There was a period of time when battling mechs moved from simple rock’em, sock’em action to try to over-fly genres of action and adventure. In many ways Armored Core: Nine-Breaker, a PlayStation 2 title from Agetec, is a return to the simpler times of arena-based combat.

But those thinking that is all this game offers will find themselves mistaken.

With a steady framerate, sterling graphics and more than 150 training missions at a player’s fingertips, Armored Core: Nine-Breaker is both a return to the glory days of mech arena-based combat, but also a step forward in terms of customization.

The game is based on a ladder-tier arena system, but before you get to that, you have to put together your mech. The garage is where you create and customize your mechanical warrior. You pick a frame and then you can build your robot piece by piece. However, while you do not have to go out and earn the parts for your mech, you do have to keep inside the limitations of the type of mech you build. You cannot put together a light mech, hoping to rely on speed during the combat, and then try to mount huge and heavy cannons on it.

In some ways, this is quite a balanced system, both challenging players to build the best mech they can within the framework of the style of game they indulge in, and trying to keep the playing field level in the multiplayer battles against human-controlled mechs.

While you can train to your heart’s content, the backbone of this game is the arena combat. You pick your class and level, and then ‘search’ for a foe. Once the search is completed, you pick the lucky winner from a list of candidates and hop into the arena for the battle, which can take place on the ground, or in short hops through the air. It is a simple proposition – blast the enemy to bits before he (or she) can do the same to you.

With more than 20 arenas to fight in, Nine-Breaker tantalizes players with its three-dimensional graphics and strongly rendered effects. Even just working in the garage tinkering with the look of the mech is fun because of the visual experience this game provides.

Unfortunately, the game does have a weaker element and that is the sound. The sound of combat is reminiscent of older arcade games, and the mechs clunk along in a predictable-sounding manner. 

The controls are tied very nicely to the console’s hand-held system. Unlike some games, where the targeting reticule bounces about, it is easy to keep a foe in your sites, blasting away to wear down the power and armor en route to a satisfying ending.

Slated for released in early August, Nine-Breaker is the mech game fans of the genre have been waiting to see, and a game that will certainly make new fans of gamers not familiar with the genre. 

Gameplay: 8.1
The game does have some load times, but with a bevy of training missions, a ladder-tier system and customization that enables players to personalize their mech, Nine-Breaker is solid.

Graphics: 8.7
Solid, solid, solid! The graphics of this game are very well done, with rich environments and strong animation. Some of the effects are redundant, but this is a game that treats the eyes to terrific-looking mechs doing what mechs do best – battle it out. 

Sound: 7.0
Merely average.

Difficulty:  Medium
The higher you work up the ladder system, the more difficult the game becomes. Of course, going head-to-head with another player loads in the unpredictability and makes the game more challenging.  

Concept: 7.7 
More of a regression to the basic arena roots of mech combat, Nine-Breaker still manages to add enough odds and ends, in

Multiplayer:  N/A
While the game was not ready for online play in the build received, when released, AC: Nine-Breaker will allow head-to-head competition and up to four to play through network adaptors.  

Overall: 8.3
Terrific graphical elements play against gameplay that is simple to jump into and get to the business of battle. This game is entertaining and challenging, and it is worth checking out.