If there’s one thing thePlayStation 5has often been criticized for, it’s the system’s lackluster backwards compatibility. In addition toPS5releases, Sony’s current-gen console can only play PS4 games natively, which, compared to the Xbox Series X/S and its impressive catalog of original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles, is quite disappointing. To make up for the PlayStation 5’s limited backwards compatibility support, Sony has been releasing emulated versions of several classic PS1, PS2, and PSP games on its PlayStation Plus Premium subscription service. These retro games have been added to PS Plus on a monthly basis over the last several years, and the service currently features nearly 500 classic titles from across PlayStation’s history.
Sony is Adding The First Three Armored Core Games to PS Plus Premium
During the recent PlayStation State of Play, Sony announced thatthree games in theArmored Corefranchisewould come to PS Plus later this year. These titles, which were made by the esteemedDark SoulsandElden Ringdeveloper FromSoftware, includeArmored Core(1997),Armored Core: Project Phantasma, andArmored Core: Master of Arena. All three of theseArmored Coregames were developed exclusively for the original PlayStation, and although they were released on the PS3, PS Vita, and/or PSP via the PlayStation Network, they had been unavailable on modern platforms for ages.
AC 1, AC: Project Phantasma, and AC: Masters of Arena Will Come to PS5 This Year
The originalArmored Corecame out all the way back in July 1997, just three years after the launch of the PlayStation 1. This third-person mecha game was one of the first popular titles that FromSoftware ever made, because at the time, the company had worked on nothing butthe nicheKing’s Fieldseries.Armored Core 1may be considered a tad rough by today’s standards, but it was positively reviewed by critics when it first came out, due to its highly modular mech customization systems and impressive multiplayer support.
Armored Core: Project Phantasma, meanwhile, was initially released in December 1997, just a few months afterthe originalArmored Coremade its debut. The reason why there was such a short time frame between the release of these two installments is becauseProject Phantasmais a standalone expansion forArmored Core 1, and not a full-length sequel. Gameplay-wise, the two games are roughly the same, albeit with a few differences.Armored Core: Project Phantasma, for instance, features some new weapons and customization options, in addition to an entirely optional arena mode.
LikeProject Phantasma,Armored Core: Masters of Arenais also an expansion for the firstArmored Coregame. It, however, came out in 1999, a few years after both games were released. As its name suggests,Masters of Arenaprimarily focuses on the arena mode that was introduced inProject Phantasma. Players must enter arenas and fight other mechs to progress through the main story and gain new weapons.Armored Core: Masters of Arenawas the last entry in theArmored Corefranchise that was released on the PlayStation 1. Many of the later installments in the series, such asArmored Core 4andArmored Core: Last Raven, came out on the PS2 instead. Hopefully, if these three PS1-eraArmored Coregames get enough attention on PlayStation Plus, Sony and FromSoftware will consider bringing over some of theArmored Coregames on PS2, as well.
Armored Core
WHERE TO PLAY
ARMORED CORE marks the beginning of the mech action and customization series.Choose and freely combine from a huge number of parts, including head, core, arms, legs, and weapons, to create your own original mech before taking it into combat.The world has fallen to ruin in an all-out war known as the Great Destruction. With countries and governments extinct, and humankind driven to underground cities, corporations soon ignite a vicious battle to reinstate the surface. Play as Raven, a mercenary piloting the humanoid war machine, Armored Core (AC), and carry out a variety of missions.
