Parents' Guide to

Armored Core: Verdict Day

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Hunger Games-like death match with mech shooters.

Game PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 2013
Armored Core: Verdict Day Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Armored Core: Verdict Day Game: Screenshot #1
  • Armored Core: Verdict Day Game: Screenshot #2
  • Armored Core: Verdict Day Game: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

Similar to the Armored Core games that preceded it, Namco Bandai's ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY is a third-person shooter that lets gamers take control over a squad of giant mechanized robots ("mechs") and fight against other mechanical beasts and vehicles. The post-apocalyptic story, where "the world has been thrown into chaos," tells of the planet's depletion of natural resources. So surviving factions are teaming up to fight across Earth, using deadly Armored Core units, to take control over these resources required to secure their future. Through massive firepower and tactical teamwork, you can play with and against computer-controlled enemies or team up for cooperative ("co-op") and competitive multiplayer matches over the Internet, supporting up to 20 fighters.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Yes and no. On one hand, this new disc delivers some intense gameplay, slick graphics that push the aging consoles to their limits, and engaging matchmaking and multiplayer support. You can customize your mechs in a myriad of ways, including upgradeable weaponry, parts, and aesthetic options -- and the Operator Mode is still thrilling for those who prefer a top-down view to tactically command a full squad of Armored Core units (by setting waypoints, marking targets, and receiving in-cockpit viewpoints as they happen).

Still, although the artificial intelligence (AI) is better than last year's Armored Core V, the missions are still repetitive and unimaginative, the controls can sometimes be tricky, and the user interface is in need of a refresh. Unless you're a huge fan of the franchise and want to support everything Japanese developer FromSoftware cranks out, save your money and instead pick up the older Armored Core V second hand for $18 or less.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of media violence. Is this violence different from other games since it involves big machines (but with humans inside)?

  • How do you determine how much time you should allot to playing video games?

Game Details

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