In the case of Armored Core’s history as a series, each major shift in functionality has met with a follow on title that polishes and improves the original setup. Sometimes these are just general changes but occasionally they coalesce into something truly great. These games have also normally been the best of that era. Titles like Master of Arena and Silent Line for instance marked the pinnacle of the previous two console generations.

Verdict day is a direct continuation of the previous game and utilises much of the same inherent structure, both for the expansive multiplayer but also the campaign. What’s different are all the substantial low level changes as well as all new systems that sit atop them. It’s quite frankly the best mecha game we’ve played this console generation.

Following on from this post, we now know that the EU and US 360 versions of Armored Core Verdict Day are indeed region free and share the same server. However, the Japanese 360 version is region locked and is on a separate server. Both PS3 versions are region free, like pretty much every PS3 game, but again the Japanese release is on a separate server, with the EU and US games again sharing one server. The reason for this, we’re guessing, is that Bandai Namco publish the game outside of Japan with From Software handling that region directly. So the releases are handled by separate publishers and consequently locked out from one another.

Separately, for those that have been following the game’s release it’s also clear that Bandai Namco are up to something pretty dodgy. As the game has had no marketing whatsoever, with no-one knowing the game is even out. The release window, being so close to Grand Theft Auto V, also seems a bit strange too as it would be obvious to any marketing department that you’d steer clear of that. Otherwise your game will just get buried. This has begged the question as to whether Bandai Namco are trying to kill the series off entirely. The latter wouldn’t be overly surprising as they’re clearly only really interested in Dark Souls at this point.

Anyway, we’ve already finished the campaign and been playing the game online a fair bit and our review will be forthcoming hopefully this week. In the meantime, you can read a decent review of the game here. There are also some nice new trailers out too, so have a look at them below.

Update: The international ACVD Link is now up.

What with a veritable Layzner bonanza happening as of late, Wave have revealed that they’ll be releasing a garage kit of the formidable SPT-ZK-53U Zakarl. At 47,250 yen it won’t be cheap and pre-orders will start this December, for a release in February of next year. This is a separate release to Bandai’s teaser of another toy.

In a recent Q&A with Bandai Namco Europe’s Anthony Grabit it was said that Armored Core Verdict Day “is not region locked”. Whether this is specific to the European release or, far more importantly, the international servers is by no means clear at this point. However, what with the game’s release imminent (today in the US, the 26th in Japan and 27th in Europe) we’ll know for sure soon enough. Our review will be of the Japanese versions if anyone is wondering. You can still pre-order the game here (PS3) and here (360).

Following on from the Virtual On Memorial Event we mentioned, 4Gamer have a nice breakdown piece. Despite the appearance of peeps from Volks and Haseagawa regarding all manner of kits, the interesting stuff came from Mori Yasuhiro (a designer at Sega who worked on both Marz and Oratan, he’s also the guy wearing the Tangram t-shirt in the above picture). Notably that there may be a new Virtual On game surfacing during the series’ 20th Anniversary in 2015. Now, this isn’t the first time this has been said but we do know that since Force there have been multiple attempts at making a new Virtual On game (with Border Break being the unwitting results of one of those attempts). Anyway, we hope that whatever is planned finally sees the light of day (preferably if it’s an arcade game too obviously).

What with Armored Core Verdict Day out at the end of this month, there have been all manner of events. From the aforementioned Raven’s Meeting as well as the final livestream (that went up only a few days ago). To top all that off, we also got a new trailer. Showing of the game’s 56 maps. It goes without saying that we’re really looking forward to this game and it’s release cannot come soon enough. Don’t forget you can still pre-order the game here (PS3) and here (360).

There’s a rather interesting Virtual On Memorial Event being held online this Saturday. It will feature various exhibitions of the various games (basically top players kicking the shit out of each other for your entertainment). As well as talking head type segments with various people to do with the series (though Juro Watari appears to be absent on this, which is odd). Some people from Hasegawa and Volks will be present too, though Kotobukiya aren’t for some reason. In any case, the event will be streamed via NicoNico. As this is a week before TGS, our virtuaroid sense is tingling somewhat. New game perhaps?

The forthcoming BluRay boxset for the amazing Blue Comet SPT Layzner that we previously talked about has received two promo videos. These are of the respective openings for the TV series, comprising of the first and second season. These are both credit-less, though with a nicely placed advert for the boxset mid-video (and if you’ve seen the anime then that should make sense). However, what is worth noting is that the picture quality is astounding. If the whole series is like this then we’re picking this boxset up regardless. Both promos are linked below and you can pre-order the boxset here.

At the Chara Hobby 2013 show this weekend, Bandai will be bringing along a 3D printed version of the planned Soul of Chogokin Spec Layzner Mk2 (shown above). This is the updated CG model based on the first round of feedback, though there is another questionnaire now to give feedback on these changes too. It seems that the newer iteration is somewhat chunkier and beefier looking, this we approve of. Still no word on release date or pricing but we’ll be keeping an eye out as we want this toy pretty damn badly!

Following on from their AGNI kit, Kotobukiya have revealed Vengeance. This is basically the same design as the Super Robot Chokogin toy but is actually a more faithful representation (in terms of colouring and decals) to an enemy seen at the end of Armored Core V. In short this also means it has the Grind Blade (pictured above), which unsurprisingly requires its own stand. The kit will be released this December and you can pre-order it here