Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Run 'n' gun in mechanized suit; primarily for existing fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Armored Core V
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
If The Hunger Games were played between giant mechanical beasts, it might look a little something like ARMORED CORE V. As with its predecessors, Namco Bandai's latest Japanese import pits giant 'mechs against one another in a deadly fight to the finish. Players assume the role of mercenaries who climb into mechanized suits calls Armored Cores, or ACs, and must use weapons of mass destruction to take on computer-controlled or human enemies in huge skirmishes. If you're a fan of the third-person shooter series, you'll likely appreciate the new offering for it doesn't mess much with the formula. But it also delivers massive online multiplayer battles, maps that encourage more tactics to be employed, and about 500 parts to customize your ACs in various ways.
Is It Any Good?
While it's gratifying to leave enemies in a smoldering heap, the game might be hit or miss for those unfamiliar with the game mechanics, plus there are some other random issues, too. On one hand, hopping, flying, and running your ACs through destructible urban environments is a blast. You can soar from rooftop to rooftop, deploy drones that detect enemies, and use thermal, kinetic, and chemical weapons to inflict damage. When you're victorious, you'll get paid money, minus repair costs, which can be used to acquire more parts. The game supports two teams of up to five players each or players can hop into a single-player story and play through the missions cooperatively in a few different ways.
But solo missions can be easy and repetitive, plus the menus can be difficult to navigate, the story somewhat incomprehensible, and the maps could've been more exciting to fight through. That said, the multiplayer experience is fun and frantic, be it the player-versus-player or team-versus-team "deathmatch" levels or the beefier "Conquest" mode where you must attack or defend territories, earn points per mission, and eventually, take on big bosses. Overall, the B-grade game should satisfy longtime fans of the franchise, though $60 for the disc might be a bit much for what you get. If you can, wait for it to drop in price or pick it up second hand, if you can.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the developers should try something different in the next iteration of this game. With so many Armored Core versions of the game available, and with little change between them, should they try to freshen up the experience? Or is this what players want?
What impact does the violence in this game have on you?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Science : energy , gravity , physics , Language & Reading : reading
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , meeting challenges together , teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , Self-Direction : time management
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Namco Bandai
- Release date : March 27, 2012
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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