PixlBit

A robotic shooter that really makes you think in order to win

Project Phantasma is the second game in the Armored Core series. Developed by From Software and published by ASCII Entertainment, it was released for the PS1 in 1998. Since then, the Armored Core series has become a big franchise with over a dozen games in less than two decades. After playing this game, I must admit that these games are not for everyone (which includes me) due to the time input and micro-management it takes to play them successfully. However, I can also admit that the game excels in many ways and can be engrossing for any person who loves robotic shooters. 

When you begin the one player campaign, you'll be introduced to all the modes: Garage, Arena, Mail, System, Mission, and Shop. The Garage is where you'll customize your Amored Core (AC). The Arena allows you to fight other ACs 1-on-1 and try to move up in rank (you'll start at the bottom of the list, #50). The Mission mode is the main game, in which you will try to accomplish specific objectives and move the story along. The Shop is where you can buy and sell AC parts. You'll receive new mail after finishing a mission, and you can go to System at any time to save your progress. 

The customization aspect of the game is pretty deep. There are a lot of parts to customize, including the head, core, arms, legs, generator, FCS, optional parts, boosters, back weapon, and arm weapon--basically, every part imaginable. But it doesn't end there: when assembling your AC, the weight must be balanced. You can't have a bulky core on top of skinny legs. So you have to take this into consideration when buying new parts. Also, sometimes you'll need to adjust your equipment before doing a mission or a fight. I found this out when I tried to start the second mission, and the screen told me "need more energy." So I had to go back and add a more powerful generator to my AC. 

It's great to be able to buy parts for your AC, but you won't know how they affect it until after you buy them, which is a bummer. Luckily, you can sell the part back for the exact same price. When buying, you will only see a picture of the part and the title, which is usually some letters (such as Generator LXT-001). Obviously, the more expensive parts are the more powerful ones, so you'll want to save up to buy them. 

Which brings me to credits. Credits are the currency of the game, and you earn them by winning battles in Arena and successfully beating missions. But it's not as easy as you might think. At the end of each mission, you get an "Income and Expense Report," which balances out your reward with the cost of ammunition and AC repair. If you take a lot of damage in a mission and finish it, it's possible to have so much damage repair that it outdoes your reward, giving you a negative amount of credits. Yes, it's possible to get in the negatives if you fail too many missions or sustain high damage costs. It's not good when you're in debt in a video game!

The controls take some getting used to, as the game uses every button on the Playstation controller. Your AC can fire its weapon, switch to a secondary weapon, boost forward, use a close-range attack (like a plasma sword), and move to either side while running forward (using the shoulder buttons). You will automatically lock onto targets when they get into range. The hardest part about the controls is turning, which can be frustrating because your AC turns very slowly. It's best to boost around in a circle rather than slowly turning, but this won't be possible if you're in a tight area. You'll eventually get used to the controls, but it might take some time. To make things more challenging, you have limited ammo; once you run out, you're out, meaning you can't shoot around like a madman. The ammo will vary depending on the weapon you have equipped. 

The 1-on-1 fights in Arena can be fun and challenging. You have to fight the guy that's directly ahead of you on the ranking list. It's neat that you can choose the location of the fight, and there are lots of locations (forest, open land, city, ocean area, cave, etc.). You'll want to try and move around a lot, otherwise your opponent will target you and get in some good hits. These fights can be long and grueling, making victory very satisfying. Your opponent's HP is not displayed, so you don't know how close you are to defeating them; but just keep hammering away at them and they'll eventually blow up. Arena is important because you'll unlock new AC parts in the shop after each victory. You'll want to keep beefing up your AC in order to make missions easier. 

The missions are the real challenge of the game. They start out simple--destroy all the enemies within three minutes. But they quickly become more complex, involving infiltrating bases, destroying generators, rescuing prisoners, protecting allies, and sometimes doing it under a time limit. Here is where customization is key; different parts will help you in different ways. You may need a powerful weapon to help you overcome tough enemies, or more expensive boosters to help you get through faster. Missions will certainly test your skill and accuracy in using your AC. 

The game also has a VS mode. You and a friend can fight using your own unique AC via splitscreen. You can choose between any of the locations available in Arena. It can be really fun to shoot missiles at eachother and try to evade one another's attacks. The narrow screen can make visibility a little difficult, but the VS mode is still really fun. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Due to the deep customization system, the tricky controls, and the challenging missions, Project Phantasma is not a game for everyone. It's a good game, but it's not the kind of game you could just pick up and play when you feel like it. Mastering everything is a time investment; you'll need to learn how different parts function and spend some time practicing before taking more difficult missions. If you really love shooters with lots of customization, this game is for you; but if you enjoy more casual experiences, you may want to stick with other games. I cannot speak for all the other Armored Core games, but Project Phantasma is a solid game offering the player plenty of deep gameplay that can be fun and satisfying. 

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