Armored Core: Nine Breaker Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 7 May, 2006

A glitch in Nine wastes time.

Version tested: PlayStation 2

I fear I may have inadvertently set myself up as EuroGamer's "giant robot guy". While gushing rather embarrassingly about my admiration for giant robots under the slender pretence of reviewing Armored Core's PSP outing, I ruffled a few feathers by stating that I'd never been a particular fan of the series, finding the ones I had encountered to be rather stodgy shoot-em-ups.

I'd love to say that Armored Core: Nine Breaker (yes, it's the ninth official entry in the series - and there's a biscuit for anyone who can remember all eight previous games) gave me a rude awakening and showed me the subtle nuance beneath the charred metal shell, but sadly it's possibly the most redundant version yet.

Crapheap challenge

Where previous Armored Core games centred on story missions, with the option of arena battles to raise cash, Nine Breaker has dumped the narrative element, leaving just a series of competition scraps to plough through for no real reason. There's a hilariously half-hearted attempt to explain how a lull in intergalactic robot fighting has given rise to this fantastic training opportunity but, sorry, it'll take more than that hastily scribbled excuse to justify chopping a game in half.

'Armored Core: Nine Breaker' Screenshot optimus

Optimus Prime's Riverdance was a sight to behold.

While this focus on trophy battles almost worked on the PSP version, where short bursts of unconnected robot action suit the handheld format, as a console sequel it seems rather cheeky. The closest comparison I can think of would be when id opted to go multiplayer only for Quake III, but even that doesn't hold up - Nine Breaker has no online play whatsoever. The closest it comes to grasping the power of the Internet is in letting you post your scores online. You really are spoiling us.

The AC garage is still a sandbox of glee for mech fans, with seemingly endless variations of weapons, components and parts just waiting to be slapped together and tested in the field. However, you can't help feeling that the franchise needs to evolve a little. You get the same old stuff you've seen and tinkered with in the past, and if you've already got an Armored Core game in your collection, this doesn't offer anything new in terms of equipment or features to warrant a purchase.

Match maker

'Armored Core: Nine Breaker' Screenshot swapping

I knew swapping the laser cannon for a Soda Stream was a bad move.

The battles themselves start out as "test matches" in which you search a randomly generated database for opponents on roughly the same level, and only when you've proved yourself in these are you invited to take part in battles with anything at stake.

Graphically, this could just as easily have been released in 2000. Some nice smoke effects aside, the game seems to be running from the same engine that powered Armored Core 2. Even the sound effects are the same, while the looped music on the AC design screen - where you'll spend most of your time - soon molests your ears with its banal electronic burbling.

To all intents and purposes, this really isn't a new game. Even the controls remain something of a nightmare, with an irritating combination of analogue sticks and shoulder buttons required to keep the enemy in range, and in your sights, while you select and arm the weapon of your choice.

To the breaker dawn

'Armored Core: Nine Breaker' Screenshot penis

See, even robots can suffer from penis envy.

Those familiar with the series will have no problems with the arcane controls, and will be able to coax more depth out of the experience than most, but it's rather revealing that the game makes absolutely no concessions to new players. There are no tutorials (though there are some pathetically easy training bouts that bear no resemblance to actual combat) and no guidance as to how to build a better mech.

Instead you're faced with a series of cold, dense menu screens and brutal battles that leave you no time to settle in before red hot death rains from the sky, pummelling you into the ground. Without an existing attachment to the series, only the most masochistic will persevere with this curt exercise in uninspired destruction.

Not that there's anything terribly wrong with creating a game aimed squarely at the faithful fan, it's just that those are the people who are more likely to want more features, not less, with each sequel. Nine Breaker essentially offers half a game, which probably explains why this make-do entry is clocking in at under twenty notes.

Removing features from a sequel and replacing them with nothing of note is certainly an flamboyantly avant garde way to approach a franchise soon to enter its tenth year, but it doesn't exactly do wonders for your value for money. If you've never played an Armored Core game before, Nine Breaker isn't the place to start. If you've already got a previous version on the shelf, then you've already got everything worth owning in this edition. A depressingly pointless release.

5 / 10

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Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Pho-Zoon #1 6 years ago

    But that's the most exciting headline pic evah!

  • GordonJ #2 6 years ago

    Oh for a proper mech game, and none of that mechassault rubbish either.

    Come on Chromehounds, step up to the plate.

  • toy_brain #3 6 years ago

    Apparently Armored Core: Nexus is also out (was released on the same day it seems).
    Its the previous game to Nine Breaker, but (according to Metacritic) is a lot better.
    I didnt see any copies in the shops when I checked on friday, but gameplay.com have it is stock for those that are interested.

  • GordonJ #4 6 years ago

    It would be rude not to buy Nexus as it's only £18, I see the next one is due out in July (according to play), they're churned them out a bit quickly arent they?

  • toy_brain #5 6 years ago

    "they're churned them out a bit quickly arent they?"

    Well, you have to take into account that Nexus was made in 2004 and (I think) From make roughly one AC game a year. Nexus took a while to come out due to the whole Digital Jesters thing that went down a while back - so the release got stalled as the licence changed publishing hands. Nine Breaker is published in Europe by 505Gamestreet (Not Agetec as it says in the review) and was made in mid-2005.

    So..... well yea. 1 game a year is fairly quick, but not unheard of. But mostly its a case of Europe playing catch-up with the releases.

  • ilmaestro #6 6 years ago

    Hey man, how long is it since you made a post on EG?!

    And have you played the PSP Armored Core game? I'm more likely to buy that than another PS2 one.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/06 @ 01:31

  • darkbhudda #7 6 years ago

    I remember the other 8
    Armored Core
    Armored Corrs: The Irish Uprising
    Armored Cor-Blimey: Cockneys Attack
    Armored Cordon Bleu: Frenchies on the Warpath
    Armored Corvette: Florida Edition
    Armored Core-ky Romano: Armored Core goes Hollywood
    Armored Caught in the Act: Adults only version
    Armored Core 8: Then had to wait 15 minutes before going for a swim

  • toy_brain #8 6 years ago

    "Hey man, how long is it since you made a post on EG?! "

    Not that long ago, but I'm very much a 'light user' so you probably missed the couple posts I have made in the past few days.

    Come to think of it, the last post I saw of yours was in the GI Jockey 4 review, so I guess we must keep 'missing' each other :p

    Need to spam more.........

    EDIT: And no, I havent played the PSP game. I wanted to get it, but apparently even the revised western version still sticks to the 'programmable AI' gameplay, with direct-control very much an afterthought.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/06 @ 07:11

  • ilmaestro #9 6 years ago

    Ah right. I do tend to stick to the forums more than the comments.

    Shame about the PSP game not sounding too good, I could do with something new for it.

  • Machetazo #10 6 years ago

    Mech combat can be a lot of fun (I'm thinking Phantom Crash and Virtual On, here.) but this apparently isn't. Hell, I imagine even good ol' CyberSled would pwn it!

    If I can't find Nexus, would AC2 or 3 be a sound way to check out a good slice of Armored Core action?
    (I've seen those about recently.)
    Thanks EG for saving me from a dodgy "investment". :)
    Edited by 2 at 08/05/06 @ 15:12

  • Cacophanus #11 6 years ago

    Mr. Whitehead needs to play these games before he reviews them. There is a full analogue control setup selectable over the shoulder button focused original. Plus, he doesn't go much into detail about the expansive training mode (it sounds like he mostly played Arena matches).

    The previous eight games are:

    Armored Core
    Armored Core Project Phantasma
    Armored Core Master of Arena
    Armored Core 2
    Armored Core 2 Another Age
    Armored Core 3
    Armored Core 3 Silent Line
    Armored Core Nexus

    The name Ninebreaker originates from Armored Core 2 as a term for a Raven, the mercenaries who pilot the armored cores, who could beat Nineball (Nineball was a recurring villain from the original Psone games).

    Seriously, Dan you do this for a living so there's no excuse for being pig ignorant.

  • 3william56 #12 6 years ago

    Seriously, Cacophonus, AC isn't your Mum, so there's no excuse for being so snotty.

  • Cacophanus #13 6 years ago

    There's no excuse for Whitehead being an ignorant reviewer. Not knowing the history of the saga is probably forgivable, not even bothering to play the game you review is inexcusable.

  • darkbhudda #14 6 years ago

    "There's no excuse for Whitehead being an ignorant reviewer. Not knowing the history of the saga is probably forgivable, not even bothering to play the game you review is inexcusable. "

    Well if a reviewer who obviously is a hardcore gamer can't find the features you mention, how do the rest of us who don't plan to buy every single game in the series?

  • Cacophanus #15 6 years ago

    The control setup is one of the startup options! Missing that makes you an idiot.