Armored Core: Verdict Day

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. Gaming Age
    Oct 7, 2013
    83
    It’s hard to deny that From Software really does know a thing or two about making engaging yet realistic mech games. Armored Core: Verdict Day might not turn the series on its ear, but this is enough of an upgrade to Armored Core V that I think it’s worth a look.
  2. IGN Italia
    Sep 25, 2013
    80
    Armored Core: Verdict Day is a deep and rich experience, with some technical flaws, but a wonderful dark atmosphere. Online mode is full of potential and the single-player campaign will last long enough to catch user's attention. If you love mechs, you can't go wrong with it.
  3. Eurogamer
    Sep 24, 2013
    80
    As it stands, however, Verdict Day is more than just a marked improvement over Armored Core 5. It offers more parts, more maps and new missions while expanding the already tight mechanics with an AI crafting system and an overhauled online mode that encapsulate what Armored Core does best: options, creativity, strategy and teamwork. It's unashamedly hardcore - and all the better for it.
  5. IGN
    Oct 1, 2013
    76
    Verdict Day suffers many obvious weaknesses: The graphics border on embarrassing. Too many missions feel repetitive and empty. The menus can be extremely aggravating. Still, there’s a special kind of magic here that most games would never even attempt.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best PS3 Game of 2013
93
#93 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
56
#56 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 42
  3. Negative: 6 out of 42
  1. LillyNin
    Jun 29, 2015
    10
    As a hardcore fan of the series (Meaning that I have played the series before AC4 and AC:4A) I personally think this is a welcome returned toAs a hardcore fan of the series (Meaning that I have played the series before AC4 and AC:4A) I personally think this is a welcome returned to the games roots (Where you COULDN'T fly without a dedicated build, you fake "hardcore" fans). Serious though... try making a tank fly before AC3... It was pretty impossible.

    On that note... grab the Ho Vital engine and some Shinatsu boosters, and with careful 2nd and 3rd stage boosting (Tell me you are a diehard fan without knowing the difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage boosting... I dare you), and you can easily stay at the height limit for entire matches (aka, dedicate your build to being airborne, don't expect it on a silver platter)

    The game focuses a lot more on Planning and Mech build than it on fingerwork and reflexes, which is much more a set AWAY from the 'modern' shooters. They have put an enormous load on online and teamwork, which can definitely be a hindrance if you are a solo-player, but the Multiplayer in this game... is simply unparralleled. The multiplayer is what I would best describe as a mix between free battles in previous installments, along with the teamwork and planning of a large scale assault from ChromeHounds.    … Full Review »
  2. guywithanAE86
    May 19, 2015
    9
    Okay, before I kick things off I wanna address something. I get the feeling the dudes who gave this game a bad review (I.E. the 4 and FAOkay, before I kick things off I wanna address something. I get the feeling the dudes who gave this game a bad review (I.E. the 4 and FA veterans) played the game for all of an hour or two, then quit. This game is NOTHING like the previous AC games in that gameplay is based around running, gunning, flying, and fast finger work. VD forces the player to actually stop, assess the situation and plan an attack that'll dispatch the enemies while you take minimal damage, your skill as a pilot is determined in how effectively you can deal with these enemies while taking as few hits and staying as unpredictable as possible. You gotta be smart and skilled if you wanna take on the monstrosities from software left waiting for you in this game considering everything you face has the real threat of killing you in a matter of seconds depending on how your AC is built.

    Story wise, it's pretty simple, if not lacking. There's 60 missions but only 10 of them actually show progress in the story, the rest are filler to unlock the real story missions. That's not to say they aren't easy or interesting, most of them are gonna be fighting another AC, and if you're not careful they can just as easily mop the floor with you as you can to some of them. The real story missions however, are an utter joy to play, they either introduce some cool new AC to fight against, or an army of allies to back you up against impossible odds. It gets crazy pretty fast, but that shouldn't be anything new to you by the time you reach mission 3.

    Customization's been completely overhauled too, making literally every part bolted on your AC an integral part that can be possibly crippling to the mech if so much as one part doesn't suit your combat style. For example in my history of AC, I've never actually spent a good 5 minutes seriously contemplating which FCS to equip, since each one has a dramatically different setup, making the one that suited me that much harder to figure out. Back in 4 and FA it felt like the smaller parts were...well smaller in that they weren't as important, sure FCS dictated range for lock-on and all, but VD feels much more refined in that the FCS, generator and even the boosters split up in three different types makes perfect sense, hell it's necessary to figure out how each one works if you wanna build the perfect AC. An interesting design choice though is that there aren't anymore back-mounted weapons or radar, instead there can be 2 sets of handheld weapons while radar and stuff is built in the head, making them that much more important. The game also gives an interesting value to legs never really seen before, in that reverse-jointed mechs can jump better and are more stable, while tank legs don't require the mech to stop and enter a sniping mode for the heavier-duty weapons like auto cannons and enormous howitzers. The parts all just come together better to make up the AC, it gives me a genuine sense of pride every time I see the mech I spent hours and hours tuning and setting up to make sure it perfectly suits me, right down to my emblem.

    Then the gameplay just makes everything feel so real. It feels to me like one of the most realistic attempts every made at a mech combat game, right down that loud echo whenever you fire a rifle. Sure flying's out, which makes the new mechanic of wall jumping that much more important to getting out of a hairy situation quickly instead of just relying on quick boosting your way out. Another addition is scan mode, which lets you analyze an enemy mech and check out which of your weapons'll hurt them most. It adds to the strategic value of the game, making it feel realistic. There isn't a whole lot of realism in just flying in guns blazing, wiping out everything and anyone to me.

    Yes, there are problems. The main colors for every background is either brown or grey, and the graphics are PS2 era, which I'm assuming is to reduce lag. And this game is brutal on newcomers, considering the menus take getting used to, and they start you off with an AC chock full of junk parts. I'm not even gonna go into how complicated it is to program the UNAC drones either, since I still can't figure it out after months of playing! Thank god they have pre-set ones that are pretty good at what they were designed for. But anyone who digs mechs should give this game a chance, it may seem dated in some regions, but the charm of the game more than makes up for it. I feel a genuine sense of giddiness every time I sent my mech into battle, laughing like a madman while jumping past barrage after barrage, turning every mech on the map into a smoking crater.    … Full Review »
  3. RinEvangel
    Oct 7, 2013
    7
    Ok now before i Even begin let me just state that i am a hard core Armored Core fan and have been with the series for over a decade. so youOk now before i Even begin let me just state that i am a hard core Armored Core fan and have been with the series for over a decade. so you know now your getting a fan's opinion of this.

    AC: verdict Day is the follow up game to V it runs the same engine so the core game its self is largely the same so i wont go into too much detail about it later on. Instead i'll focus more on the new features.

    Armored Core: Verdict Day is a mech simulator game in which players design their own Armored core (AC for short) from the ground up with a large varity of parts (legs, core, head, arms, FCS, generator, boosters, left and right arm weapons, shoulder-mounted weapons and support systems) and pilot these in story missions and online play against other players and their AC designs. possible AC configurations can range from light weight speedy mechs to heavy weight tank tread AC and everything in between and with over 25 different types of weapons and hundreds to chose from you'll be able to tailor your AC to your prefered combat style.

    Verdict Day seeks to maintain the focus the previous game had on multiplayer action by building upon its old system and aliveating some of the fustrastion of the previous game. Verdict features a new Persistent online mode called the Verdict War where three factions fight for control of the map. Players upon starting the game are ask to either create or join a team of players and then select one of 3 main factions to side with for the war. Players also have the option to play as mercenaries and fight for any faction as they please. Each verdict war last a week season or until one faction controls the map completely. the winning faction wins the ablility to run special boss missions in between the season downtime which give players a reason to want to win. and factions can be changed at the begining of each season. The combat in the verdicts wars plays very similar to ACV in which you attack territories lower their base points then invade for the capture. the improvements such as better matchmaking and UNACs(will go into more details on UNACs later) make the verdict wars very much enjoyable to play. the game also retains free battle which are seperate multiplayer lobbies.

    In addition to the Verdict Wars, the new UNAC system which is similar to the A.I AC in AC:silent line is quite the marvel. UNAC or Un-Named AC are A.I controlled AC the players can bring along on either world and special sorties(Verdict war missions) and story missions. UNACs are unlocked after reacher a certain point in the games story mode and can be use to fill in missing player spots in the available game more. the game offers a number of default UNAC to choose from, however players can create their own customs UNACs if the standards arent working for you. the UNACs feature a highly customizeable and adaptive A.I that can be upgraded in 2 ways. either spending in game currency to lvl up different aspect of combat or more interestingly, you can feed it combat data from any player in one of you world sortie operation log. Unlike A.I teammates or opponets in other games. UNACs are every fair and fair and very viable. having a team of UNACs is not a disadvantage in its self and they can pose quite a threat if their A.I is upgraded properly.

    Verdict Day has a slightly new story mission format with a total of 60 missions 10 story and 50 side missions. as always in an armored core game the story is more of a means to earn cash then to find something truly entertaining. missions layouts are simple you either have to destroy all targets in the combat zone or eliminate other AC(s) the story is there but nothing to impressive. but player are sure to find several missions that they will enjoy quite a bit. also story mode supports full 2 player online coop or UNAC support once unlock. upon completion the game offers several hardcore modes that will challenge even the most grizzled veterens

    AC: Verdict Day also features and Expansion of parts you can use to customized yours and your UNACs ACs. with part types returning to the series such as weapon arms(arms that are weapons in them selves) and shields. a multitude of weapons ranging from rifles, gatling guns, sniper rifles, laser rifle cannons, railguns, missiles CIWS bomblets E war systems missiles, Ultimate Weapons etc.

    and now for the best part the cons.
    verdict days does nothing to improve on its lack luster and unintuitive UI which has been a prime concerns for many. also the games lacks a tutorial that explains anything outside of combat there are a few tool tips but they do not explain things very well. Overall the games new player experience is piss poor. the story missions ramp up in difficulty very early on and unless your skill as a pilot improves quickly you'll need to have help on most missions past 20.

    AC:VD is a game designed with its fans in mind and while returning fan with feel right at home
    newcomers may feel alienated but dont let that discourage you    … Full Review »
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