View source for Armored Core: Nexus

{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Armored Core: Nexus
| image = Armored Core - Nexus cover.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[FromSoftware]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|[[FromSoftware]]|NA|[[Agetec]]|PAL|Indie Games Productions}}
| director = Rintaro Yamada
| producer = Toshifumi Nabeshima
| designer = 
| writer = 
| programmer = Ryoutarou Kishi
| artist = 
| composer = [[Kota Hoshino]]
| engine = 
| series = ''[[Armored Core]]''
| released = {{Vgrelease|JP|March 18, 2004|NA|September 28, 2004|EU|April 13, 2006|AU|November 1, 2006}}
| genre = [[Third-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[PlayStation 2]]
}}

'''''Armored Core: Nexus''''' is a 2004 [[third-person shooter]] [[mecha]] [[video game]] developed by [[FromSoftware]] for the [[PlayStation 2]]. It is the eighth entry in the ''[[Armored Core]]'' series and a sequel to 2003's ''[[Silent Line: Armored Core]]''. Unlike ''Silent Line'', ''Nexus'' is not an expansion but rather a full-fledged sequel.

The game's plot concerns a new corporation called Navis that begins to hoard ancient technology, leading to tensions between it and the existing corporations. As those tensions begin to mount, the player takes on missions through the reorganized Raven's Ark until the corporations break into all out war. When the corporations begin to activate ancient weapons in desperation, the player takes on more critical tasks of attempting to stop the weapons before they destroy everything on the planet.

Very little has changed from ''Armored Core''<nowiki/>'s primary gameplay mechanics in ''Nexus''. Players pilot [[Mecha|mechs]], take on missions, and earn money that they can use to customize their mech units. New additions to the game include dual analog stick support and a [[Local area network|LAN]] [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] mode.

== Gameplay ==
The mechanics of ''Armored Core: Nexus'' continues with many of the franchise's conventions. Players pilot large [[Mecha|mech]] robots called Armored Cores and are hired as mercenaries for objective-based missions.<ref name=gspot/> Armored Cores are highly modular and can be customized with hundreds of parts and items.<ref name=gi/> Money is earned through missions and can be used to purchase customization options, but any expenses incurred through a mission are automatically deducted from the player's income.<ref name=gspot/>

Mouse support allows for players to create emblems and navigate menus.<ref name=ign/> The control scheme of ''Nexus'' has been updated to include support for dual analog sticks, a first for the franchise.<ref name=gi/>

''Nexus'' is split into two discs. The first, ''Evolution'', is the main game and story sequel to ''Silent Line''.<ref name=gamepro/> The second disc, ''Revolution'', contains updated missions from earlier titles in the franchise that can be played using Armored Cores from ''Nexus''.<ref name=gspot/>

Like previous games, ''Nexus'' includes several [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] options. [[Split screen (video games)|Split-screen]] modes and I-Link multiplayer connectivity return, allowing for 2 player head-to-head combat. A new addition is a [[Local area network|LAN]] multiplayer mode that allows up to 4 players to connect and fight each other.<ref name=gamepro/>

==Plot==
55 years after the [[Silent Line: Armored Core|incident at the Silent Line]], corporate warfare is on the verge of breaking out once more between the four largest corporations: Mirage, Crest, Kisaragi, and the newly founded Navis. An ill-equipped bureaucracy called the Organization for Administrating Enterprise claims to police the corporations, but does little in practice to stop the escalation of conflict between them. Global Cortex, the organization that employed Armored Core pilots called Ravens, has been replaced with a successor organization called Raven's Ark.

As the corporations expand across the planet, Navis begins to hoard ancient technology and gains the attention of Mirage, which leads to an attempt by Mirage to use the OAE to force Navis into sharing the technology. Navis instead withdraws from the OAE and severs its partnership with Kisaragi to develop a secret alliance with Crest. Tensions from these events lead to all-out war between the corporations, which comes to a climax as Crest betrays their smaller ally and destroys the city that Navis is based in. Despite Crest withdrawing from the war, Mirage begins to attack Navis, leading the desperate company to activate an ancient weapon that proves to be uncontrollable. Despite the player's defeat of the weapon, the Kisaragi corporation accidentally activated a separate weapons system that begins to destroy everything it can.

== Release ==
''Armored Core: Nexus'' was initially released in [[Japan]] for the [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 2]] on March 18, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=031|title=Armored Core: Nexus {{!}} FromSoftware - フロム・ソフトウェア|last=|first=|date=|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> [[FromSoftware]] partnered with [[Agetec]] for its international versions, with the game releasing in [[North America]]n on September 28, 2004, [[Europe]]an on April 13, 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Aaron |date=2004-09-03 |title=Armored Core: Nexus Gets A Release Date |url=https://psxextreme.com/archive/ps2-news-2876/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=PSX Extreme |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213180631/https://psxextreme.com/archive/ps2-news-2876/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vgcollect.com/item/20037|title=Armored Core: Nexus {{!}} PlayStation 2 [EU]|website=VGCollect.com|access-date=2020-03-11|archive-date=2023-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602173626/https://vgcollect.com/item/20037|url-status=live}}</ref> and in Australia on November 1, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jastrzab |first=Jeremy |date=October 23, 2006 |title=Updated Australian release list, 23/10/06 |url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?title=Updated+Australian+release+list%2C+23%2F10%2F06&id=5612&sid=2f9e78a61e79b5329b1ab42c91daf032 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020339/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?title=Updated+Australian+release+list%2C+23%2F10%2F06&id=5612&sid=2f9e78a61e79b5329b1ab42c91daf032 |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=PALGN}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| align = right
| MC = 73/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-nexus/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Armored Core: Nexus for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=December 17, 2018 |archive-date=March 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250312150619/https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-nexus/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Edge = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |issue=137 |date=June 2004 |page=110}}</ref>
| EGM = 5.67/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |issue=183 |date=October 2004 |page=102}}</ref>
| Fam = 32/40<ref name=Fam>{{cite magazine |title=アーマード・コア ネクサス |language=Japanese |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |volume=797 |date=March 26, 2004}}</ref>
| GI = 7.25/10<ref name=gi>{{cite magazine |last=Miller |first=Matt |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/4EA19324-FEC0-4639-9C59-BDD6960157BE.htm |title=Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[GameStop]] |issue=137 |date=September 2004 |page=110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921135118/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/4EA19324-FEC0-4639-9C59-BDD6960157BE.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=gamepro>{{cite magazine |author=Rice Burner |date=October 1, 2004 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/38411.shtml |title=Armored Core: Nexus Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG Entertainment]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204171034/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/38411.shtml |archivedate=February 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.7/10<ref name=gspot>{{cite web |last=Provo |first=Frank |date=October 28, 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armored-core-nexus-review/1900-6111776/ |title=Armored Core: Nexus Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=December 17, 2018}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref name=ign>{{cite web |last=Sulic |first=Ivan |date=October 7, 2004 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/08/armored-core-nexus |title=Armored Core: Nexus |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=December 17, 2018}}</ref>
| OPM = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=October 2004 |page=92}}</ref>
| OPMUK = 5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[PlayStation Official Magazine – UK|Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine]] |publisher=Future plc |issue=75 |date=August 2006 |page=101}}</ref>
| PSM = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Review: Armored Core: Nexus |magazine=[[PlayStation: The Official Magazine|PSM]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |date=November 2004 |page=94}}</ref>
}}

The game received "average" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MC/> In Japan, ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave it a score of two eights, one nine, and one seven for a total of 32 out of 40.<ref name=Fam/>

The addition of dual analog stick support was welcomed by reviewers, with ''Game Informer's'' Matt Miller calling it "long-needed".<ref name=gi/> Customization was praised as being "easier than before" by ''GamePro'' and the game's "real selling point" by ''IGN''.<ref name=gamepro/><ref name=ign/>

Gameplay had a more mixed reaction. ''Game Informer'' wrote that the dynamic plot that took into account player losses and victories was "a mixed blessing".<ref name=gi/> ''IGN'' called targeting systems "imprecise and purposefully infuriating".<ref name=ign/> However, GameSpot disagreed, writing that gameplay changes and improvements "make Nexus more difficult and more interesting than its predecessors, which is great".<ref name=gspot/>

Critics complained that the series remained inaccessible to newcomers and did little to change its formula. ''GamePro's'' Rice Burner wrote that the lack of information given to new players to acclimate them to the game was "unfortunate", and believed that newcomers would "find themselves in impossible situations".<ref name=gamepro/> ''IGN's'' Ivan Sulic was less forgiving about the franchise's iterative ritual, stating "it's practically eight games of enough already".<ref name=ign/>

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==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.armoredcore.net/top/}} {{in lang|ja}}
*''[https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=031 Armored Core: Nexus]'' at [[FromSoftware]]
* {{mobygames|/ps2/armored-core-nexus}}

{{FromSoftware games}}
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[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:Agetec games]]
[[Category:Armored Core]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2-only games]]
[[Category:Third-person shooters]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games about mecha]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Kota Hoshino]]