The story of Armored Core: Formula Front revolves around customizing a massive mech suit known as an "armored core" and training its AI to fight on its own. The player's role is not to control the mech in battle but rather to enhance its abilities and prepare it for combat. This unique approach sets Armored Core: Formula Front apart from other action-oriented games in the series.
The gameplay of Armored Core: Formula Front focuses on strategy and customization. The player designs and builds their armored core using a variety of components, including guns, engines, and shields. They can then train their AI to fight against enemy mechs in training arenas. With two versions of the game available for the PSP and PS2, players can transfer data between consoles via USB and share custom mech designs with friends.