A new promo video was released over at the official site for Armored Core 3 Silent Line Portable today. It highlights the original AI functionality from the PS2 version as well as clarifying the compatibility of game saves with Armored Core 3 Portable. What’s nice about the video is how it uses one of the in-game tracks, specifically that of “Rise In Arms”. As Silent Line’s score, penned by Kota Hoshino, was remarkably well wrought (so much so that on its release it was encased within a hardback artbook).

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In a recent piece of coverage on Game Watch, the extra parts list in the upcoming Armored Core 3 Silent Line Portable has been laid out in a fair bit of detail. We’ve already covered the addition of the fearful of the Karasawa Mk.2 but the full list of extra parts encompasses far more than one pimped out laser rifle. In fact it pretty covers the gamut of the earlier Armored Core series in terms parts, which is pretty impressive in and of itself. The full list has been laid out below in case you’re curious.

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The official Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus site got updated again today with a new promo movie showing off the various aspects of the game. A nice little touch is that both Toru Furuya and Shuichi Ikeda reprise their roles of Amuro and Char respectively to narrate the video. The game is still on schedule to be released on December 3rd in Japan.

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Another tournament meeting for the Armored Core 3 Portable occurred over the weekend. This is part of the Tournament Season 1 setup and if you want to have a look at some of the matches, these can be streamed as videos from the official site. As always, the series’ producer Toshifumi Nabeshima was on hand but more interestingly was the display of the above model kit that’s part of the ongoing Armored Core Brave New World sidestory. The main body of parts in the design were present in Armored Core 3 Silent Line but the head is bespoke. There’s a good chance that this design will make it into the upcoming Silent Line PSP port, as the previous game received this beastie from the same sidestory as an extra Arena opponent.

The official site for Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus has been somewhat busy as of late, with updates as to its updated mobile suit roster. Notably the RX-77 Guncannon has returned, as it was a PSP exclusive in the last port. In addition, there is now a Titans coloured RX-178 Gundam Mk.II. Apart from that there is the distinction between the 00 Raiser weapon load out variants, from the GN Sword II to the more potent and final GN Sword III. Naturally, for Gundam Wing fans the addition of the Endless Waltz suits in the form of the Nataku and Zero Custom will garner more appreciation maybe.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board has rated Armored Core 3 Portable for the PSP in America, making its release highly probable. From Software is listed as the publisher, which would make this the first Armored Core title they published in the US themselves. As the linked article notes, it’s unknown whether this will be a downloadable title. For those of you who have never experienced the Layered for yourself, this website has a review of the PS2 original, though as the reviewer notes at the end, he considers the PSP port to be inferior.

Back in the mid-80′s Hibiki Godai helmed a new type of game for the NEC PC-8801, it featured a transforming robot that could fire lasers. The game was called Thexder. Considering the technical limitations of the hardware compared to today’s gaming devices, games like Thexder espouse the benefits of focused simplicity when it comes to crafting games. The whole point of the game was to get Thexder from one side of the level to the other, whilst navigating tricky maze-like corridors as well as preserving its energy in order for the player to proceed. Very simple but deeply compelling.

Thexder received numerous ports over the years, released in all manner of countries and a few sequels to boot as well. Yet, despite its global success, not many seem to remember the game even existed at all. To correct such an injustice, Square Enix recently funded the publishing of a Thexder update called Thexder Neo to be released on the PSP. This was done via Game Arts, the original developer of the first game, and Zereo. The game is fundamentally a very well wrought remake though and is for the money is an incredible bargain for any gamer.

The remake to the classic Thexder, in the form of the PSP update Thexder Neo, has been finally released on the US PSN store for $9.99. We will be posting a review of this in the very near future but in the meantime feel free to watch the trailer that Square Enix were nice enough to upload to their YouTube channel.

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Macross Ultimate Frontier for the PSP is released today in Japan (you can get it here). Naturally, we’ll be reviewing the game in the very near future but in the meantime feel free to read our feature on the more contemporary Macross games available.

The upcoming Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus for the PSP has had a new bunch of screenshots released, displaying the new mobile suits featured in this version. The screens also show some of the initial mission mode screens, which is being called the “Next Plus” mode within the game itself. The game is still scheduled for a 3rd December release in Japan for 6,279 yen.