"Given the circumstances..."

Given the circumstances of the game's release (portable game, the PSP lacking several buttons compared to the Dual-Shock 2 controller, media restrictions, etc.), "Armored Core: Formula Front" is actually a great game. The visuals are awesome, the controls, while the defaults are abhorrent, are customizable, and the level of customization for your creations are, of course, very expansive. There are some problems, however, that to some may really bring the rating down a notch.

Graphics
Beautiful. The ACs themselves look very impressive. When you are building them, they look nearly identical to their PS2 counterparts. When you go into battle, though, the quality is reduced (for speed). While watching a battle or controlling the mech manually (Extreme Battle and International versions ONLY), the speed is generally uniform at 30 fps (maybe). There are some clipping problems with the camera, which only happen when watching the AI or a replay, but that can be easily overlooked. Other than the clipping, the graphics are great. The terrain in the stages could use a bit of sprucing up, though...

Game play
When you first pick up the game, you have the initial impression that you are going to be able to easily create a mech and start destroying the competition. As soon as you realize that the best idea you can come up with can't beat the lowest ranked opponent, you start to have your doubts. For a first timer, the game may be a bit overwhelming. The default manual controls, while designed by adapting the PS2 version and letting the computer handle some aspects, are absolutely terrible. The analog nub does a terrible job at controlling the mech with the defaults, and some buttons are not within reach occasionally. But, alas, and thankfully, these horrible settings can be modified to be more user friendly. Don't settle for the defaults. MAKE YOUR OWN!!!

Sound
The sound effects are just what you would expect them to be, and maybe a little more. For every step, you hear a thud, every explosion a boom, and every gunshot gives a bang. They probably took the sound effects from the previous games and applied them here. Not that that's a bad thing. And the Music... don't get me started with the music... The same old techno music that has been going on with the franchise is still here, alive and well (to all our disappointment). If only one of these days, they would let us put in custom soundtracks...

Depth
The level of customization is astounding, but may repel someone just starting with the franchise. Each and every part can either be tuned, modified, or swapped in one way or another. The AI is a whole different story. You can make it do pretty much anything you want, but it does have it's limits. Each AC has a tendency to disobey certain commands that you give it, but then again so does a teenager... In general, the game holds true to the deep level of customization that AC fans love so much, and that future players can come to respect.

Difficulty
Overall, the game is of the medium range. There are, of course, a few opponents that are extremely easy, and several that are insanely hard. But the hard ones are few and not so far between (seeing as how ther are only 35 or so opponents in Extreme Battle). The International edition, however, makes the difficulty level jump up a notch, or at least increases the longevity of the game, since you get 50 extra enemies to duke it out with.

Story
Well, let's face it. This game has absolutely NO story. Sure, it follows you up the ladder of the leagues, but that's it. You occasionally get a message that entails a background, but nothing near what could even remotely be described as a story. Now, there are some people out there that keep saying they couldn't put a story in because of the media size restrictions. But a UMD has 1.8 GB of space!!! They only used HALF of that!!! They could have easily put in a story of some type... but then again, you don't pick up a simulation game for a storyline.

Armored Core Formula Front offers to those that like games of this type just what they were asking for. A simulation game that provides all of your customizing needs. But the game doesn't satisfy one's need for meaning (i.e. story), so don't get it expecting an epic plot.

The beauties shine though, but so do the downfalls. At least the bright sides outshine the bad parts.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/15/06