Armored Core for Answer • Retrospective • [The History of From Software]

Armored Core 4 Answer is a 2008 third-person shooter mech video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation. The game is the thirteenth entry in the Armored Core series.
The series has thus far explored the idea of mech warfare in a gone wrong world and it ruminates a lot on the nature of power.
In the last game, the themes of the series were turned on their heads, when it was revealed that a greater greater may exist in the unwinding of the forces which dominate the planet, than the forces which dominate the planet.
In this game, we deal with the fallout.
This is Hidetaka Miyazaki's second game as a Director.
Hope you enjoy watching this video
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:07 Creative Stuff
09:46 Story
16:49 Gameplay
41:18 The Player
45:51 Closing Thoughts
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[@briansilva3765]

I like the headcannon that Strayed is just an insane person destroying everything in it's way. He does the first and second endings because someone told him to do so, and he doesn't care as he is still just destroying. While the final ending is him completely loose, having been victorious against a squadron of top pilots, nothing else is too much for him, and might as well just destroy the rest of humanity while at it. The song Scorcher, which plays at the first and last mission, and which the composer said is the theme of the Strayed, compliments this idea, as the song lyrics are: "I got a chrome head, hound it pound it, I got steel arms, turn it break it." Which for me just sounds like a madman taunting everything in it's path to try and stop him.

[@Noname-zq1rt]

While it is easy to see Strayed as a mad man that wants to destroy everything, I think this is quite wrong due to the Destruction ending requiring being in ORCA which itself requires defending Line Ark with White Glint, a noble act which someone as insane as Strayed just wouldn't do from my point of view and judging by the info from the art books where it says that Megalis is still standing means that Strayed didn't finish off Line Ark's last lifeline. This all may mean that Strayed in the Destruction path may be a more of a radical extremist that wanted to do good, but has jus snapped

[@briansilva3765]

@@Noname-zq1rt I guess a better wording on my part would be that then, for most of the game he wants to go as further as he can, challenge the highest rated pilots and fight the worst battles. In that sense, while fighting White Glint would be a challenge, maybe he also saw fighting alongside it against armies of the best on a losing battle to be a even better challenge. Though yeah I agree that he probably wasn't that mad of a person through the whole story, and even had some nice ideals going at some point, but slowly but surely snapped into this mindset.

[@Noname-zq1rt]

@@briansilva3765 Hm, the idea of Strayed joining the rebels like Line Ark and ORCA just to fight everyone in the Collared and The League does seem plausible, so I guess this all just depends on how the player wants to see Strayed as

[@haihuynh8772]

@@briansilva3765I think Strayed was enraged by the evils of the corporations and decided to fight them directly, making them the true embodiment of ORCA's cause. How did it result in going along with Old King? They'd felt that the system was beyond saving, going along with ORCA's plan just means it'll be repeated elsewhere, elsewhen, it needed to be torn asunder and that starts with cleansing the world of the corporations.

[@benlubbers4943]

Me personally I play the destruction ending as follows: Strayed joins Orca after defending Line Ark, still idealistic about fixing up the planet and disgusted with the way the Cradles basically put their fingers in their ears about the consequences. They are completely devoted to the closed plan, only then they find out Omer Science Technology is behind Orca's rise. They find out their fellow revolutionaries are sent out on suicide missions too late to stop them dying. The destruction of cradle 03 is not a random act of terror. When Otsdarva accuses him of being just an animal, he bites back with the following. "Oh I understand just fine Otsdarva. In fact, let me share some understanding I recently came by. Omer Science was behind the rise of ORCA. This whole war was just a game to them, and the people on the surface just disposable pawns on a chessboard. We just flipped the table. Did you really think that we threw darts at a dartboard when we selected Cradle 03 as a target? That was the home of Omer Science, where all their top brass lived in luxury. We timed it so we bagged the CEO of Algebra at the same time as a nice bonus. They thought themselves above all the suffering they caused on the surface. No more. Once your filthy system is razed to the ground, we'll finish your Closed Plan and claim the heavens for our own, without you parasites."

[@AesirAesthetics]

The Mech Economy and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race! >:O

[@Wilhelm4131]

lmao Miyazaki is going to become a hermit in the Japanese mountains

[@SUPEROLDish]

​@@Wilhelm4131and instead of sending incendiary shoeboxes he'll send out scripts for AAA games to better mankind's quality of life

[@AesirAesthetics]

​@@SUPEROLDishthis is the life we want

[@AesirAesthetics]

​@@Wilhelm4131loool

[@hunn20004]

The la li lu le lo is a conspiracy theory, it has no place in politics

[@blockhead6887]

This is my favorite Armored Core game of all time. Thanks for covering it my dude.

[@AesirAesthetics]

thank you for watching :)

[@ethancowan3431]

Same man this one is amazing

[@jeremyweaver5639]

There really is no other game analysis channel since Matthewmatosis that makes me feel like the creator actually has knowledge and insight to share with us about the games they talk about and the logic behind the decisions made when creating them. KZbin is overflowing with hour long video game essays where narrators just give the same boring, surface level content and describe what happens. Aesir actually has something to say and thinks carefully about how he wants to say it. These videos may look superficially like other game analyses, but they really are in a league of their own.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@GlazeonthewickeR]

My first time watching this channel and I’d have to agree about the quality. Very engaging writing, and great cadence & delivery too.

[@exiledark6573]

Probably my proudest moment in all of gaming was when I finished the genocide ending with my blade core. The last fight took forever. After they ran out of ammo it was just me chasing them for like 15mins smacking them with Moonlights.

[@AesirAesthetics]

loooool

[@swadbando3639]

Honestly, I'm a bit surprised you haven't touched on the music of For Answer at all. Yes - all ACs have bangers, but For Answer is just something else altogether. Feels like a missed opportunity to not get into just how *good* Someone is Always Moving in the Surface is, Or Cosmos, or Scorcher - and so on. The way the soundtrack swaps along from melodic, angelic choirs to darker tracks like Scorcher is absoluetly peak. I've still got the game on my old PS3 - and I've replayed it a few months ago. Just hearing the title screen theme after so long made my hairs stand on end.

[@AesirAesthetics]

The ANSWER is here! Comment on the video what you think the Answer is!

[@taylorciccotelli7822]

I forgot how stabilizers make your AC look like sonic.

[@AesirAesthetics]

lol, yup

[@6reen6uy]

Wish I had this one in my collection, but all I know is fires of rubicon is bloody brilliant.

[@XmarcX92]

6 is Brilliant until you play 4 and realize it's better

[@thecrypticstench]

@@XmarcX92if only we could buy it for current gen, sold my 3 a long time ago 🤦‍♂️

[@0uttaS1TE]

My prayers have been answered. The Aesir Analysis comes again.

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@beetheimmortal]

This is probably one of the most depressing games I've ever played. Old King counting "20 million... 40 million..." is something no other game even attempted, ever. Not only that, but the whole concept of having absolutely no hope whatsoever in 2 of the 3 endings with only a tiny little fraction of a percentage hope in the third is just... dark. Whoever came up with this story did an excellent job. EDIT: Also, screw Otzdarva. All my homies hate Otzdarva.

[@SinclairLore]

These retrospectives are literally the best!

[@AesirAesthetics]

thank you fren :) ♥

[@cybercop0083]

Good work once again! On topic of lagging: I played the ‚inferior’ PS3-version recently. And the slowdown wasn’t that bad against most Armored Forts. Except for the Answerer. The Answerer was near unplayable st times. But good little league loyalists don’t deal with THAT headache to begin with 😇😇😇

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol

[@thenneklkt7786]

I'm pretty certain that its entirely due to some of the plasma cannons. The mission with answerer, and the mission where Wong Shao Lung shows up are the worst. Both involve a lot of energy weapon spam.

[@portsilpa]

Finally! Been with this series for some time, haven't been able to get AC6 yet and I'd honestly love to play the old games too. Absolutely love these videos, I am working on a commentary on Dishonored inspired by you, mathewmatosis and Vangeris and it is mindblowing how much time and effort it takes to produce this stuff, thanks for the inspiration and the great content! Gonna keep watching!

[@AesirAesthetics]

happy to hear it! :) If you want any pointers for the commentary, dont be afraid of hitting me up on the twitters or discords or such :)

[@epicfail9271]

Not going to lie, I've been waiting for this retrospective since you started with ac1, as this is the only one I've played personally. Just gonna sit back, grab some popcorn and delve into another great video from some aesthetically aesir productions

[@AesirAesthetics]

:) enjoy

[@zlodrim9284]

One video closer to Fires of Rubicon, nice! Your coverage of AC franchise has been immensely helpful for a newcomer such as myself and it's great to see a new interest shown to such an old franchise in lie of its recent revival.

[@danielcardenas6473]

As always, absolutely beautiful. Your videos are so amazing and always worth re watching ! Cant wait for the next !

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@Argascend]

While officially AC6 is its own continuity, I'd like to think it does continue from AC4 (and others in the grander continuity). It's as if AC6 asks "Your optimism and faith in humanity has erred. Humanity still thirsts endlessly for power at any cost. What will you do, Raven?"

[@ChillEpps]

Yes, by far one of my favorite games. Can't wait to dive into this!

[@AesirAesthetics]

enjoy

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Another important step on the series, thank you for covering it!

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you for watching :)

[@jamwrightiam]

incredibly well done video, glad to find it!

[@AesirAesthetics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@basedSHARK]

Can't wait for your retrospective/review of Fires of Rubicon!

[@AesirAesthetics]

Me neither! :)

[@Alex-ip1dn]

Awesome work man. I really hope you're enjoying AC6! Excited to see your thoughts

[@AesirAesthetics]

Video coming soon

[@ldeming]

Another youtube video I was watching just told me to grab a cup of coffee, and I reflexively checked to see if you had a new video out :-)

[@AesirAesthetics]

Welcome back!

[@hotcoldman9793]

WOOOOOOOOOOOO I love these!!!!!!!!

[@allanbergsma3256]

Great work as always Aesir

[@AesirAesthetics]

Appreciate that

[@allanbergsma3256]

Are you currently playing through 6?

[@AesirAesthetics]

@@allanbergsma3256I'm currently writing the scirpt for the video on it. Clocks in at 80 minutes right now and lots more to write about before I'm done

[@allanbergsma3256]

@@AesirAesthetics it’s so good hey

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)@@allanbergsma3256

[@Smeik2901]

Just a quick question: Why did you decide to make retrospectives specifically about 4A and VD as the only expansion-type AC games? No judging here, I love every additional video i can get on the AC games, just curious what your reasoning behind that is.

[@AesirAesthetics]

They are so much more different than to the basic numbered title that I found myself able to talk about them more than I could for something like Project Phantasma or Another Age. They're also just 1 spinoff so the workload is much lighter than if I tried to cover every title

[@thiccthighssavelives5866]

​@@AesirAestheticsit's still disappointing you didn't do a retrospective on the rest of Third Gen, especially Last Raven

[@Bernkastel1983]

19:30 im sure you already know this by now but AC5 and VD are sequels to this game. Not going to spoil it but especially in VD there are few things that confirm it. Great vid.

[@Sorain1]

I don't think 5 was intended to be a sequel to 4/FA. I think it was originally intended to be it's own thing... but Verdict Day? Oh that was absolutely a saving throw, a way to put 5 and VD's story into 4/FA's continuity. Which honestly? I think it worked.

[@zorain2354]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@Sorain1ACV was intended to be a sequel, there a lot of environments story telling and father speech confirmed that

[@andrewkramer8716]

U should do the ps1 and ps2 AC spin offs next, and don't forget Eternal Ring on ps2

[@NewCiel]

Shoutout to depleted uranium for being the Kojima particles of our world

[@AesirAesthetics]

Those guys would be a lot cooler if they gave us mech combat

[@lesslighter]

The after effects of the kojima particles are only seen in Verdict Day which bridged the gap that 5th gen AC takes place in 4th gen continuity but I think you already knew that

[@arco3759]

Good coverage, wish you had mentioned how good this OST was as well, IMO it blows away the OST of AC6.

[@SinclairLore]

Super hype!!!!

[@AesirAesthetics]

thank you :)

[@clickbaitable6320]

Joshua destroyed Anatolia and we destroyed Rubicon home of our friend Rusty. Our roles might be flipped and our motivations complicated but our relationship and respect will never be forgotten.

[@AyBee9725]

I’m convinced that anyone piloting a NEXT cannot be anything more than brain mush at this point. Like the brains and eyes from Metal Gear Rising.

[@kanaishi6435]

Holy shit dude, i watched this video randomly cause Armored Core 4A but then i noticed the voice and was like.. "Wait, isn't this the dude that covered I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream", genuinely surprised you touched the AC franchise, great video 🙏 P.S Otsdarva biggest fraud and jobber ☠

[@AesirAesthetics]

Otsdarva is a hack!

[@Sorain1]

@@AesirAesthetics I am convinced that Otsdarva lies to you about dying in the Orca ending. He faked his death before, and this time we're not even there to see it. Ostdarva is, above all else, self serving. He has _you_ to sacrifice to get the job done, why should _he_ die to save humanity's future? No. I fully believe he sold us a lie, let us do the dirty work and then took the money Omer paid him to live a life of luxury in obscurity, smugly patting himself on the back for 'saving humanity' the entire time. After all, the League kills us and Wynne in the League ending, ('glowing eulogies' and all ) so why wouldn't he screw us over? Then again, perhaps he assumed it would work out for him, and it was he who the League had put down quietly. It'd be fitting for the treacherous, self righteous man he was. Still, he's not an insane monster like Old King, and I am not sure if that makes him _worse._

[@golgarisoul]

I'd love it if you covered Chrome Hounds, too!

[@Raganui]

Another great entry into the retrospective series. I look forward to ACV and if you do Verdict Day. After that, I don't know if you're going to do AC 6. I'd love to see your opinion on it though after going through V and VD.

[@AesirAesthetics]

V video is ready on patreon. I'm about to render the Verdict Day video right now. And I'm finishing the first draft for Armored Core 6 😎

[@Sorain1]

@@AesirAesthetics Good to hear, because I do love your work.

[@rob5541]

The walker in AC6 gave me this sense of scale, so I hope they include more bosses like this in a future dlc or sequel

[@larsrikardsen4964]

Another banger

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@SimplyMavAgain]

gonna fuel the engagement economy by sharing this

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@krono5el]

This game is simply incredible mecha action. still the most fun ac game : )

[@kingpin3690]

Kept us waiting huh?

[@Salty_C.J.]

new aesir vid, its a good day

[@AesirAesthetics]

😎

[@ReelRai]

IMO easily the best AC out there. I absolutely LOVE the story/world of the 4th gen games.

[@KyleDevy]

22:00 "More moments of quiet time would be nice." As missiles fly past him lolz yeah, I know what you mean.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol

[@golgarisoul]

"LEAGUE DOGS! WELCOME TO EARTH!"

[@AlexaRobin21]

One of the mech designers would then work on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. He designed the Mobiles Suits of Peil Technologies.

[@AesirAesthetics]

:0

[@Ikcatcher]

After playing through Fires of Rubicon, I can definitely see the similarities between that game and For Answer in terms of story branches

[@AesirAesthetics]

Yes!

[@snakeshepard9761]

I "fixed" the PS3 version by deleting every updates and setting the regulation to 1.00. Still, the best way to play AC4 and For Answer is through RPCS3, they run at 60 fps 95% of the time and the only flaws are that in FA there are random crashes once in a while (saving after every mission or tinkering in the hangar is higly advised) and in random missions some random parts of your AC have glitchy textures (it doesn't happen very often).

[@AesirAesthetics]

They need to get to rereleasing these games already. AC cannot be kept on emulator life support

[@danieltorresgonzalez462]

Imo the good ending is as Fiona puts it to let humanity dream across the sky. It's implied that Fiona and strayed were assassinated after saving the cradles, thus receiving medals of honour

[@bryanlim2801]

I really do miss the AFs. It would be cool if we could have a return to those fancy raid fights like V for AC6

[@AesirAesthetics]

right?!?!?

[@connormccarthy2745]

Commenting at the spoiler warning: Is this video going to push the idea that FA is a "shadow of the colossus-ification" of Armored Core? I hope so. I've always been a fan of your similar theory about the design interplay between Kingsfield, Ico, and Demon's Souls.

[@AesirAesthetics]

yeah, kinda

[@connormccarthy2745]

@@AesirAesthetics WOOHOO, INSTANT CLASSIC

[@salokin3087]

Great video, but did you play this on Ps3 or emulated?

[@AesirAesthetics]

PS3, it just looks like that coz I'm bad at the game 😄

[@dc7981]

4:30 Last Raven and Nexus didnt have tank controls. Those games differentiate themselves enough from 3 to where I still think they deserve their own video

[@thatoneguyyouthinkshouldbe2431]

19:50 yeah but all the deserts are a caused by the Kojima completely breaking stuff down into the sand/ash like dunes of a lot of the levels

[@cyberninjazero5659]

"The script for this video and that video were written at the same time" YOU SLY SNEAK! Pretending in the last video that you decided to skip this one!

[@AesirAesthetics]

nonononono, I even said in that video that people should stay tuned for this one :) I'd never skip for Answer

[@cyberninjazero5659]

​@@AesirAestheticsI might have confused it for Another Age. Because I remembered you saying you wouldn't cover the spin-off direct sequels in one of the vids

[@AesirAesthetics]

@@cyberninjazero5659 I wasn't planning to but I feel for Answer and Verdict day are distinct enough to warrant going over

[@cyberninjazero5659]

@@AesirAesthetics I guess 2 just left so many questions that the curiosity of how Another Age handled it keeps gnawing at me

[@Direwolf13PS3]

One *hundred* million. Done.

[@mobius179]

thank god he said collared correctly

[@spacesuit7263]

I would love to see 4A remastered. 6 is great, but 4A still has a lot to offer even in 2023.

[@braquemar]

Yessss

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@Riley-uy5pe]

kojima particles doesn't ever stop being sillycore

[@AesirAesthetics]

They are literally destroying your planet ;-;

[@devilbringer1102]

​@@AesirAestheticsAnd as seen in Verdict Day they can be more scary when you're not the one using them

[@ethanspaziani1070]

Once a raven always a raven !

[@leftovernoise]

That was fast! Just like ac4a haha

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol

[@runcher977]

Do someone know a esay way to emulate the game ? I am pretty bad with computer :(

[@Alice_Haukea]

I'm over 50 hours into Armored Core VI and while I'm enjoying myself, I still call Armored Core 4 Answer the best Armored Core game. You can make an argument for AC 3, but no, it's this one.

[@AesirAesthetics]

For Answer is very possibly the best one

[@XmarcX92]

Most People who think 6 is better, literally never played 4A and it's honestly sad seen the souls wannabe get all the praise

[@sawyer3244]

I love AC6, but man these 2, AC 4 and AC4 Answers just look... like my fast phase love fantasy, fuck it, I will emulate them and play them.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Enjoy!

[@sawyer3244]

@@AesirAesthetics having some issues with for answer, but 4 is first anyways so, will figure that later, so far I like the introduction already.

[@Wilhelm4131]

I'm curious what Aesir thinks of AC6

[@AesirAesthetics]

video coming soon!

[@artistcomplex]

Armored Core 1 = OG Gundam. Armored Core 4A = Gundam wing.

[@gamedominatorxennongdm7956]

How about verdict day then

[@artistcomplex]

@@gamedominatorxennongdm7956 Armored Core 5 Verdict day = Gundam Build Fighters Try

[@XmarcX92]

Exactly why I like 4A. you actually get to fight like those anime gundams, not like 6 where you just bunny hop

[@artistcomplex]

@@XmarcX92 Quad Legs?

[@tylernilson7021]

lol kojima contamination

[@davidsabillon5182]

🕵️🕵️🕵️

[@udin.4294]

Track at 35:53?

[@AesirAesthetics]

Dont remember,but the music is all the game's ost

[@udin.4294]

@@AesirAesthetics just got it, it was Dragon Dive. Thanks either way

[@EscanthonX]

The answer, what if more mechs?

[@AesirAesthetics]

:O

[@EscanthonX]

@@AesirAesthetics Wait till you get your hands on 5 or Verdict Day. The glory of kneepads awaits

[@AesirAesthetics]

Kneepads and urban warfare

[@Rogerio_FM]

Awww, no last Raven?

[@AesirAesthetics]

not right now, but I might circle back around to the earlier gen spinoffs later :)

[@Rogerio_FM]

​@@AesirAesthetics I hope you do, it has one of the most interesting stories in the series and it's very interestingly told. Anyway, great videos.

[@riccardo3567]

This is a great analis of ACFA but saying that dark souls platforming was a good idea it's worth a dislike and two death threats

[@jakeweaver7528]

You got that dawg in you @AesirAesthetics

[@AesirAesthetics]

thank you for that, I do!

[@SA-mo3hq]

The Assault Cell satellites bear more than a passing resemblence to the Justice orbital weapon from AC 1. Just saying... And I'm grinning like an idiot at your mention of AC 2'S Disorder units

[@thingofportals]

Imo the Arms Forts were always the lower points of the game. They were just big… things. That you shoot till they die. It didn’t make the player think much past “find the thing that lets you do damage” and don’t challenge you movement wise at all.

[@AesirAesthetics]

I think there was a lot of that, but the good ones I think validate their inclusion and them being highlighted

[@XmarcX92]

How the fuck do you go from this, to 5 then 6 (souls wannabe)? 4 was peak mech battle. not bunny hopping around the map

[@AesirAesthetics]

Everyone has their "definitive" AC game. The series has always been changing, later games are good too