Armored Core: For Answer Xbox 360
Metascore
64 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
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  1. IGN
    80
    If you think mech customization and boost-filled battles sound like your cup of tea, Armored Core does deliver on those parts.
  2. GameSpot
    70
    The latest Armored Core makes up for the series' lack of progress by simply being fun to play.
  3. GameZone
    70
    Armored Core for Answer will completely satisfy any fans of the series thus far, and will even do the job for action or mech fans in general. Newcomers to the mech genre might find themselves lost in the customization options and level of difficulty presented.
  4. Cheat Code Central
    42
    What's so strange about For Answer is its trading of extensive customization for actual gameplay. Sure, you can build the ultimate mech, customizing it to your heart's content, yet when you actually play the game, you realize its shortcomings.
  5. Game Informer
    63
    Basically, play it for the multiplayer, or don’t play it at all.
  6. Worth Playing
    73
    Armored Core for Answer fixes a lot of the problems that existed in Armored Core 4. Significantly more fun missions, graphical improvements, a fantastic sense of scale, and an enormous amount of customization really help the title. However, the impossible-to-understand story detracts value from the single-player experience, so the only reason for you to return is to build your mech, which is something that's going to overwhelm most players.
  7. Gaming Age
    67
    I appreciate the realization of scale in the game, and the overall fun you get out of just blowing things away with the different weapons you can toy around with. I'm not sure if there's been enough improvements here to appease fans, but as a player that hasn't been immersed in the Armored Core universe for a bit, I had a pretty good time.
  8. 1UP
    42
    The game does provide a few improvements, bringing revised flight controls and new cooperative mission modes, but For Answer lacks what a great series needs in order to stay relevant: progress.
  9. GameShark
    75
    Throughout the campaign, several missions require you to tackle mobile “Arms Forts”. These are tremendously large battle platforms, bristling with heavy artillery, missile racks, and other surprises.
  10. Official Xbox Magazine
    55
    Unless you're a major mech fiend, you'll lose interest within a few hours. [Dec 2008, p.87]
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  11. Edge Magazine
    70
    For players who have dismissed the mech genre in general and Armored Core in particular as requiring too much effort for too little reward, For Answer could offer a compelling reason to dabble. [Jan 2009, p.94]
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  12. PALGN
    50
    Definitely enjoyable in its own way, but a camera that can't keep pace with the action and dated visuals means that this is one for fans of the series only.
  13. 3DJuegos
    68
    Although the franchise needs clearer improvements, for Answer is a title that will captivate fans of the mechs. The incorporation of a cooperative mode brings a nice add-on, and the customization continues being one of great the attractiveness of the Armored Core series.
  14. TeamXbox
    61
    The cut scenes are gorgeous, the mech design is cool, the overall art style is kind of awesome… but the game itself isn’t really worth it.
  15. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    70
    Armored Core is best enjoyed with other enthusiasts, and For Answer has an impressive array of online options. [Sept 2008, p.88]
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  16. X360 Magazine UK
    40
    We accept that there’s some who’ll like this. You know who you are and you know you’re not the majority. Listen up majority, it is you to whom we speak.
  17. GamingExcellence
    76
    Armored Core: For Answer has it hits and misses.
  18. DailyGame
    70
    The game is solid, looks good and plays well, but it just has a "feel" that's not for everyone.
  19. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    58
    This latest entry offers plenty for fans, but makes no concessions to anyone else. [Feb 2009, p.80]
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  20. Planet Xbox 360
    83
    The bare-bones presentation and limited versus matches leave some definite room for improvement. With a greater focus on co-op and story, the next Armored Core could be the first must-own mech title.
  21. InsideGamer.nl
    62
    The customizing of your own Mech, the good looks, the amount of weaponry, and decent story are all positive features of an average installment in the Armored Core-series. The missions and bland surroundings get repetitive after a while, and the fact that nobody plays the game online is a real letdown. All in all, Armored Core for Answer breathes mediocrity.
  22. Gamers.at
    68
    Solid Mech action combined with more technical blabbering than the average gamer is likely to appreciate. For all that, it's still a cool game. Certainly not made for the broad masses, but cool.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. dtuner
    8
    62 score? What?!? This just goes to show that people have become accustomed to bending-over, and accepting all the dumbed-down crap that game studios put out these days. If a game doesn't hold your hand, and display a giant red Y BUTTON on-screen, then it's too hard for the nancy-boy critics.
    Either that, or maybe Square-Enix refuses to pay them their "positive review tax." But you didn't hear it from me.
    Easily in the top-5 best mech-combat simulation games out there. Honestly, In my personal opinion, it's gameplay is way too fast. This is coming from an Armored Core veteran, who's owned/played every AC game since PSOne. I prefer the heavy feel of the mechs from the early Armored Core games, and Chromehounds.

    Armored Core 5 is going to bring this series back to the spotlight by slowing down the mechs, making the environments and mission more detailed amd immersive, introducing super "Over" weapons, and a ton of other additions.

    Why do people waste their money on games like Galo, where they spend countless hours repeating the same thing to customize their character with a new helmet.... woohoo... when they can have a hard drive full of dozens of custom, unique giant robots to pit against each other in combat?? Hopefully, Square Enix will get the recipe right this time around, and bring Armored Core to the forefront of gaming.    … Full Review »
  2. ConradKreyling
    3
    Controls, controls, controls. I spent most of the game being unable to turn my mech and shoot at the same time due to a bad selection at the beginning of the game (X+A to shoot). You are unable to rectify this, however, as once you have started the game all of the "Auto" options as well as the control palette are now hidden from view.

    The AI is also unforgiving, and is able to do many things the player cannot, such as landing hits by "reading" the controller, and moving the mech's torso while shooting. As has been started, the camera is sluggish and does not keep up with your often speed-of-sound NEXT battles. I truly wonder if any play-testing was done by Ubisoft, or if the title was simply pressed and shipped.

    The game delivers on heavy customization through a series of unlocks, won by fighting ranked matches. These ranked matches are the worst kind of grind: 30 maps of "die-reconfigure-die-reconfigure" until you find the one perfect combination to defeat your current opponent (remember the AI complaints?) at which point you're presented with a new opponent and the cycle begins anew.

    All in all this game is unfulfilling to all but the most hardcore of Armored Core fans. Most will simply get frustrated, bored, or a combination of the two.    … Full Review »
  3. AshRaul
    10
    this game is FUN. i understand the story is extreamly hard to grasp, but the story is made for fanatics, everything past that is fun for almost everyone, the flying the customization, the co-op. there are difficult parts in the game, but heck, if the game was too easy that would be a downside too.… Full Review »
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