Armored Core 3 • Retrospective • [The History of From Software]

[@scion9588]

I frankly think it's irresponsible of you not to cover Armored Core: Nexus and Last Raven before 4, in all honesty. They're the biggest change to the main gameplay before 4 because they actually include Dual Analog controls, and Last Raven is the first video game ever worked on by one Hidetaka Miyazaki. Miyazaki's work as a planner on Last Raven earned him the role of Director for 4 and then For Answer. Last Raven is also probably the most difficult Armored Core game, and includes the most mechanics of what can be termed "old-gen" with the inclusion of part breaking.

[@epicfail9271]

Bold of you to assume I can't be a Maniac and binge watch everything you upload like it's an oasis in a desert

[@AesirAesthetics]

:O

[@Sorain1]

I think it'll be worth doing Silent Line, Nexus and Last Raven as a single video. In large part because they're so connected to each other. AC 4 is... kind of hard to truly appreciate without For Answer's resolutions to its themes. I look forward to seeing your video, in part because you will be mostly coming from the perspective of someone who doesn't know For Answer's revelations about the events of AC 4, and the multiple endings FA took a fascinating approach to in terms of game design as narrative design.

[@lesslighter]

And yet the multiple branching routes that For Answer has is basically a more narrative driven version of Last Raven

[@elliottvantonder5477]

Just liking, commenting and playing the video on mute for now. Gotta finish my playthrough first 😓

[@AesirAesthetics]

heh :D

[@holyordersol2668]

I would definitely say Silent Line, Nexus and Last Raven are worth doing a thematic and narrative analysis for. I love your video essays on the Armored Core series. They're quite stellar and have shed new light on games I played long ago.

[@aidanklobuchar1798]

In addition, Nexus and Last Raven comprise a 'pseudo-gen', where the engine and presentation go through a decent shift; namely the changes to heat and the addition of analog controls. Certainly no less different than AC3 was compared to AC2. And for storytelling, Last Raven certainly goes a unique route for that point in the series.

[@kaihedgie1747]

There's something about the Gameplay and Story you left out that would have helped to enhance your synopsis of both. The mission map menu actually has a separate gauge for the balance of power to show which corporations have the most influence depending on whose missions you take frequently

[@leftovernoise]

3 and silent line are by far my favorite in the series. But the bits of story in 6 and the gameplay look like it might be a contender for sure. They showed a lot of clips of many of the mts, ACs and people on your side being able to talk over coms while fighting, more so than previous games which looks like a great addition. I'm also glad it looks more grounded than 4th gen

[@slimebuck]

armored core 6 really reminded me of Armored core 3 and silent line :)

[@greenhowie]

I drifted off at the start and thought he was talking about the moral implications of Armored Core finally using analog controllers.

[@AesirAesthetics]

loooooool

[@sunsetman22]

this may sound insane, but I'm starting to think that the old control scheme was supposed to be part of the roleplaying experience. piloting a mech in-universe might actually be just as unwieldy as the controller inputs make it out to be. else, I don't find an explanation for From Software sticking to an analogue-free scheme for FOUR EXTRA GAMES. or maybe they were just crazy idk

[@satanicpuppyoverlord9054]

Your analysis of how the cores control really made me reinterpret ac6's newly revealed detached camera and hard lock on. Because that's what human + is meant to be like in lore, turning the ac into an extension of the pilot rather than the pilot having a slight detach from the ac

[@AesirAesthetics]

:O

[@Smeik2901]

I'm currently playing through 4A, but your retrospective makes me wanna go through 3 and Silent Line again :D

[@AesirAesthetics]

:D

[@evriesman5430]

I guess you also should try the ac 2 , it's actually pretty unique amongst others , especially the fact , that it's the only game that takes place on mars, but if you're not familiar with old controls , yeah, you better start with ac3.

[@Smeik2901]

@@evriesman5430 I think you missed the "again" part of my comment :D Already played through every AC game from gen 1-3 (except LastRaven and Ninebreaker)

[@evriesman5430]

@@Smeik2901 haha , yeah , I missed 😅

[@draydra]

i wanna play the older ones so bad but i cant get a grip on the weird controls

[@richardplunkett8492]

I know gen 3 and 3.5 are technically different but god the whole 3rd gen (with the slight exception of nexus) have been fantastic to play through

[@shinkaiser5261]

Incredible deep dive on the lore and the more philosophical message on this title, these videos are always a banger. PS: AC6 Goty!

[@AesirAesthetics]

Much appreciated! More to come!

[@involuntaryascetic3602]

you should absolutely play the inter-gen sequels, especially Master of Arena and Last Raven

[@JuliusCaesar103]

This looks like the coolest AC so far, the soft remake I find intriguing, shows that companies liked the concept even back then.

[@zanychelly]

At least, take a look at Lost Raven. The direct sequel to three, before heading on to 4 and “4 answer”

[@beetheimmortal]

I really like the underlying cyberpunk theme of Armored Core 3. In fact, funnily enough, it's way more cyberpunk than Cyberpunk 2077 ever was or could be.

[@hotcoldman9793]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!!

[@AesirAesthetics]

enjoy! more to come

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Let's goo!! Another great retrospective video. Greetings from Mexico.

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@Direwolf13PS3]

Silent Line is the Armored Core game I put the most hours into. I would love a retrospective on the story there.

[@Lazypackmule]

I think it's well worth talking about the other third gen games- Silent Line has some of the craziest mission design in the series, Nexus has a weirdly strong and layered faction politics plot, Nine Breaker is a video game, and Last Raven delivers quite possibly the strongest marriage of character and vibes with pure masochism in From's entire library

[@bartekkubicaku-bitsa9802]

I'm glad you're making this video. I played the game, but I had no motivation to finish it. Now I have. And I'll have your voice in my head all day again:D

[@Abszilla51]

Man, great video as always. I was really looking forward to hear what you a had to say about this one, although with how far of a departure 4 is, that video is bound to prove just as interesting. Your videos on From's games are definitely some of your best. Their open to interpretation plots are a perfect fit for your analysis style.

[@AesirAesthetics]

The 4th gen videos total like 100 minutes? I had a lot of thoughts

[@Abszilla51]

Hahaha! Exciting to hear! I'll be looking forward to it.

[@grumpymoose6800]

Definitely interested in hearing more, even about the spinoffs. Another great video. Makes me excited for AC6.

[@Etticos.]

AC2 through Last Raven were my childhood, and AC3 was particularly memorable in that equation. Also, you totally painted your AC to match your moonlight blade, didn’t you? Looks good.

[@AesirAesthetics]

I didn't record the footage in this ine but I usuakky have some pruple tinted mech with a moonlight coloured left arm

[@snakeshepard9761]

AC3 is my favorite after For Answer. The soundtrack is also the second best in the series, the one in 4/For Answer is just so damn good. I was worried about it, but a couple of weeks ago it was confirmed that Kota Hoshino was in the frontline of the AC6 ost. The hype is real. I'm not a huge fan of the "expansions", they often feels too hard/frustrating thanks to some unbalanced stuff. However I wouldn't sign off Nexus. Nexus feels almost like a new gen (probably thanks to the dual analogs) while Last Raven (which is the kind of expansion I don't like) is considered by many as the best AC game. However I find really cool that there are so many 3rd gen games.

[@TempestDacine]

3 was my first exposure to FromSoft and I felt completely in love with the aesthetics customization and world building. It feels like a masterpiece of which we'll never see another like it.

[@AesirAesthetics]

It's really well made! We need a new PS2 to impose these limitations back on devs

[@2ManosGamers]

Finally, thank you, appreciate these videos so much

[@AesirAesthetics]

more to come! :)

[@slimebuck]

Armored Core Silent Line is the best Armored Core in my opinion

[@thorinhannahs4614]

This will likely always be my AC of the AC series. It was my first, the arena had personality and the music can't be topped. Yeah the controls can't compare to AC4 or AC6 but man was it still a great time. Tons of time trying out builds and going for S ranks. The story doesn't quite hit the way AC6 does but Artificial Sky playing and the bunker doors opening to the freedom of the outside world is good.

[@CastIronNest]

Sweet dreams, DOVE. It was hard but you finally got us to leave the nest.

[@EscanthonX]

I really need to play this one. Thanks for the video :)

[@nakuroyuki]

I would LOVE a continued look towards the other Gen 3 games mainly Silent Line, Nexus, and Last Raven. Gen 3 would not be complete without those, and they serve as an excellent narrative closure to the Gen 3 saga. I might be relatively new to this series, but playing through the entire Gen 3 (excluding Nine Breaker) was such a blast and made me fall in love with Armored Core!

[@AesirAesthetics]

I might swing back around to gen 3

[@pandutney171]

Can't wait, looking forward to it

[@AesirAesthetics]

hope you enjoy!

[@R3TR0J4N]

that story 👌glad Fromsoft stick with it notably the endigns in DS, then notably the story routes in Elden Ring, and gladly AC6. 6 gets the same treatment as ER being streamlined accessible

[@hunn20004]

Id love a remake collection of all the AC games. Just mash them all together inside one game. 1st age, 2nd age Etc.

[@beo3627]

I would like a story continuation vid for silent line

[@OtepRalloma]

I definitely found myself choosing sides when i played this game. I remember seeing the mission Destroy Naire Bridge and immediately being disgusted with the mission objectives and Kisaragi. I avoided that mission, but then older missions expired. I was then forced to take that mission and I did my best to finish it as fast as possible without destroying any of the monorails. After that, I avoided Kisaragi's missions for the most part. I both love and hate how, by likely coincidence, and yet fittingly, the mission I did not want to do because of how much it focused on manipulation and causing civilians to suffer, was forced upon me. I definitely liked Union most of all, but I do have a personal bias towards revolutionaries rebelling against tyrants or tyrant-adjacent authorities like the Controller. Sadly things don't turn out well for them, but I'm glad I managed to at least end the AI.

[@rpgt.g.3340]

Fantastic content as always

[@AesirAesthetics]

😎 thank you

[@SidOmaniax]

nice analysis

[@billyboleson2830]

Nexus and Last Raven are pretty much their own gen between 3 and 4. They are very different from 3 where as silent line is more of an expansion to 3

[@slimebuck]

at least cover the spin off NEXUS, it adds a changed heat mechanic (old ones had it, but its way different oin NEXUS) and it really changes the game play

[@vizi02]

Jumping all over the place in the series to play the entries that seem more alluring before AC6 releases, and gotta say, AC3 + Silent Line might as well be the Sonic 3 & Knuckles of AC as two entries practically forming one. Not from the story perspective (given SL isn't the end of the gen 3 storyline), but how naturally SL follows up on AC3, from the increased, but still reasonably large parts selection, to being even better with tying mission variety and their relevance to the plot. Hadn't played Nexus, but did watched a lot of gameplay videos about it, and attempted Last Raven many times, but it definitely feels like Nexus lost something about the mission variety (+ the heat mechanic looks really annoying), while LR's missions are either boringly simple, or just plain missing the point with outright demanding builds/parts, and slapping you on the face if you dare to use anything else. In comparison, 3+SL might as well be the default answer to the question of where should a newcomer start with the series and what should be considered the watermark, they are just that good. AC1 is fine too, especially with how much it nailed on the first try, but gen 3 being a reboot definitely did the series a solid with From having the chance for a redo with 8 years of game development experience under their belt at that point. Yet to try AC2, so maybe that's a good place to start too, but yeah, 3 + SL are great, and I'm glad that gen 3 was also examined during the development of AC6.

[@yokai1235]

you have to do silent line nexus and last raven as they are the full armored core 3 experience also you cannot understand the decisions they made with armored core 4 gameplay and narrative without playing nexus and last raven first as both games lay down the foundation for ac 4 narrative direction and level design

[@AesirAesthetics]

I might swing back around to those

[@arbernardo7554]

Another great video.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@lesslighter]

Oh no the next game would mean.... the very first game that Miyazaki directed on.... AC4 Unless you troll me and decide to go with Nexus or Formula Front in that a Nexus is the first entry in the franchise to support dual analog stick, or B Formula Front is soo "different" you forget its part of the franchise its so different as it essentially plays by itself only guided by the player And I jest the story of Armored Core 4 is basically a highly contextualized retelling of Ace Combat Zero

[@AesirAesthetics]

the Armored Core 4 and 4 Answer Retrospectives are already up on patreon. Will come to the channel soon. I didn't know Nexus had analog control, that's cool!

[@pinkemoslayer6337]

🍿🍿🍿🥰 great job, Aesir.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@gee_woah]

❤

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@roswell3875]

Really great video, as someone who unintentionally started with AC3 years ago you pretty touched on everything I would talk about the story while looking through Gameplay side show Pros and Cons and what could be Perfected, one thing I will say about the game out side of Numbered games They do add or try to refine to what's Established, though It's not my favorite game in franchise that's probably because I started with it and had probably thousands of hours combing through it, and I don't give enough credit for being so strong for first numbered game. And every time I come back to it, it feels like I've come back Home Additional notes if there's anyone that really wants to play Armored Core games and want get into the franchise now and fine with playing older one I'd recommend 3 if not I'd just recommend go with 6 and working your self from the beginning and if you have questions feel free to ask I've played through most of games now. Only 17 days until ACVI is out.

[@lucaslugarinho6634]

whats the song that plays at the end of the video? =0

[@AesirAesthetics]

Which one?

[@brunocar02]

27:50 vaporwave water

[@AesirAesthetics]

you love to see it

[@zachthompson9976]

Plz cover spinoffs

[@stryker5055]

Nice video

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thanks! More coming

[@kageakiminato8536]

Why do youtubers have to justify tank controls in increasingly bizarre ways? It would be like me saying red dead redemption 2 has awful movement to make you feel the like you are moving under the oppressive heat of the glaring sun, its headcannon. Tank controls dont make anything scarier or pilot like, they just work from multiple perspectives in early 3D games, theres good and bad uses of them. Tomb raider, megaman legends, resident evil 3-5, God Hand, and Armored core all do them well and are good action games for it. They account for combat with auto aim or generous hitboxes and in turn you get consistent movement. Then mouselook/dual analog made movement and aim together possible. Thats all they are, it was never a narrative choice, just some companies like FROM and Capcom moved on from them kinda late

[@AesirAesthetics]

Intentionally or not, mechanics affect gameplay so they warrant discussing

[@nicholasdismukes6741]

If you want to do it yes we want it. Otherwise don't do it. Doing things you don't want to do is unhealthy

[@raesluder4260]

Engagement

[@JuliusCaesar103]

Will only watch the video if there's rap in it.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Nop

[@KyleDevy]

I think it's a major cop out not doing vids on the spin offs, especially since you did it for later games, again, this leaves your retrospectives feeling unfinished. By saying the vid would be mostly about the story, and you don’t care much for archs, but rather direction of stories, kinda makes these retrospectives as not actual retrospectives, if you don’t actually talk about this aspect. I'm not saying you have to cover every aspect, but I do think you’re missing out on a very big aspect.

[@NemesisOgreKing]

Love Armored Core 3, my favorite of the franchise. Still, to look up and down, you use the shoulder buttons.🤮

[@TroyTheCatFish]

Poggers

[@AesirAesthetics]

:V