Armored Core: Nexus Critic Reviews

Whilst Nexus is most certainly an Armored Core game, and very good with it, a lot has changed on how the game fundamentally plays. Is it the best in the series? Well, it comes stunningly close.

For the people who have not played any of the games in the series up until this point, I would advise finding a copy of Armored Core 2 or 3 and play it first, as the difficulty in this one is not forgiving to anyone out of practice.

With one disc that's got a nice plethora of new (new controls, new interface, new parts, etc.), and another disc that's got old made into new (not to mention those many unlockables to top that sweet cherry), you've really got one of the best and broadest Armored Core games on your hands that you could ever dream of.

One of the finest mecha games ever made...The constant micro-management of you AC's mutually opposed abilities coupled with an increased efficiency at neutralising enemies is a cerebral, immersive and vibrantly unique gaming experience, which lifts the game above its past incarnations.

As the standard bearer for mech-building and fighting, Armoured Core's depth is still as profound... The greater emphasis on overheat and a new tuning system will be to the taste of some veterans and not others, but the beauty of the machines will please all.

8 / 8 / 9 / 7 - 32 gold

The addition of first-person-shooter-style controls is what takes Nexus to the next step. The series instantly goes from being niche to nice, now that turning your Core is simpler for the uninitiated.

Yes, this is the best AC yet, but come on, how about a new approach that includes a sense of scale?

From Software has taken an already complex and involving game and made it even richer by expanding the variety of customization options available, in addition to giving players an even larger array of aspects to concern themselves with when building and using their own giant robots.

There's a steep learning curve, but once that's over, you'll love creating a personalized engine of destruction.

Despite offering a lot of the same (eight games of it, nearly), the slight changes to the engine and all the content make it pretty exciting. There's just too much packed into one box. You must respect it.

I still find the control too slow and awkward, and this once again hampers my enjoyment of the game somewhat.

The baffling story and incredible difficulty are likely to repel all but the most ardent and devoted players.

Competent but uninspired, Armored Core Nexus continues to cater to a dedicated following of PS2 owners that milk its customization features for all they’re worth.

A novel and refreshing experience that any fan of the series will definitely want to pick up – but if you hate the series, then this probably won’t help much unless your only complaint involves the awkward controls Armored Core is infamous for, as the new control scheme in AC: Nexus really kicks ass and finally makes the game playable for those of us without immensely twitchy fingers.

Nexus is a welcome addition to the Armored Core franchise, but for all the upgrades and tweaks that From Software has instituted for this latest version, it seems too little, too late, and too bad.

Once you learn enough to outfit your mech to personal preferences (which quietly becomes addictive) and begin to effectively execute missions, Nexus can suck you in. Not great, but worth it for more patient mech-heads.

An Armored Core nut's wet dream, if such a deranged breed exists. Otherwise a dull mech-'em-up that lacks thrills and originality.

It has more of the same clunky controls and general lack of fun for which the series is known.