I meant to post this earlier but a few places have gone into detail on the upcoming Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus’ new Plus Mode. Now for those that have played any of these console ports before, you’ll already now about the extensive mission modes these games can offer. Where you have a large number of missions coupled with unit upgrading all linked in a causal manner. This being in contrast to the almost cursory arcade “singleplayer”, which comprises of a scant few areas and opponents. The new Plus Mode is effectively the mission mode from the older ports, which is no bad thing but not exactly a massive progression either. Separately, the official site has been updating its mobile suits roster in case you’re curious.

Courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent a kit from Armored Core 4 and For Answer to review. Specifically, Kotobukiya’s 1/72 scale Noblesse Oblige. This is an important design, as it was originally used to promote the original Armored Core 4 before its release (specifically in two trailers here and here). It also heralded the shift in mecha design towards the very talented Yuzo Kojima.

Our review only covers the kit in its out of the box and unpainted form (however, we have also included painted photos towards the end). In addition, to give the kit some context, we’ve also captured some HD gameplay footage of the design in action from Armored Core For Answer.

As many had already assumed, it seems that the vague “Winter 2009/2010” release date that Nippon Ichi America gave to Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love means that we won’t be seeing it this year. I’ve been waiting for a game in the Sakura Wars series to come over since the days of the Sega Saturn, so while I’m sure I can wait a little while longer, it’s definitely going to be a tough sell for many hardcore gamers with all the other highly anticipated titles that have already been pushed back into 2010, such as Bayonetta and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. It’s being released on the PlayStation 2 and the Wii, which aren’t exactly the first choices of hardcore gamers these days, which also makes me worry about its success.

Macross is by no means an anime series to be taken functionally for granted. Dealing with the three disparate modes of each variable fighter has meant that the developer has to somehow craft three separate games that can all interact instantly with one another. Purely from a logistical standpoint, implementing a functionally coherent Macross game is an immense task.

This is often why many of these games aren’t very good. Either down to real world budgetary constraints or lack of time, trying to tackle the raft of very genuine issues has meant that the final game has suffered. Yet some get lucky and are allowed to tackle parts of the problem and simplify other aspects to make the overall package gel more convincingly. SEGA AM2 and From Software managed to do just that in their attempts and now Artdink have joined their ranks.

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).

To tie in with the release of Super Robot Wars Neo at the end of this month, Banpresto are launching their ad campaign. Normally, these have involved the indomitable Shoko-tan for the past few iterations but this one is especially endearing as it’s portrayed as a mock newsreel with obligatory helicopter reportage. There’s a nice bit of coverage over at 4gamer, which shows the making of as well.

The recent post about the Lost Planet 2 Vital Suit kits reminded me of this tidbit. Early last September, Capcom released the Capcom Platinum Hits pack. For $40, you get Dead Rising, Devil May Cry 4, and the first Lost Planet. Those who held off on purchasing the original Lost Planet because of the two expansion packs (like myself) will also be happy to know that the Lost Planet here is the Extreme Condition: Colonies Edition, so you’ll be getting the ultimate version basically.

The Vital Suits, the mecha in the game, handle like the cumbersome workhouses they are; partly out of a bit of reality and mostly for balance reasons (making it so that being on-foot in battle isn’t wholly hopeless). Some of the game’s learning curve is also about working out how to make the most of your mecha’s limited abilities, so don’t expect the graceful swans of, say, Armored Core For Answer.

Platinum releases on the Xbox 360 usually go for $30, so three for $40 is pretty much the deal of deals.

Over at NCSX you can just about still buy the full set of the newly released Video Game Robotics gashapon. This is a follow on from Yujin’s successful Shooting Game Historica line but features mecha from a variety of games. There are a total of five disparate units in the set, ranging from Assault Suits Leynos and Valken to the more recent Border Break. It’s worth clarifying that these are small scale plastic figures, rather than full featured toys. That said, for their size and pricing the sculpt and the detailing is remarkably impressive. Personally, I’m just glad the likes of Wolf Fang got included.

For those that have yet to play and finish the wonderful Armored Core For Answer, here is a video from one of the various end game missions where you face multiple Nexts at once. The mission in particular is called the Occupation of Arteria Carpals and I’m playing it on the Hard difficulty on the first Regulation. It’s generally regarded as one of the most challenging missions in the game and as a consequence forces the player to utilise all manner of functional nuances at their disposal. This video has also been encoded in HD. Enjoy!

For those that played the original Armored Core back in 1997, they may remember with trepidation the final mission their Raven’s mecha had to undertake. For those that don’t, it was a massive level, so big in fact that it had to be split in half and have the player restocked and repaired mid-mission. It also had the trickiest level design in the entire game, with the player having to negotiate floating platforms in a never-ending tower of guaranteed death to those that lacked the necessary AC piloting skills. Then there was Nineball.

Nineball, and its pilot Hustler One, were listed as the top ranking AC and Raven combo and from the various e-mails received from enemy Ravens and greedy corporations, Nineball was a terrifying and truly formidable opponent. In the last mission you faced him, twice. Many who have played Armored Core will know the significance of Nineball and that of defeating the bugger. Thus in Armored Core 2 a new term was introduced into the world setting, given to pilots of exceptional skill and design prowess; Ninebreaker. It is this terminology, this legacy, even, that From Software has built their latest traditional Armored Core game around. The term is also fitting to the fact that this is the ninth iteration in the series.