Armored Core

Armored Core introduced PlayStation players to a complex world of mechs called Ravens, where players assemble their own combat machine from dozens of parts — chassis, weapons, legs, generators, radars, and other equipment — and then use it to complete paid mercenary missions for rival corporations in a dark, post-apocalyptic underground world. From studio From Software, this was an extraordinarily ambitious project that placed as much emphasis on depth of customization and tactical decision-making as on the combat itself, letting players gradually upgrade their machine with earned money according to their own playstyle.

The game was technically demanding — it combined 3D piloting with managing equipment, finances, and reputation, and a poorly assembled mech could make a mission impossible before the first shot was even fired due to insufficient stamina or slow movement. Controls required mastering the interplay of movement, aiming, and energy management, giving Armored Core a fairly steep learning curve, but one that rewarded players willing to experiment with different machine configurations and playstyles, from heavily armored tanks to fast, lightly armed bipedal units. Missions also unlocked gradually based on the results of previous contracts, motivating players to repeatedly fine-tune their equipment.

Armored Core laid the foundation for one of From Software's longest-running series and foreshadowed the studio that would later become famous for titles like Dark Souls. The cold, industrial atmosphere of corporate warfare, terse mission briefings, and repetitive but functional electronic music together created an unmistakable feeling of impersonal, business-like mercenary work. On PlayStation, it was one of the few mech simulators with such a degree of customization freedom and system depth, and even years later it remains valued for its mechanical sophistication and the distinctive, dark atmosphere of its entire world.

Why play it: For fans of mech action and From Software, Armored Core is interesting as the starting point of one of the studio's longest-running series, as well as a mech simulator with an unusual degree of customization freedom and the dark atmosphere of mercenary warfare.