Armored Core: Nexus - Gameplay

Gameplay

Armored Core: Nexus improves upon the Armored Core 3 game engine. The changes to the core system of the game are considerable, and so players are unable to import game data from the previous game, Silent Line: Armored Core or any other prior title.

The special feature known as "OP-INTENSIFY" has been taken out of the game, taking with it the useful yet debated performance enhancements such as "mobile cannon fire" while using Bi-pedal, Reverse-Joint, Hover, and Quad Legs. The "blade beam" aspect of OP-INTENSIFY was kept intact and granted to all blades by default.

Removed features from gameplay are the clone weaponry as well as the weapon breaking previously available in Silent Line: Armored Core. Many parts have been removed in transition as well. No longer are inside generator jamming rockets, inside ecm rockets, extension emergency energy coolers, extension stealth, back ammo magazines, or any howitzer weapon available to the player.

New weaponry includes railgun energy cannons, extension solid and energy rifle ammo magazines, linear rifle, new hanger weaponry, and side anti-missile field extensions.

Certain weaponry, mainly handguns, machineguns, and shotguns, now have limits to how many rounds they can fire off before they must reload a full magazine. This enhances balance somewhat in an attempt to curb up close CQ damaging racing tactics for players interested in Player VS Player gameplay.

Miscellaneous added features like Hanger Cores, the heat management system, part tuning add new style to gameplay. Hanger Cores give players the option to take additional small weaponry like an extra hand gun or laser blade into combat, which can be deployed when the player drops their primary left or right arm weapon.

The game is broken down into two discs, EVOLUTION and REVOLUTION. The EVOLUTION disc features all new content in which the story of Armored Core: Nexus is played out. Much like Armored Core 2: Another Age most of the game's arena battles are played out in story-based missions, however a "Free Arena" is unlockable upon completion of the Evolution game's storyline. The REVOLUTION disc takes a look back at previous Armored Core titles, primarily the PlayStation era titles; Armored Core, Project Phantasma and Master of Arena. Completing missions in REVOLUTION unlock extra parts for a player's AC which are based on parts that appeared in previous AC games, including custom parts featured on the AC of Project Phantasma's main antagonist, Stinger, now available to the player for the first time ever.