[TAS] Armored Core: Master of Arena - Top 10

For more information about Tool-Assisted Speedruns, visit TASVideos.org.
This is a Tool-Assisted Playthrough (TAP) of the top 10 opponents of the Master Arena in Armored Core: Master of Arena. 4 AC designs are used for the sake of variety, and a few different strategies are employed to examine just what you can get away with against these foes (for instance, no boosters).
There are actually 20 opponents in the Master Arena, but only the top 10 are featured in this TAP to avoid it getting too repetitive.

[@starshinedropkick2668]

The scariest thing about this is the implication that this is what Nineball is within the setting of Armored Core. Just imagine that souped up AC pulling these sorts of moves before ruining your HP with high-damage energy weapons.

[@GreenZinfidel]

Even just a few of the Human PLUS enhancements would have made this little exhibition end a lot more quickly. Nineball doing this stuff in its AC would end the Raven's Nest and the Corporations in a few days!

[@crambob1370]

Now Im really curious to see how the TAS would fair against nineball

[@Nine-Ball]

@@crambob1370 I'm curious as well to see this

[@GreenZinfidel]

@@crambob1370 Now you can, in Brookman's TAS! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpubkHZnrreti9k

[@Access.Denied]

At first I was like "WTF?!? He's Human+ in real life!" but the moves were so exact that it made me check the description if this was a human playing. Still this is so awesome, seeing the full potential of what AC piloting can be in this game is nothing short of art.

[@Azfargh]

It is extraordinary how you can close-dodge each and every projectile from a machine gun by doing zig-zags... even being TAS. It is simply wow... hard to see this on almost 15~25 fps...

[@GreenZinfidel]

It's an abuse of three of the game's mechanics that allowed me to do this. The first being a very strange behavior (probably a bug) that causes most of the game's weaponry's projectiles to only register a hit if the projectile would *still* be hitting the target one frame after the projectile registers a collision. The Japanese community calls this phenomenon "axis" weapons. This makes the projectiles easier to dodge because effectively I just needed to be out of the way of the bullet after it had already hit me. The second mechanic being abused here is movement behavior for very fast legs that for some reason lets you change your strafing vector instantly as long as you time the movement change shortly after you start moving. Repeating this causes you to move back and forth much faster than you are supposed to be able to. And finally, this is sort of an extension of the second property, but because the game's weapons are fired predicatively (via the FCS), if you are able to time your direction changes just before the opponent fires, the opponent's FCS will not be able to account for the change. All three combined with TASing superpowers and you can dodge bullets!

[@ethankraus8529]

@@GreenZinfidel that is such a weird sciencey anime character answer i love it

[@GreenZinfidel]

@@ethankraus8529 Haha now that you mention it, it does sound like an anime monologue.

[@stephenrinshaw9765]

@@ethankraus8529 how else would they explain it lol

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

@@GreenZinfidel you're like the overpowered anime MC

[@piya27372]

this is so sick. beautifully done. tas is not always about speed. this one is truly an art.

[@madProgenitorDeity]

3:30 I never noticed before but this stage makes no sense.. the buildings are way too big, it looks like the ACs are meant to be the size of people.

[@GreenZinfidel]

I have no idea how I never noticed that before either! ACs look to be like... 10 feet tall maybe in that stage? It might have been a "concept" stage where the ACs are meant to be smaller robots or something, but I also wouldn't be surprised to find out that a map developer just got the scale wrong or something and From said "eh, fuck it, put it in anyway"

[@madProgenitorDeity]

​@@GreenZinfidel I love this stage though. The variety of the stages (and ACs too) is part of what I love most about that game.. it was vivid, colorful and full of personality, especially with all the bizarro equipment and all the arena / mech designs. I had played project phantasma on repeat for probably a month previous to that, so I was already starving for new AC experiences when that game dropped. I feel like the rest of the series after AC3 really drops off in the personality department, the stages especially are pretty drab. Anyway I really enjoyed the vid, thanks.

[@GeekSHO]

I think that stage is a bit of a gag. It's clearly supposed to be like a wild west, "take ten paces then turn" sort of level. You start back-to-back, and it's full of classic spaghetti western set pieces. I think the devs were just having some fun.

[@Gigachimp]

Theres also a mission map where the cars are big

[@Aereto]

Feels like the Western Arena is a purpose-built location for AC Combat, sponsored by someone who has a taste in what remains of Spaghetti Westerns. We Dimmadon't call that the Dimmadome, however.

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

What the f!!?? No weapons only laser blade!!!?? And that accuracy, are your a human plus!!!???

[@GreenZinfidel]

...Ra, Rave...n... Watch...out...You...too...

[@Vaxsysl]

Nice moves! At first I was like "oooh, another blademaster!" but then I saw you swapping parts and I read the description and yeah, it makes sense. You're also piloting them all ready well! Very nostalgic I have to say. Also, minefield map? Cheesing :D Crossed fingers that new FromSoftware game is new AC title.

[@reenierkendrickdelosreyes9264]

Brings back memories, although I liked the next gen armored cores, the gameplay of Silent line and even the previous gen ACs were always what I preferred. Missed the nostalgia here.

[@GreenZinfidel]

Yeah same, the PS2-era ACs are where it's at IMO, but the gameplay in these classics still holds up pretty well.

[@theitalianguy9979]

God I forgot how much I loved this game and I remember how awesome I thought the descriptions would change about you as you moved up the arena ranking

[@fadorka]

This is so cool! I'd love to see more of Armored Core TASed just to see the limits of the game. You definitely earned a new sub!

[@PeakHealthTypicalLiving]

This game deserves a remake. But this one's already ahead of its time.

[@Ashlevon]

This is like AC6 combat with the quick dodges to the side to avoid attacks.

[@dinobotpwnz]

"Can't you guys hit him even once?!"

[@DualFace_4393]

Ah yes, Armored Core 3; Training Exercise

[@damonsipe9232]

S ranking that misaon made me feel like a man

[@Engiepie]

i like your paintjob, looks great, especially @ 11:13 :)

[@GreenZinfidel]

Thanks! It's my favorite color scheme. I use it in all of the AC games

[@ラーメンコーラ-r1g]

アリーナのランカー倒す裏技として、 CPUはこちらの照準と逆側に逃げたり飛んだりするプログラミングがされている。 例としては、こちらが照準を下向きにすると飛び、右向きにすれば左手に逃げる。つまり、照準を上側に向ければCPUは飛ばない。 これを利用して、海ステージの防波堤の角にCPU機体をハメて、相手がロックオンできない超長距離射程から、長距離届くミサイルなどをロックオン射程外から勘で一方的に当てれば、ノーダメージでアリーナの敵を全滅できる。ミサイルなどの射程よりも、ロックオン射程の方が短いため、ロックオンに頼らずに相手に球を当てるのはコツが必要。

[@GreenZinfidel]

Very interesting! I did not know that the CPU was programmed to do that. If I had know that when making this TAS, I might have incorporated strategies to take advantage of that programming to make a fool out of the opponents.

[@rizfanmaarij2535]

Dude, this is sooo coool. Please do more!

[@GreenZinfidel]

One day maybe! I've got other huge projects that are keeping me busy at the moment though.

[@The_Raven_]

Still have my copy of MoA fight me

[@MrDragonslayer369]

And i thought i was descent

[@damonsipe9232]

I feel bad for the computer lmao

[@jafp1617]

Zinfidel is a newtype pilot, i swear.

[@GreenZinfidel]

It's like I'm reading my opponents' minds!

[@BABASABUROU-]

ほんとこの頃から完成されてたよ、また戻りたい。

[@namelesspity1463]

So glad we didn't have multi player back then

[@recyclomaster]

Flawless

[@ryuuotaku35]

Love the setups of the top ten AC champions. And Of course NineBall 9️⃣⚫️

[@hiyazaki09]

by playing this game again on 2020 give my AC Piloting skills back its been a long time since i have play any Armored core game Psx or Ps2 heck i was playing ace combat 1,2,3 im even doing the same thing and always crushing 😁

[@BorkieOmnominous]

someone could definitely make an anime inspired by this

[@kintamcakra21]

wow only plasma blade, u ruined my childhood bro

[@bongosmcdongos4190]

This is terrifying

[@manumaravilla]

dude keeps on slashing them enemies LOL

[@kentycc]

I play finish top 10 to 1 ex arena same as your AC build in 1:40 ,I think that was the best speed AC build so far and using same as that arena to keep them not jump over my head... using 50 Plasma or 1000 Machine gun to finish...Im feel like play dirty hahaha

[@GreenZinfidel]

That build was was mostly just for aesthetics, but it's one of the most armored "light" builds you can make so it ends up being viable for casual play. I always pick the parking garage when I'm up against a reverse-joint because they are so irritating to track in the sky the whole fight!

[@kentycc]

Yes, very hate that reverse joint , thanks for bring back my good old memories ,haha 🤣🤣

[@Faruq-xn4gj]

This video is the cooler Nineball

[@A__Alajmi]

What are you!?

[@quantumpanic]

how the hell is he killing ACs in just less than 10 sabre hits?

[@GreenZinfidel]

When you land an aerial laser sword strike, you get a bonus multiplier to damage of 2x to 4x. The Moonlight already does an absurd amount of damage so it only takes a few hits.

[@RippahRooJizah]

@@GreenZinfidel I am assuming due to hitting the head.

[@GreenZinfidel]

@@RippahRooJizah That definitely could have been the idea behind the mechanic. I actually reversed some of the game's code using Ghidra to investigate this (for a TAS) and the game only checks that you are in the air, and the distance to the enemy at the time of activation to calculate a bonus. Closer is a bigger bonus. There's another thing that can happen though where your laser sword can hit multiple times very quickly (happens more frequently with quad-legs poke of doom) but I never figured out how that happens.

[@RippahRooJizah]

@@GreenZinfidel Interesting. I heard a while back that headshots with a sword do loads of extra damage, but I guess that wasn't entirely accurate.

[@KORTOKtheSTRONG]

w

[@jeffreyboucher344]

Armored core VI is coming!

[@GreenZinfidel]

It's now the only game I really care about for 2023.

[@TheMaiztro]

AC4 pilots

[@EvT91]

yooo. this is hype!

[@procow2274]

Boop 🐄

[@Michael_Dominic]

5:08

[@khob_Bloodstained]

Wowww you are laserblaed master long time me youngboy game release in thailand 1998 me can't kill r.16 r.17 twincannon tank ..but you use blaed killr.1 Wowww you master

[@Cheese334]

Subscriber #30. Lol Awesome fights. Did you use an emulator for playing this?

[@GreenZinfidel]

Yes, this is a TAS.

[@thecraftingkit8584]

Kakarot UI tries to pilot Results

[@kalabash4952]

What's the build?

[@armoredcorefan2719]

Flawless victory. You’re quiet professional.

[@Number-bj1yn]

I'm curious. Is this you playing or a pre-program bot ?

[@GreenZinfidel]

It's a TAS

[@devilik3692]

cheesing much

[@jeanyoung2247]

Subscribed

[@setoace]

would be awesome fighting a TASed AC like this is in a big arena...

[@Popcornchicken42]

WTH?? Is this tool assisted?

[@GreenZinfidel]

[TAS] means Tool-Assisted Speedrun

[@Popcornchicken42]

@@GreenZinfidel gotcha

[@zer4990]

2:57 LOL 🤣

[@OgaKunieda]

can you give me the save file ?

[@GreenZinfidel]

You can download the movie here: tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/62708704588144436 . It's savestate-anchored, so you can just play the movie to load the state, stop the movie, then go and save the game and you'll have your save file.