Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

[Valkysas]

Only in japan, but here's how to get foreign demos.
http://www.gamersreports.com/article/19/

Thanks to Raniok at the Agetec boards for the heads-up on this. His original post is as follows:

Go dl the Demo now, its about 800 mbs and you only need a silver account.

For anyone who downloads it, PLEASE tell me everything you can about it. PLEASE.

[Kire]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

I've got a foreign account, I'll download it...but I might not be the best judge cuz I've never played the AC games for more than 5 minutes, sorry.

[RPGD]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Leave it to me, captain.

[Goufunaki]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Nice. I wanted to try to make a japanese account but the postal info and such always stopped me.

I'll give it a go once I can get it set up.


*Edit* Cool, got it working. I'm at 40% right now (it's 789.82 MB).

[Goufunaki]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Even though it's all in japanese, it starts off with a tutorial with visual examples of the controls. Making it easy to get into.

Seems to aim automatically when something is in range, but pressing the left analog stick in locks on to a target. It even brings up a smaller screen in the top left showing a close up of what it is you're shooting.

Game runs at a nice 60fps.

Once the tutorial is done, it lets you choose a mech in the Design option. I dunno if they were in past games, but I'll list the names anyway: SALAF, GAN01-SUNSHINE, KIRITUMI, 04-ALICIA, 049AN, TYPE-HOGIRE, Y01-TELUS.

Although the first actual level looks nice and has lots of buildings, it feels pretty empty with the lack of detailed textures. Shooting a building makes small holes like most games, but it just looks like a simple gun shot and the debris looks like a bunch of chips falling, and no real damage can be done to them. But obviously the focus is on fighting the enemies.

Nice water effects. Not thrilling, but nice to look at. Explosions for some enemies seem too small and quick. Not that fun to watch.

The mechs look good, but smaller enemies like the tanks and helicopters look like wind up toys. And when they blow up, it looks like lego parts simple being tossed to the ground.

Controls feel great. Easy to use weapons and and move around, and feels really responsive. Flying is pretty fun in this game.

There was a bit of choppyness when playing the next stage (it has you gliding all over water) when there was a bunch of missiles fired, but it didn't slow the game down at all.

The last stage is set in the desert, and it's a simple fight against another mech.

For some reason, they made the screen have this grainy effect. It's really noticeable when looking at the sky or other objects in the background. Objects in the background are also shown kinda blurry, and as you get closer, the details just sorta pop up.

I never played an AC game, so I can't be too picky, but if the game only has an offline mode, it might not be for me. Although if it had online play I imagine some fun battles.

[Valkysas]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

it has online play.

sounds like nexus' screen filter is still around. thats not happy news.

[Drazus]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

I wish I had a 360....

Doesn't seem like they've changed the choppers and ground vehicles much. Or the explosions.

Sounds like the performance is good... I wanna know what the gameplay is like, though, from the point of view of an AC fan.

[The_Real_Crunk]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Downloading it right now!

[Valkysas]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

YOU. INFORM US.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

I should download it too, but since i'm getting it for the PS3, i'm not sure of the point.........except to play it early.

DAMN IT! *going to download it*

Edit: oh, nevermind, i'm not setting up a japanese account just so i can play a demo 3 weeks early.

[Valkysas]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

come on... you know you want to.

[The_Real_Crunk]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Its definatly awsome. Take everything you liked about Last Raven, and make it better. Yeah, its like that.

No more heat from what I can tell. While you do have TONS more energy than before, its not unlimted, but it recharges so damn fast anyway, that you dont have to always keep an eye on your energy and can go nuts zipping all over the place, wich is what Ive always wanted to be able to do.

You usually have around 32 000 AP, but I think its the same, but they just scaled everything up. Like if a rifle did 400 damage before, it probably does around 1000 now or something.

Just form the demo I can say missile boats are gonna come back. Lock times for everything seem to be near non existant. Once your little targety thingy lands on them, fire all youve got. Youd think thats lame, but with how fast you can move now, if you get hit by a volley of missiles, your deserved to get hit.

The targety thingy. I dont like it. Keep the no more lock times, but give me back my lock box. I feel naked without it. Its annoying when your trying to pick out one enemy in a group, since your little lock thingy jumps all over the place from target to target. Once you get really used to it though its probably not much of a problem.

Quick boost. GOD I LOVE THIS. I was always hoping for an extension part that did this. Huge boost of power moves you in whatever direction your moving.

Music seems pretty good. Got some of that weird techno, with scrambled voices again. Like AC3s intro song. The garage song really reminds me of something from my NES. Like a guitar, but in NES form.

Graphics are bitchin'. They went a little overboard on the blur though. Everything looks crisp and clean, and I dont even have an HD-TV. Aprt from the graphics being dman good, its all the little things that amke it better. When you walk the camera jiggles a bit with each step making it really seem like your in a huge machine. When you fly/walk left or right the camera sorta tilts in the direction with the ACs body. The distoring waves comming up off the hot sand in the desert level.

The controls are definatly different. Since the 360 has buttons in the same place as the PS2 controller, Ill use the PS2 names. Weapons are alot easier to navigate in a fight. Instead of having to cycle though like 4-5 weapons in a fight, L1 cycles weapons on your left side, and R1, cycles the right side. You can also be firing two weapons at once. Be it two back weapons, two handweapons, or one back, and one hand.

L1-cycle left weapons
L2-boost
R1-cycle right weapons
R2-Quick boot
Square- fire left weapon
X-fire right weapon
Triangle-Overboost
Circle-???(my core seem to fire out some big blast thingy. Im gonna mess around with it some more)- extension. Theres offensive attacking ones now.
Then just your general analog sticks controlling movement.

The radar also got an update too. It normally displays an overhead view, but when something bad heads your way, its changes its view angle to show you things in almost 3d(everything still looks like a radar dot). Helpful to know when somethings comming at you and from where when you have your back turned. Need quick reflexes to use it well though. Probbaly only available if you equip a back radar, or head with the built in function, or youll just be stuck with normal 2D radar.

Cant go into the garage and make an AC wich sucks. You can pick form about 6 premade ones though.

Go get and Xbox360 and wait for it to come out!

As for story, its taking place on Earth. The world map shows that one of the missions takes place in a flooded city in china, with only the skyscraper tops poking out of the water. Thats about all I cant tell.

[RPGD]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Want.

[Drazus]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

THAT'S IT. I'm getting a 360 just for this.

[RPGD]

Re: Armored Core 4 Demo on Xbox Live

Now I'm a bit perplexed. Should I get the PS3 version or the 360 version? They're being released on the same day.

The PS3 version is region free and usues a familiar controller, plus has free online.

But the 360 version uses XBox Live, and is being released in Japan on the same day. Also, I like the 360 controller better than the Dual Shock/Sixaxis.

What to do...