Play Armored Core Online

Summary

Armored Core dropped onto the PlayStation in 1997 and immediately set itself apart with Shoji Kawamori’s vision of a “core” block around which every mech could be rebuilt. The game lets you assemble a piloted suit from interchangeable leg, torso and weapon parts, turning each mission into a budgeting puzzle where credits from completed contracts buy faster thrusters, heavier cannons or sleek laser swords. Levels swing from barren desert compounds to cramped space‑station corridors, and enemies can flare up from any direction, so scouting and tweaking your loadout becomes essential to survive. A split‑screen versus mode and even PlayStation Link‑Cable support give the experience a gritty, competitive edge that many early shooters lacked. Decades later the title resurfaced on the PlayStation Network as a PS One Classic, proving the depth of its customization still draws fans who crave a truly mechanical playground.

Storyline

In Armored Core, humanity has been reduced to a few survivors after the Great Destruction, a cataclysmic war that wiped out most of Earth's population. For fifty years the remnants were forced to live underground, and during that time powerful corporations rose to dominate the wasteland. The two biggest rivals, Chrome and Murakumo Millennium, battle endlessly for supremacy.

The player becomes a Raven, an independent mercenary hired by either side. After passing the Raven Test at the neutral Ravens' Nest training ground, a mysterious operator called “R” sends a welcome mail and the first contracts. Each mission lets the pilot customize their armored core (AC) mecha, and the challenges grow tougher as the story progresses. Occasionally, a Murakumo agent named Char contacts the Raven with additional orders.

The corporate war fuels endless contract work, giving Ravens constant opportunities to earn credits and upgrade their ACs. As missions stack, both Chrome and Murakumo eventually crumble under their own conflict. The player watches the power struggle collapse while continuing to fight for the highest bidder.

The final job, issued by Ravens' Nest itself, turns out to be a trap meant to eliminate a too‑powerful Raven. It forces the pilot to battle resistance inside the Nest’s base, destroy two Nine‑Ball units piloted by the top Raven Hustler‑One AI, and finally blow up the Nest’s system core.