Armored Core: Project Phantasma

ARMORED CORE: PROJECT PHANTASMA

SLPS 01130
© 1997 From Software, Inc.
Sony Playstation, 1-2 Player(s)
1-3 Memory Blocks, Link Compatible
¥ 4,800

— by Joseph Lee

ARMORED CORE was quite the anticipated game for the Sony PlayStation. It lived up to its promise of deep simulation and hyper-action piloting. A few months after its release the sequel, ARMORED CORE: PROJECT PHANTASMA, also lives up to those previous expectations and picks up where AC left off—taking the game and story farther.
As before, you are in a difficult world where survival and status depends on finesse of Core piloting and raw firepower. With money earned in contract missions, plus secret upgrade parts and money won while rising through the ranks in the arena battles, you proceed to build up your AC into top condition. However, somebody is building the ultimate AC killer in something called Project Phantasma. With your loaded AC, it is your job to find out what this project is about, and to destroy any possible threat it poses to the world.
ACPP is basically the same game engine as ol' AC, with varying missions in open and closed spaces and different objectives (see original review). However, the missions only number 13 (far less than the original 40), and new parts only number 11. As far as I can tell, there are no hidden AC parts as in the original game (thanks to Playstation Gamer for maintaining the AC hidden parts cheat sheet). Nevertheless, this seeming lack of game improvement is made up by the ability to import your saved Core from AC, and the new vs. Computer Arena option that was sorely lacking before.

In the Arena battles you play against 50 ranked computer opponents one at-a-time in a election of old and new vs. arenas, seeking to become rank #1. There is only enough briefing to know who you are fighting against, and then it's have at it. You do not have to pay for costs of armor damage or ammo usage after these battles, as you do in a typical mission. Instead you win one-time monetary fortunes (and the occasional secret part like EXTREME-MEGA-damage missiles) after beating each rank. The difficulty of the rank computer opponents increases geometrically until you're fighting Plus pilots. Plus Computer Cores are unfairly difficult, but not impossible to beat.
Plus Cores are those that have been enhanced to have lower energy consumption, longer energy endurance, an energy projectile attack from the swing of the laser blade, continued movement while firing back weapons on bipedal legs, etc. The player can also have a Plus Core if he took the time to go into -50,000 debt 10 times in the original Armored Core game.
Each time the Core is put into debt, the pilot gets operated on, and so gains a new ability.
The 13 missions you contract to take start with finding and liberating Sumika from capture. Then, she leads you on a series of missions that test your core piloting abilities and your loyalty. Then it's on to chasing Stinger until the final confrontation with his Phantasma. ACPP missions are much tougher than AC missions, and require much more firepower.
Split screen play or link play is still available in ACPP, and you can raise the prowess of your core even more, to fight your friend's battle-hardened core. There are a few more vs. arenas available, some more color and emblem options, and more intense, hard-driving techno music. There's also more cinematic sequences (rendered real-time, not FMV) with some dialog on-screen. They're not necessary to conclude a mission, but add nice atmosphere.
Through exploring various FAQs out there online, I've discovered there's 3 different camera views (outside, inside, fixed) hidden in the AC engine, activated by different button combinations. These camera views might help in the battles depending on the situation.
For anime tidbits, Kawamori Shouji, of MACROSS fame, is one of the 2 game designers; Mitsuishi Kotono, the voice of Sailor Moon, is one of the 2 computer voices in ACPP (the other is Tamura Yukari); Hayami Shoh, the voice of Maximillian Jenius in MACROSS, is Stinger; and Nagasawa Miki is the voice of Sumika.
In summary, ARMORED CORE: PROJECT PHANTASMA is a great sequel to ARMORED CORE and deserves to be in the library of any AC fan. Gameplay is still excellent, graphics are flashy, controls accurate (if no analog control still), replay is there, and the music is more bold. There is a bit of an add-on feel, and the seeming lack of engine improvements, such as dual-analog controller support, drives the ratings for this game down a bit. Nevertheless, ACPP is still a gem of a PlayStation game which I recommend to all.

Rating: *** 1/2 (out of 4)