Ludography
Armored Core: Formula Front cover

2004 · FromSoftware · Action · Strategy

Armored Core: Formula Front

PlayStation exclusive

Unlike most other, action-oriented Armored Core titles, this installment is a strategy game. The player has no direct control of the mech in the action but can customize the mech as always, implementing additionally an AI that will fight on its own. The role of the player is to customize the mech and train the AI on training arenas. The two versions of the game allow for data transfer via USB, letting players exchange mech data between the PSP and PS2.

Released
12 December 2004
Platforms
PlayStation 2PlayStation Portable
Genres
ActionStrategyTacticalThird-person shooter
Developers
FromSoftware
Publishers
Agetec
Series
Armored Core
Modes
MultiplayerSingle-player
Perspective
Third person
Themes
Science fictionWarfare
Country
Japan

About

Armored Core: Formula Front is a mecha video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Agetec. It was a launch title for the PlayStation Portable in Japan, the 10th main installment in the Armored Core series.

Media

Armored Core: Formula Front screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of an Architect. An Architect is a person who builds, programs and battles with a modified Armored Core known as a u/AC or an Unmanned Armored Core. u/ACs are AI controlled Armored Cores which compete exclusively in battling tournaments. u/ACs battle independent of the Architect's control, so the Architect must influence how the u/AC fights by customizing various part combinations and loading various program functions into the u/AC's AI.

The North American version of the PSP game has since been modified to allow players the option of actually piloting their u/AC in battle instead of letting the AI fight. In the game, this is called a N-u/AC (N standing for Naked) and is supposedly notoriously hard to control.

Story

In the game's story, Formula Front is a worldwide competition in which unmanned, AI-controlled ACs [u-ACs] are pitted against one another in fiercely contested arena battles. The game takes place twenty-five years after Formula Front arena warfare was introduced. It is now the world's most popular form of entertainment. At the heart of Formula Front's success are the architects. These are the individuals responsible for assembling and programming the u-ACs entered into league matches.

As the player fights their way into the Regular League, they are confronted by a new team, BT Wyvern, and its architect, Linus. After two matches against BT Wyvern, Linus sends a message that he meet the player again. Rank after rank, the player again confronts a formidable opponent, Team Ogre, and its architect, Diablo. Though Ogre usually wins through harsh tactics, their battle against BT Wyvern was horrible.

Reception

The PSP version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a score of 30 out of 40 (8/7/8/7) for the PSP version, and 28 out of 40 for the PlayStation 2 version.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
PlayStation Portable12 December 2004Japan
PlayStation 23 March 2005Japan

Editions and related releases

Expanded editions
Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle
Followed by
Q2707847Armored Core 4
Follows
Q2453163Armored Core: Last Raven
Built on it
Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle

In the same series

Games like this

Collections3 collections

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.