on energy [[OhCrap and go into a mission with fast opponents]] and/or you can't really support yourself over [[SuperDrowningSkills a large body of water surrounding you.]]

* ContinuityReboot: Several. ''[=AC3=]'', and then ''4'', and now ''V''. So with the exception of ''Armored Core 2'', the series gets a reboot with each new number.
** [[spoiler: Averted with Verdict Day which is in the same continuity as 4.]]

* DownerEnding: In For Answer it doesn't matter which ending is canon [[spoiler: it still leads to V and Verdict Day.]]

* EarlyBirdCameo: Not in the form of characters but in songs. Two albums that [=FreQuency=] (the band that does Armored Core's soundtrack) released Armored Core Reprises and Sunrise have a few songs that are in the full games of V and Verdict Day.

* FlashStep: [[SubvertedTrope Not entirely]]. In [=AC4/fA=], your mech has a Quick Boost option. It's exactly what it says on the tin, accelerating you to nearly double your speed for almost a second, allowing you to dodge enemy firepower. It's possible to do this while using your Over Boost and the speedometer tops out around 2500kph while doing so.
** Pro Tip: Equip two energy blades to dash continually (at least until your energy bar runs out).

* GatlingGood: Notably, the Arms Fort Great Wall is armed with Gatling guns ''the size of '''battleships'''''.

** 5 added auto guns which are so big that you can't move while using it without a tank body. The USG-23/H Gatling gun models, with the added rapid fire increase mechanic from high precision arms, have such a high DPS that patches nerf it.

* GlassCannon: In ''4'' and ''4A'', your NEXT better be capable of hitting 900kph with quick boost or you are going to die '''VERY QUICKLY'''. Even with an AP in the 6 digits, you're going to need to dodge a lot of dakka to make it last.
** In general, the standard lightweight AC/NEXT build is like this.
** The weapon arms in ''Verdict Day'' have flimsy, paper-thin armor, but make up for it with firepower and mobility.

* UselessUsefulSpell: Assault Armor does a nice little chunk of damage and can erase an opponent's PA. However it also erases ''your'' PA even if you miss, its range is quite short, and it's utterly useless against Arms Forts and mobile fortresses. It is however, useful against blade-build [=NEXTs=].
** And, by extension, any part that amplifies the damage done by Assault Armor.

* WaveMotionGun: So many.

* WolverinePublicity: Nine-Ball is the series’ unofficial mascot despite appearing in only four out of '''fifteen''' games. [[spoiler:and his cameo boss appearance in ''VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode R'',]] and any ''Armored Core'' fan worth their salt will recognize him.
** It probably has to do with the fact that every ''Armored Core'' has had their [[ThatOneBoss asses handed to them by it at least once]].
** Looks like White Glint has taken this role as well.

* * RankScalesWithAsskicking: In For Answer, two of the [=CEOs=] of the mega corporations are also high-ranking [=LYNXes=]. You can even hire one of them (Takafumi Arisawa) to be your wingman; apparently he doesn't mind putting his life in constant danger in exchange for being a walking advertisement for his company's products.

* SongAssociation: One song in the Armored Core Original Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Box [[note]]To be specific, Disc 20 Track 1[[/note]], Fallout is used for the soundtrack of ''[[VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos Metal Wolf Chaos XD]]''.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Three of them: ''VideoGame/ChromeHounds'', ''Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit'', and '''''[[VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos METAL WOLF CHAOS]]'''''.

*** Being armed with that knowledge upon going into ''For Answer'' would have also helped to explain why the [[spoiler: main character from the first game in that continuity]] was now piloting an insanely modified version of some barely-mentioned enemy AC he (as far as we Americans knew) had met all of once on the battlefield for no apparent reason.

** We can do better than that. In 4A, getting 100% completion unlocks [[spoiler: Nine-Ball's emblem, allowing you to complete the mech after going through a virtual hell and back to do so. In other words, good luck on Arteria Carpals at Hard mode.]]

* BoringButPractical: Machine guns in most games. Not counting the famed Chain Guns, a lot of players fall back to mostly machineguns to do a lot of their grunt work for them (i.e., dispatching anything short of a full-fledged AC/NEXT); sure, a laser rifle looks cool (and most likely lethal to boot), but machineguns have copious amounts of ammo, more likely to track even the fastest of enemies, and provide a steady stream of damage and can easily wipe out scores of MTs/tanks/helis/what-have-you in no time. In ''4A'', (regulation 1.40, at least), if you can hit [=NEXTs=] with it, the humble machine gun can eat away the mighty Primal Armor of a NEXT like cookies, and equipping [[GunsAkimbo two of them]] kills light [=NEXTs=] in 20 seconds-ish of sustained fire.

** Pretty much all of the [[BonusBoss Special Weapons]] from ''Armored Core V'' and ''Armored Core: Verdict Day.''

* BonusBoss: If the game has an arena (excluding Master of Arena) you're never required to defeat the opponent to advance the storyline, and if you do more are usually added after you beat the game. In the more usual sense ''Armored Core 2: Another Age'' had the lost field missions.
** Verdict Day follows in the same foot as V with it's special sorties:
*** Fighting a Scavenger, Hunter, and a Predator over [[WalkDontSwim water.]]
*** Six To-605's on [[GeoEffects sloped terrain]].
*** Fighting a bunch of [[MadeOfIron Gray]] [[AttackDrone Lotuses.]]
*** A Spirit Class Moving Fortress aka [[spoiler: [[BattleshipRaid Spirit of Motherwill 2.0]]]]
*** [[BullfightBoss Exusia]] again, now that plays more like a combination of his [[MacrossMissileMassacre two]] [[RazorWings forms]] from V.
*** [[spoiler: [[FinalBoss NEXT White Glint ver. IX]] with an attached [[LightningBruiser VOB]] which also has [[BeamSpam laser cannons,]] [[DeathFromAbove plasma bombs]] and it's normal mode is equipped with [[ThisIsGonnaSuck laser blades.]]]]
*** L.i.V. she's small, [[LightningBruiser fast]], [[MacrossMissileMassacre fires lots of missiles]] and [[BeamSpam lasers]], has a energy shield, a charging attack that does a lot of damage, and if that doesn't sound bad enough she litters the area around her with jamming devices to make you go slower so you can't dodge all that she throws at you.
* BoringButPractical: Machine guns. Not counting the famed Chain Guns, a lot of players fall back to mostly machineguns to do a lot of their grunt work for them (i.e., dispatching anything short of a full-fledged AC/NEXT); sure, a laser rifle looks cool (and most likely lethal to boot), but machineguns have copious amounts of ammo, more likely to track even the fastest of enemies, and provide a steady stream of damage and can easily wipe out scores of MTs/tanks/helis/what-have-you in no time. In ''4A'', (regulation 1.40, at least), if you can hit [=NEXTs=] with it, the humble machine gun can eat away the mighty Primal Armor of a NEXT like cookies, and equipping [[GunsAkimbo two of them]] kills light [=NEXTs=] in 20 seconds-ish of sustained fire.

* BrutalBonusLevel / SelfImposedChallenge: Hardcore Mode in Verdict Day is this. After you beat the game you can play through it again but you get to choose a challenge you have constantly effecting you while you play through the game ( i.e. higher repair and ammo cost, [[MadeOfPlasticine higher damage,]] a lot of stuff being cheep but [[NoDeathRun you only get one AC,]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin One Shot Kills.]]). It should also be noted that your given a [[BagOfSpilling fresh save]] for Hardcore mode, and [[SoloCharacterRun teammates, mercs or UNAC's can't help you.]]

* ContinuityNod: The games occasionally mention Hustler One/Nine-Ball, the final boss of the first game, and the antagonist of the third. In ''Armored Core 2'', one pilot claims to be his descendant (dramatic irony for those who played the first and/or third game, as Hustler One is an AI), and another's emblem is a red beast destroying Nine-Ball's. He also appears as a BonusBoss or FinalBoss in several other games.

** Two [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]] of ''V'' are even redder, one of them is an upgraded version of the final boss.

* AlternateContinuity: The series has four timelines to date:

** ''Armored Core V'' and ''Armored Core: Verdict Day''. [[spoiler:Several elements in the latter game point towards ''V'' and ''Verdict Day'' taking place further down the timeline of ''4'' and ''For Answer''. Considering the cyclic nature of the series, this is more than likely intentional.]]

* AcePilot: Every AC pilot is one, so Ravens and [=LYNXes=] are judged by how many of each other they can kill. The ''crème de la crème'' are sometimes referred to by unique titles of honor, such as [[VideoGame/ArmoredCore2 Nine-Breaker]], [[VideoGame/ArmoredCoreLastRaven Dominant]] or Irregular, with the last one being a bit more [[OverzealousUnderling derogatory]], but still implies immense skill.
* ActionPrologue: Happens quite a lot. In fact, Armored Core V had not one, but two prologue missions.

* AIBreaker: Any fight with a Raven in Master of Arena who relies heavily on missiles and aerial maneuvers can be all but immobilized by fighting in the underground parking structure arena. They'll simply keep jumping straight up into the ceiling, fall down, and try again, occasionally firing missiles that explode as soon as they're launched.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Surprisingly for a mecha series, usually averted. Most of the featured AIs are designed to kill people, and that's what they do. This is played straight more than a few times though.
** Played straight in VD with the UNAC's [[spoiler: averted in the end due to The Foundation planing it from the start.]]

* AlmightyJanitor: ''Armored Core 3''. Go ahead; try to challenge Exile without adequate preparations because he's in the bottom rank, ''it's your funeral''.

* AmazonBrigade: Interior Union, all of their hired pilots are all female. Even their mission broker is a woman.
** Case in point, only Sir Maurescu from [=AC4=] is male; all Leonemeccanica and Melies (which merges into Interior Union) [=LYNXes=] put together are all females: Sera Angelic, Ay-Pool, Stiletto, Wynne D. Fanchon, and Kasumi Sumika [[spoiler:AKA Serene Haze, your operator in ''For Answer'']].

* ArcNumber: The 9th game in the series is ''Nine Breaker''. This also shows in ''For Answer'' with White Glint being ranked 9th, and the mission you have to fight him in says that he's better than his rank suggests.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: In For Answer, two of the [=CEOs=] of the mega corporations are also high-ranking [=LYNXes=]. You can even hire one of them (Takafumi Arisawa) to be your wingman; apparently he doesn't mind putting his life in constant danger in exchange for being a walking advertisement for his company's products.

* {{BFS}}: The Giga Blade Ultimate/Overed Weapon added in Verdict Day.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Ok, so the ith/is confusion in Japanese is well-known after the Aeris/Aerith saga. "Megalith" is a word in English. "Megalis" is not. Guess what the giant power plant in the two [=AC4=] games ended up being called?

* ConvectionSmonvection: Notably, averted. In any mission near lava or other high temperature environments, being anywhere near it increases your AC's heat. Post-''Nexus'', your boosters also contribute to your AC's heat output. If you pair really powerful boosters with a weak sauce radiator, your AC will overheat begin to take damage until it cools down.
** Kojima does this too in ''4/4A''.
** Verdict Days final boss really averts this [[spoiler: in his 2nd phase where J cranks up his generator output to the point where his 'Primal Armor' field hurts you wherever you go.]]

* CrapsackWorld: The exact details vary depending on the continuity, but generally speaking, the whole series takes place in bleak dystopias where governments and private corporations are locked in endless, reptitive wars for control over what is left of the Earth. Taken to sadistic heights in ''Armored Core 4'', you pilot a Core that uses a [[MinovskyPhysics particle]] that kills the environment as you work for corporations who will gladly throw many lives away and in the sequel, things go FromBadToWorse. Really upped in Verdict Day, [[spoiler: V and VD is the future of the [=AC4=] continuity.]]

* DarkMessiah: You in ''For Answer'' if you choose Ending C.
** The 'Dark Raven' [[spoiler: Maggie]] talks about in VD.

* DifficultButAwesome: Any weapon or part out of your comfort zone.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler: White Glint in ''For Answer’’.]]

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuwdRSQROZY&feature=g-vrec Nine-Balls defeat at the end of Master or the Arena]].

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The very first game in the series doesn't have any idea of a plot at first and just immediately throws you into a test battle with two [=MTs=], which can very readily kill you if you don't play carefully and send you straight back to the title screen. On top of that, the Credits you pay for ammunition refills and AC repairs will easily blow out your budget compared to the amount of Credits early game missions give you, making it hell to even scrounge up the scratch for a new part or weapon with a high potential for game over through debt. ''Project Phantasma'' starts you in the Raven's Nest menu to let you get your bearings, and raises the earnings out of the gate to make it much more approachable and that you aren't so easily bankrupted by operating costs.
** There's also the fact that ''Project Phantasma'' is the first game to actually introduce the Arena proper, as the first game was nothing but missions with varying routes depending on the corporation you opted to stick with.

* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: See the list above.

* PunBasedTitle:
** ''For Answer'':
** Also, try saying the last three words in ''Armored Core 2: Another Age'' to see how that works out.
** ''[[FunWithAcronyms Armored Core: Master of Arena]]''.
** Armored Core V = [[VideoGame/ChromeHounds ACV]] = Advanced Combat Vehicle. This is probably unintentional.
* PunchClockHero: See below.

* RedBaron: Most pilots have a title but the best are usually labeled 'Ninebreakers.'
** In VD the protagonist of V is labeled 'The Dark Raven' by [[spoiler: Maggie]]

* RocketPoweredWeapon: The Mass Blade.

* RunningGag: Meta version; every new game in the development will have the inevitable question "Is Nine-Ball in it?"

* SphereOfDestruction: Assault Armor in ''For Answer’’.
** VD's final boss has one.

* NeglectfulPrecursors: in Armored Core 2 [[spoiler: It is implied that all of the LostTechnology was left behind by a long dead alien race.]]

* RebelliousPrincess: Rosary aka: Cordelia

* AcePilot: Every AC pilot is one, so Ravens and [=LYNXes=] are judged by how many of each other they can kill.

The primary appeal of the series revolves around the customization of the titular mechs, each of which has a number of different equippable parts. You can tinker with just about any piece of your Armored Core, including the weaponry, frame, treads, jets, generators, ammo supply, and more. This is ''highly'' encouraged by the game, as every mission can have wildly different objectives and enemy types depending on the situation. One mission could require fast, light frame mechs to deal with a MacrossMissileMassacre, while others could require heavy firepower and a bulky frame to carry it all.

Notably, ''Armored Core'' places an almost equal amount of emphasis on the building of your mechs as it does piloting them. Missions often take a few short minutes if they go well ([[NintendoHard which they very well may not]]), and success or failure is often dictated by what you bring to a mission as much as it does in piloting your mechs. Expect to spend a lot of time in the garage with your mech before going out on a sortie. Even worse, some of the games have a large macrogame layer on top of the normal mech combat, meaning it is possible to get a NonStandardGameOver by, among other things, ''firing too many bullets'' (due the costs of repairs and ammo spent on a mission getting taken out of your pay). The fast-paced and extremely fun combat is your reward for proper planning, so commit to it well.

* ApocalypseHow: Class 2. The term "Great Destruction" is used in the first two timelines to describe certain ambigious background events which lead to the post-apocalyptic worlds the games take place in. They are mostly described in detail only in [[AllThereInTheManual external materials and interviews]], but they share a similar premise: following seemingly endless corporate wars and social unrests, some factions decided the best course of action would be to raze the planet to the ground in an attempt to RestartTheWorld from a blank slate. In the first continuity, this was done with the KillSat "Justice", while in the second continuity it was done by the AI-controlled unmanned weapon facililty "Internecine". Both timelines include instances of people (unwittingly or otherwise) coming close to unearthing the technology that caused these events, [[spoiler:with ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreNexus'''s ending having it [[DownerEnding actually happen]].]]

Other major appeals of the franchise include the unique atmosphere and one killer set of soundtracks. The games are relentlessly bleak, taking place in CrapsackWorld styled environments. Blasted cityscapes, ruined deserts, and abandoned factories are the primary stages for battle in this series. The primary themes of WarIsHell and HumansAreBastards are on prominent display, and the game takes a lot of pains to show the destructive end result of conflict in the far future. Many ''Armored Core'' games deliberately alienate the player from other humans, making contact with them exlusive to [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection radio operators]] and not much else. This is on top of allowing the player to commit some truly heroic or villainous acts without much fanfare. All of this places heavy emphasis on the fighting inside of your core, with the implication that the only place that "real" humanity remains in this universe is found in conflict between skilled pilots.

Other major appeals of the franchise include the unique atmosphere and one killer set of soundtracks.

[[folder: Game Summaries]]

** ''Nine Breaker'': Nine-Ball
** ''Last Raven'': depending on the route, either Jack-O, Zanida, Evangel, or the Final Pulverizer

** ''for Answer'': depends on the route.

** ''Nexus'': [[DubNameChange Nine-Ball/Prototype Pulverizer]]

** Given some BlindIdiotTranslation and NoExportForYou for some of the extra material collections and art books, you need to do some digging to understand some of the games' plot. Thankfully, TheWikiRule has helped to alleviate this some.

The ''Armored Core'' series is a mech-combat video game series developed by Creator/FromSoftware. It started on the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation, and over the years, has been on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/XBox360, and mobile phones. With the exception of ''Armored Core 2'', each numbered sequel seems to take place in a different continuity, separate from previous, and later, numbered titles.

** ''Another Age'': Nine-Ball Seraph

* VillainProtagonist: ''For Answer'', Ending C.

* CrapsackWorld: Taken to sadistic heights in ''Armored Core 4'', you pilot a Core that uses a [[MinovskyPhysics particle]] that kills the environment as you work for corporations who will gladly throw many lives away and in the sequel, things go FromBadToWorse.
** Really upped in Verdict Day, [[spoiler: V and VD is the future of the [=AC4=] continuity.]]

* MacrossMissileMassacre: You can do this in all of the games, but ''4A'' takes the cake. Starting with the Spirit of Motherwill, we work our way up to the Answerer. Barring Stigro and Orca's Arms Forts, every AF has missiles by the dozen (Stigro has them too, [[CurbStompBattle but he's special]]).