VersionThree : INVISIBLE RAID

This game is short if you aren't going to try to S rank all missions. Be aware of that (5 hours played to finish all missions and even S ranked some of them) If you're ok with spending on a game that short, I really do recommend it because it scratches the old-school Armored Core style itch. It has a more forgiving system and WAY better controls and feel of movement while still feeling more like AC 1-3 than the smoother, later AC games.

There are a host of indie games on Steam at the moment that are clearly inspired by the Armored Core games, but in practice they play quite differently from them. In contrast, V3 is a fangame that genuinely does play like the Armored Core games -- specifically, the earlier PS2 ones. Mechanically, some things are simplified. You build your personal V3 from a single body frame, a generator, a booster, and whatever weapons and optional parts you choose. Generators don't provide an energy budget of thousands that your other parts draw from, but a number of around 20-ish "slots" that your other parts can plug into. Boosting also doesn't drain energy; you can go at max speed or fly as much as you want (although there are reasons to slow down). But while the game may not be particularly granular, it does not lack in variety. Different body types behave very differently, and there are multiple examples of each type of body plan. A "BasicType-Defense" body is going to move in a different fashion than a "FlightType-Speed" body and both are distinct from "SpinType" and "FortressType" bodies. There's no lack for weapons, either, with analogs to all your favorites from the earlier Armored…

add mouse and keyboard support

I think the best way to describe Version 3 is "Armored Core Lite": simplified mechanics, simplified story and simplified structure. This game is not afraid of taking plenty of aspects from that series from both the new and old entries, combining them together and giving them a fresh coat of paint. The result is something that *feels* like Armored Core but has enough of its own twists and turns to make it stand out and its own thing. The single fact that the equivalent to ACs in this game are these weird, wheelchair-looking machines was honestly more than enough to peak my interest, since, while feeling weird at first, it becomes quite hilarious to see the move and fight as if they were your regular mechs. And the body-turning mechanics feel like they make more sense to be present due to your V3 having wheels (or hovering-looking nubs, depending on which one you use) instead of legs. In a similar way to Gearbits, this is the kind of game that I would give to someone if they wanted to get into Armored Core but have a hard time dealing with the complexity of the garage systems in those games, since it has very similar concepts, but trimmed down to the essentials so they are more di…

Hey you, yes you, did you like Armored Core 1-3? Were you disappointed with how 'modernized' Armored Core 6 was? Are you okay with a mech game using weaponized bomb diffusal robots and quad-copter drones instead of skyscraper tall mecha? If you answered "Yes" to at least one of these questions - play the demo now. Did you enjoy the demo? If yes, go buy this game, there's WAY more on offer beyond the demo.

A little short, but a fun older Armored Core Game.