Armored Core 4 features a number of visual enhancements over From Software’s last title, Chromehounds; increased detailing in mechs, more objects littering the maps, and generally enhanced weapon effects. There are some amazing scenes that play with lighting, such as one night mission in which you can only see enemies as they are reflected in the light of flares. What’s really great about the presentation is how smoothly it runs. There isn’t a hitch at all in any of the action, even when dozens of units fill the screen with weapons fire. Too bad the audio doesn’t quite meet up with the graphics as it suffers from bland voice work and forgettable music. At least the sound effects are solid, appropriately relaying the sounds of the game’s theoretical machines and weapons.

Without any previous experience with the series, you could conceivably get into Armored Core 4. The furiously fast action certainly holds great appeal; however, you may a difficult time following the story and grappling with the customization system. The game remains true to the series in catering more toward the hardcore element despite good attempts at making the game accessible; Armored Core 4 easily offers up the hottest mech-on-mech action yet in this next generation.