Armored Core
↘ 4.2%
😊 7.6/10
(Playstation - US, Action & Adventure)
Other Editions:
Agetec Re-Release
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 (v1.0).png)
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 [NTSC-U] [SLUS-01030].png)
Complete
$96.88
Loose $48.99
Developed_By:
FromSoftware Inc.
Published_By:
Sony
Released On:
10 Jul 1997
Armored Core is a fast-paced action & adventure game where you play the role of a Raven mercenary, piloting a powerful Mech called "Armored Core". You only work for profit, as the money you make goes towards upgrades and repairs to your mech.
Multi-national companies are lined up at your door, paying you to complete certain objectives, which mainly include the destruction of a target or another mech. The more you complete, the better the pay and job offers, therefore allowing you to build the ultimate Armored Core .
Armored Core also features multiplayer battles where you can take on a friend, each controlling a mech, and battle it out in a large war area (ranging from huge cities to desert landscapes).
UPC-A:
093992086404 (United States)
UPC-A:
093992087401 (United States)
UPC-A:
093992087807 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
1049 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
241922335 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
2920 (United States)
UPC-A:
711719418221 (United States)
ASIN:
B00002SVWB (United States)
ASIN:
B00004RBOM (United States)
Sony PN:
SCUS-94182 (United States)
Sony PN:
SLUS-00670 (United States)
Sony PN:
SLUS-01030/01081 (United States)
Sony PN:
SLUS-01323 (United States)
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Input Devices Required:
Gamepad
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Miscellaneous Attributes:
Link Cable
Multiplayer Options:
Same/Split-Screen
Number of Offline Players:
1-2 Players
Number of Players Supported:
1-2 Players
Input Device Features Supported:
Vibration
Controller Types Supported:
Analog Controller
Additional Hardware Supported:
System/Multi-Link Cable
Multiplayer Game Modes:
Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS)
Number of Local Players via System Link / LAN Cable:
2 Players
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $96.79–$96.85 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Market activity: active · about 265 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a mecha combat game set in a post-apocalyptic future where corporations rule and vie for power. Players take on the role of a Raven, an independent mercenary piloting a customizable Armored Core (AC) to complete missions for various factions in a ruthless, free-market economy.
Story
The Great Destruction
The last war, known as the Great Destruction, ended with mankind vanishing from the surface of the Earth. The survivors made their home underground, leaving behind howling winds and radioactive dust.
New World Order
Half a century later, corporations lead and rule the populace. The world is recovering through ruthless corporate competition, but social disorder, wealth disparities, terrorist outbreaks, and racism persist. Ruling corporations seek ever-greater power and wealth, perpetuating the strife.
It is a New World Order where lives are bought and sold in a twisted free market economy.
Ravens' Mercenaries
The Ravens' mercenaries take on any mission for a price. They pledge allegiance to nothing and no one, existing beyond corporate control. Hired to take out the competition, Ravens take no sides and fight without regard for good or evil.
WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT?
CHROME
This corporate conglomerate is based in Isaac City and is one of the largest corporations in the world. They openly publicize their monopolistic control over the city.
Few dare to speak publicly against Chrome due to their immense power. They have a partnership with Chemical-Dyne Co. in pharmaceutical research and development.
MURAKUMO MILLENNIUM
This large corporation is mainly involved in industrial manufacturing. Their reputation is strong in AC-related products, and their technical prowess is said to exceed Chrome's.
Murakumo Millennium is one of the few corporations openly opposing Chrome's monopolistic plans. Military confrontations frequently occur near Isaac City because of this.
GUARDS
Guards are security organizations in the service of each corporation. They are charged with maintaining public order in their respective corporate-ruled regions.
Their armaments differ slightly by corporate parent. They seem somewhat at a loss when pitted against the recently rampant terrorist groups.
RAVENS' NEST
This mercenary organization will take on any mission, legal or otherwise, for a price. The Ravens' Nest has no discretion regarding mission content or requesters.
No details are known about who runs it or how it came to be.
RAVENS
These are the mercenaries affiliated with the Ravens' Nest. Once registered as a Raven, their private computer network is used to dispatch missions and buy or sell AC parts.
Affiliation with the Nest places no restrictions on the Ravens.
MT/AC
As mankind moved underground, improving machine efficiency and performance became a pressing societal need. Muscle Tracer (MT) technology, a rapidly developing robot technology, permeated society.
MT technology advanced steadily until a breakthrough was achieved with the establishment of the standard CORE concept.
CORE Concept
Centered on the basic chassis design called the CORE or the torso, other common standards were soon adopted for various parts to be attached to the core. With the birth of a standard that permitted adaptation to various circumstances, the scope of activities of the MT was expanded even further.
Naturally, the first applications were adopted along military avenues. As corporations vied for ownership of the CMT (Cored MT) and strengthened their armaments, people began calling such heavily armed and modified MTs, Armored Cores (AC).
Controls
UP/DOWN Directional buttons
highlight your preferred language
button
select language
◯ button
Fires weapon (Game Screen)
△ button
Opens doors, turns switches on/off or performs other actions; press to use the left-handed weapon (sword) (Game Screen)
☒ button
Booster jump; or dash by pressing the ☒ button • Directional buttons (Game Screen)
START button
Pause (Game Screen)
SELECT button
Display map (Game Screen)
Directional buttons UP
Go forward (Game Screen)
Directional buttons DOWN
Go backwards (Game Screen)
Directional buttons LEFT
Turn left (Game Screen)
Directional buttons RIGHT
Turn right (Game Screen)
Directional buttons
Highlight menu items (Menu Screens)
L1 button
Strafe to the left (Game Screen)
L2 button
Look up (Game Screen)
R1 button
Strafe to the right (Game Screen)
R2 button
Look down (Game Screen)
L2 and R2 buttons simultaneously
centre the view (Game Screen)
How to Play
Beginning Armored Core
Pressing START at the Title Screen brings up the MODE MENU. You can choose between a one-player game (SCENARIO MODE) or a two-player game (VS MODE). Use the Directional buttons to highlight a mode and press the button to select.
Pressing the button at any menu will return you to the previous screen.
Scenario Mode - 1 Player Game
This is a one-player game where you accept mercenary missions as a member of the Ravens' Nest. Successful missions reward you with credits, parts, or weapons.
Use your rewards to customize your AC. Your original ACs can be saved to a Memory card and used later in head-to-head combat. (See the SAVE/LOAD section).
VS Mode - 2 Player Game
This is a two-player head-to-head battle between mercenaries from opposing corporations. There are no rewards or AC improvements in VS MODE.
After combat, a CONTINUE confirmation window appears. Select YES to continue or NO to return to the VS MODE Menu.
Split Screen
Two-player games can be displayed as a split-screen or on two screens using a link cable. Split-screen mode is automatically selected unless a link cable is connected.
Using a Link Cable
To play LINK VS Mode, you need two Consoles, two ARMORED CORE discs, and a Link cable. Connect the Link cable to the Serial I/O terminal on the back of each PlayStation and then turn the power ON.
If the Link cable is removed during LINK VS MODE combat, the game returns to the Title Screen.
Note on VS Mode Options
In a VS MODE game, Player 2's options can only be saved by entering SCENARIO MODE, selecting and saving the options, then accessing the load facility within VS MODE to restore them from the Memory card.
Playing Armored Core
A single-player ARMORED CORE game involves:
•
Registering your name with the Ravens' Nest.
•
Building and customizing your weapons and armor.
•
Completing a test mission and joining the Ravens' Nest.
•
Accepting paid missions from governing corporations.
•
Collecting rewards after missions and using money to create deadlier and faster ACs.
You can alter the balance of world power based on your successful missions.
Register Your Name
Select NEW GAME at the SCENARIO MODE Screen. To become a Raven mercenary, you must first register with the Ravens' Nest.
Use the Directional buttons to highlight letters and the button to select. The button erases the last letter entry. Select END to exit and press the button to confirm your name.
Ravens' Nest Headquarters
Once registered, you are brought to the Ravens' Nest. Here you have access to vital Raven operations: GARAGE, RANKING, MAIL, SYSTEM, MISSION, and SHOP.
Ravens' Nest Garage
At the Garage, you can build and alter your AC's characteristics. Use the Directional buttons to scroll through the Garage options and press the button to select.
•
ASSEMBLY
•
OPTIONAL PARTS
•
PERFORMANCE
•
CHANGE COLOUR
•
EDIT EMBLEM
•
AC NAME ENTRY
•
AC TEST
Assembly
Here you can choose the various components that comprise your AC.
Head
The Head houses bio sensors, radar, and other special functions.
Right Arm Weapon
Right Arm weapons include powerful single-shot rifles and rapid-fire machine guns.
Left Arm Weapon
The Left Arm can be equipped with a laserblade, effective in close-range fighting. Using the laserblade drains energy.
Selecting Body Parts
Use the LEFT and RIGHT Directional buttons to scroll through available parts. Use the UP and DOWN Directional buttons to change body components. Press the button to make your selection.
Your choices will be limited initially. After completing missions, additional parts will be rewarded or available for purchase, allowing you to upgrade your AC.
When an AC part or weapon is highlighted, press the button to display its price, weight, energy drain, attack power, defensive capabilities, and other details. Press the button again to close the window.
Part Statistics
•
EP: Displays the output of the generator in Energy Points.
•
Legs WP: Displays the carrying capacity of the legs in Weight Points.
•
Core WP: Displays the carrying capacity of the core in Weight Points.
•
AP: Displays the Armor Points of the AC.
•
Weight: Displays the total weight of the AC.
Assembly Results
After selecting all AC parts, press the button to assemble the AC. The results are then displayed. If any values appear in red, you cannot embark on a mission. Values on the left cannot exceed those on the right.
One of the following warnings may be displayed:
•
EQUIPMENT INCOMPLETE: The AC is not equipped with the minimum number of parts required for a mission.
•
OVERWEIGHT: The total weight of the equipment exceeds the carrying capacity of the legs.
•
NOT ENOUGH ENERGY: The power drain of the equipment exceeds the output of the generator.
•
ARMS OVERWEIGHT: The total weight of the arms exceeds the carrying capacity of the core.
Optional Parts
Additional hardware enhancements can be installed in slots on both sides of your AC's Core. Like weapons and armor, these optional parts may be rewarded or purchased after completing missions. The number of available slots is limited, so choose enhancements carefully.
Performance
You can check the details of your assembled AC's total performance at this screen.
Change Colour
You can alter the
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