Armored Core: Last Raven Is An Unforgivingly Brutal Game...

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  • Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
  • After releasing two fully Arena-based games back-to-back FromSoftware was ready to get back to making a classic Armored Core game. Except for this game would be a standalone expansion to Nexus… the Armored Core game that changed the most about the core formula without fully dedicating to the Arena. This meant that FromSoftware had a massive question to answer: How much do we keep, and how much do we change? So how much or how little does Last Raven play like a traditional AC game, and how did it turn out overall? Well, let’s talk about it.
    Full Armored Core Series: • A First Timer's Journe...
    Armored Core: Last Raven is a 2005 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2. It is the eleventh entry in the Armored Core series and a direct sequel to 2004's Armored Core: Nexus. In 2010, Armored Core: Last Raven was ported to the PlayStation Portable.
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Комментарии • 211

  • @notcole
    @notcole  11 месяцев назад +28

    Submit your votes for the next review series here strawpoll.com/1MnwONOvMn7
    Also, for those that were asking about a Patreon, I finally got one up and running that you can check out here: www.patreon.com/notcole

    • @devonwilliams5738
      @devonwilliams5738 11 месяцев назад

      Is the strawpoll broken? It refuses to let me submit and keeps saying I'm in Incognito Mode even though I'm not.

    • @lvl5Vaporeon
      @lvl5Vaporeon 11 месяцев назад +1

      You should play another AC series...Ace Combat

    • @scartioantolare5825
      @scartioantolare5825 11 месяцев назад

      ​@@devonwilliams5738considering Ace Combat is winning somehow I'd say yes it is broken.

    • @InfinityZwei
      @InfinityZwei 11 месяцев назад

      I wish you had Earth Defense Force on that list. I think you'd get a kick out of that series, and the changes it goes through would really benefit from your review style. :D

    • @notcole
      @notcole  11 месяцев назад +1

      @@devonwilliams5738 only thing I can think of is if you're using a VPN it might flag it as incognito mode? Other than that it seems to be working properly so it could've just been a bug with your browser session or something

  • @Nexuish
    @Nexuish 11 месяцев назад +243

    Ah yes, Last Raven aka what happens when FromSoft gets a little mean lol
    Side note, I respect how they’ve never gone back on Last Raven basically erasing the concept of Ravens being a numerous collective. From this point forward, there’s only ever one Raven.

    • @miragealex8875
      @miragealex8875 11 месяцев назад +8

      We have like 2 "Raven" in AC6 tho.

    • @jacobb3784
      @jacobb3784 11 месяцев назад +51

      @@miragealex8875until you kill raven and now you’re just raven

    • @Nexuish
      @Nexuish 11 месяцев назад +37

      @@miragealex8875 and the other one dies. Highlander rules: there can only be one.

    • @TheAzureGhost
      @TheAzureGhost 11 месяцев назад

      You sure he dies though and not just gets their AC destroyed like many other enemies you thought you killed and show up later? Their handler doesn't sound like you killed him more like you managed to impress them/beaten their test.@@jacobb3784

    • @d.ryan96
      @d.ryan96 11 месяцев назад +24

      ​​​​​​@@jacobb3784it's highly implied that og Raven survives, just listen to his handler when the mission ends.
      Edit: after checking this mission again, she might actually be referring to the rest of the RaD hackers branch

  • @incap6038
    @incap6038 11 месяцев назад +101

    Fun fact about the Pulverisers; they have no missile defences. Killing a Pulveriser becomes laughably easy with Micro Missiles. Compound that with the micro missile supplementary part on the shoulders and you can kill them really easily.

    • @DaRoachDoggJrr
      @DaRoachDoggJrr 8 месяцев назад +2

      Doesn’t this imply according to lore that they never got attacked with missiles since they’re supposed to evolve with each encounter?

    • @watcherman222
      @watcherman222 8 месяцев назад +8

      @@DaRoachDoggJrr I think the Internecine only caught on when it created the true Final Pulverizer, which did have an Anti-Missile System.

    • @DaRoachDoggJrr
      @DaRoachDoggJrr 7 месяцев назад

      @@watcherman222 true

    • @sergiomendoza251
      @sergiomendoza251 5 месяцев назад

      But the missiles in gen 3 was useless because the aim right?

    • @TRD6932
      @TRD6932 2 месяца назад +1

      ​@@sergiomendoza251No it ain't, missiles and micro missiles helped me with my first Pulverizer encounter. It helped me with Pulverizer Evangel too.

  • @StrayedGuy
    @StrayedGuy 11 месяцев назад +173

    Get ready for massive shift in game design in 4th gen

    • @KyleDevy
      @KyleDevy 6 месяцев назад +6

      And then again in 5th gen lol

    • @God-ch8lq
      @God-ch8lq 3 месяца назад +5

      @@KyleDevy 5th gen is the dark souls 2 of armored core

    • @R3TR0J4N
      @R3TR0J4N 4 дня назад

      as someone who only has AC titles in PSP, i assume why theirs no hover legs in AC6 since mobility is more streamlined back AC4

  • @AeroWraith901
    @AeroWraith901 11 месяцев назад +79

    Depending on your mission choice, the first mission could be a wake up call cuz you fight an AC at the end that has some devastating energy weapons. As brutal as this game is tho, it was definitely up there as the most replayed AC game for me with all the paths and missions along the way. My only gripe with it is that a couple of areas feel a little too strict with the mission boundaries.

    • @aidanklobuchar1798
      @aidanklobuchar1798 11 месяцев назад +6

      They make you fight like #7 or so from the previous game's arena, lol. The game really doesn't like you.

    • @TRD6932
      @TRD6932 2 месяца назад +2

      That's Bolt right? Broke my legs on the first time. Sometimes choosing better pay isn't always good.

    • @AeroWraith901
      @AeroWraith901 2 месяца назад +1

      @@TRD6932 Yup, Bolt is uh....definitely not one of the best ones to go up against lol. Especially with the area it puts you in that mission XD

    • @TRD6932
      @TRD6932 2 месяца назад +1

      @@AeroWraith901 The area was a piss-off too, I made the very huge mistake of bringing a really heavyweight AC. While I could tank the linear cannon shots from Bolt, the area's perimeter was littered with fucking grenades. Almost killed me.

  • @linkkicksu
    @linkkicksu 11 месяцев назад +18

    Something of note about the Arena is that many of the opponents are recreations of ACs from older games.
    Like Nineball is in there at rank 5, but under the name "Code Crimson" with its AC named "Baby's Breath".

  • @spikedwallman
    @spikedwallman 11 месяцев назад +29

    you should definitely play through the other routes for this one even if you don't record them. Last Raven is probably the most replayable AC game imo.

  • @durakeno5575
    @durakeno5575 11 месяцев назад +43

    I wish you'd get back to this after your review marathon. There's so much more to unpack. Literally missing out. And you were lucky you didn't pick the 1st mission option that has you pitted against one of the hardest bosses in the game lol.

  • @doomspud6302
    @doomspud6302 11 месяцев назад +38

    The ending you got is the one I personally consider to be the "true" ending, since its the only one where you can confirm that you are the last Raven alive. Also, for some reason, the completion rate goes above 100%, so you've actually done much less than 1/3 of the game. And the used parts system was actually first in Nexus, not Last Raven.
    This is definitely one of the best AC games objectively, especially if you like the twin stick controls. I really enjoyed it the first time I played it far apart from any other game in the series. But when I recently played through all the PS2 games while waiting for AC6, I was actually surprised that I didn't like Last Raven as much as I remembered. Not that I hated it or anything. Its just not nearly as high on my personal AC tier list as I thought it was.
    It was mostly the repetitive nature of it. Its fun to play through the story two or three times. But if you try and get all 7 endings back to back, it can be a slog. Having to fight all the OP-Intensify Ravens and pulverizers over and over got old pretty fast. And trying to get all the secret parts just makes it worse. There are a lot of them, and most will likely make you repeat missions even more times. The sheer number of parts in the game is extremely nice, though, even if it does take forever to get them all. And I love how they continued remaking parts from older generations, like the started in Nexus.
    I do really like the concept of having multiple endings, since it makes it feel like your mission choices actually mean something. But 7 is too many. I would have preferred if the campaign was a few longer playthroughs, instead of so many really short ones. Which is why I think AC:4A and AC6 did it better.
    Also, I hate the part breaking system for the same reasons I hated the weapon breaking in Silent Line. There is no skill to it, since you cant choose to aim at specific parts to tactically weaken your opponent on command, or skillfully avoid having your parts broken. Instead, it just tends to ruin what would have been a super close nail-biter comeback by suddenly handicapping you without any ability to counter it. It also makes hover legs completely useless, since they break if an MT sneezes in your general direction.
    My favorite part of the game is the soundtrack. Its definitely the most unique one of the whole series. Its so weird, and kind of creepy, which fits the atmosphere of the game perfectly. Though the most memorable sound of the game is definitely that hum the Pulverizers make. Hearing that is nearly as stressful as hearing Nineball's piano intro.
    And that dang Archangel Pulverizer that has the only completely unavoidable attack in the whole series...

    • @HollowRick
      @HollowRick 4 месяца назад

      What's was your favourite AC game on the ps2? :D

  • @TheJorus
    @TheJorus 11 месяцев назад +12

    Last Raven is definitely one of my favorites in the series. Some people don't like how specific you have to get with it or how tough it can be, but I love how demanding it is. Definitely helps that I imported the entire part shop from Nexus in, and took Nine-Breaker as a sort of training course to fill the gaps in my understanding of how to even build an AC.
    By the way you can restart your run to the beginning at any point in the game while retaining your parts and money, so it's always possible to pile more credits, even if it takes time. But having as many parts as possible makes it easier to tackle the tougher missions the game throws at you.

  • @Lyvein1
    @Lyvein1 11 месяцев назад +10

    I think it helps to think of last raven as a Rouge lite. Given how whenever you fail a mission, unlike previous games were the world amd story goes on. Here however it is the death of the raven. The game does prompt the player to start over from the beginning of the 24-hour declaration.

    • @xQc_Enjoyer777
      @xQc_Enjoyer777 11 месяцев назад

      Really?! It's optional right cuz he never mentioned having to restart the entire game when he failed missions halfway through his story even saying he was reloading checkpoints and such like wym?

    • @laipsax
      @laipsax 11 месяцев назад +5

      @@xQc_Enjoyer777I think he meant you can play it like a roguelite by not using saves.

    • @Lyvein1
      @Lyvein1 11 месяцев назад +9

      @xQc_Enjoyer777 @xQc_Enjoyer777 I mean, when you fail a mission in the game at the game over screen, you have the option to return to mission select or restart the playthrough. If you chose the latter, you go back to the beginning of the game. You keep all credits, and parts you've acquired.

  • @Game__Boy
    @Game__Boy 11 месяцев назад +13

    There's not as much to talk about but the Ace Combat series is a similarly long running, never strayed from its roots type series.
    Drakengard would be fun if just for how weird those games are.

    • @stockehistorica1349
      @stockehistorica1349 6 месяцев назад

      Ace Combat 3 (specifically the jp version the west never got) in particular has branching paths and multiple endings. So it's the most similar to an Armored Core game (with Last Raven in mind) design wise.

  • @bongosmcdongos4190
    @bongosmcdongos4190 11 месяцев назад +4

    I beat daemon in the exact opposite way as you. I built the heaviest defensive blob i could woth the longest range grenades/bazookas i could.
    I nailed him a few times on his approach while backpedaling myself into a corner.
    Once he made contcat i popped my orbit cores and focused on dodging (as best a tank can) until they finished him for me.
    I hope you continue last raven on your own, the other missions are pretty fun too.

  • @onigojira
    @onigojira 11 месяцев назад +56

    I think it might've served you better to do a review for each ending path, rather than for Last Raven alone. This game just has much bulk to it.
    You might want to give Chrome Hounds a shot during this Armored Core game marathon you're doing. It's also a FROM game which carries over almost all of the ideas and even many story elements, but in a sort of more mechwarrior style gameplay. Sadly the single player campaign is just a glorified tutorial, and the multiplayer which made it so fantastic is no longer available, but I really liked it. It got me through a time of my life where I actually was living in a hotel.
    It's also important to note that FROM made the Another Century Episodes, which are another mech series they worked on. The fourth installment of which features an eventual run in with a famous Armored Core boss. It's the only time Armored Core got to enjoy a cross over with the likes of Gundam and Macross.

    • @ulforcemegamon3094
      @ulforcemegamon3094 11 месяцев назад +2

      Chromehounds should come back

    • @TexasHollowEarth
      @TexasHollowEarth 11 месяцев назад

      There's Daemon X Machina on Switch, also from FROM Software 👍

    • @otorinthuzoth8624
      @otorinthuzoth8624 11 месяцев назад +13

      @@TexasHollowEarth Daemon X Machina is developed by Marvelous.

    • @locozi6788
      @locozi6788 11 месяцев назад +2

      ​@@TexasHollowEarth DxM is also on Steam, Epic, and I assume at least one of the other consoles.
      It also most certainly is not created/published by Fromsoftware

    • @aidanklobuchar1798
      @aidanklobuchar1798 11 месяцев назад

      Or at least go back after the rest of the AC games are done and at least do the Zinaida path as a bonus, as it's the other ending that conceivably leaves you as the "Last Raven" (unless Jack-O is somehow alive somewhere, IDK).

  • @xendakakorva3267
    @xendakakorva3267 11 месяцев назад +3

    Last Raven was the very FIRST armored core game I have ever played in my life and it shows, only playing nexus and formula front afterwards via the PS2 and PSP emulators, and nexus gave me a good amount of context of how we ended up with one faction that is a cluster of corporations, and the other consisting of those from the Raven's Nest/Nerve's Concord, the game downright CLOBBERED me when I chose a mission that seemed easy, but proved to be a total CLUSTERFUCK of a noob trap with Thunderbolt being there, and since my AC was the starter at the time , safe to say I got turned into swiss cheese by his AC's overwhelming firepower of lasers and maybe plasma, I don't exactly remember. infact as for the endings I don't exactly remember which one I got first. but the one you took I have taken to be the one my personal raven had experienced and I'm glad you checked the game out for it was one of the most memorable for me and as soon as I got Armored Core 6 directly from Last Raven I think it's safe to say I have found my calling to this game.

  • @joshuamcwatters6803
    @joshuamcwatters6803 9 месяцев назад +8

    7:33 'The game eases you into the difficulty very well'. Some one didn't play the first alliance mission ;)

  • @justinip9832
    @justinip9832 11 месяцев назад +12

    I hope they make a new ac series with mission structure like last raven. It would be so so awesome.

  • @lobagoobie9198
    @lobagoobie9198 11 месяцев назад +4

    We really need remasters of this series on modern consoles

  • @ChaosTicket
    @ChaosTicket 11 месяцев назад +4

    Ive heard of Last Raven as the hardest Armored Core game. It was the finale of the 3rd generation games, 6 games in total. Until then It was the only one with a real divergent story with multiple endings. Multiple endings returned in Armored Core For Answer and those were reduced to 3 paths.
    The story was the most interesting point of Last Raven. In other games you could fight Ravens in their Armored Cores, but generally they were just mid-bosses. Armored Core 2 used the Frighteners increasingly frequently as the game progressed. Many of the Armored Core Games used Massive/Giant MTs and later Arms Forts instead.
    Like what was said in the video, the reduced trade value of equipment, destructible equipment, and lack of Human+ benefits also makes the game generally difficult. From my experience I would still like the earlier Armored Core Games from the original Armored Core 1 best, with each subsequent game harder. Armored Core Silent Line was the last fun game for me of the 3rd generation.

  • @TheStamenBoy
    @TheStamenBoy 11 месяцев назад +2

    I remember playing Armored Core Last Raven when i had 11 years.
    It was very hard but i remember falling in love with the style and AC customization.
    So happy to se this franchise alive again.

  • @The117th
    @The117th 11 месяцев назад +9

    Hey you should also try Chrome Hounds another one of from softwares Mech games but one that is often forgotten its a 360 exclusive but worth trying out seeing how it compares to Armored Core

  • @dhoffnun
    @dhoffnun 11 месяцев назад +3

    Huge props for doing these videos alongside an otherwise full time life - I've really been enjoying the series!

  • @T1Oracle
    @T1Oracle 11 месяцев назад +2

    I feel like RUclips is the only way I can realistically relive old AC games and that's depressing.

    • @junkiealex4187
      @junkiealex4187 11 месяцев назад

      i had the same feeling but refused to stay kneelin and put on my pirating hat. but fr tho a rooted ps3 can play EVERY armored core game exept VI so all the ps1 and 2 titles too. oh yeah and theyre free on vimms lair. all you need is a ps3. laptop and a 32 gb usb thumbdrive. search ps3 multiman if you got interested

  • @StylishYeoman
    @StylishYeoman 11 месяцев назад +2

    So excited to see how you handle NEXTs!

  • @avryduckworth5213
    @avryduckworth5213 11 месяцев назад +1

    I appreciated watching through your playthroughs and seeing a fresh perspective. I've played AC since it came out in 97 when I was 5 and I've been hooked ever since. AC6 is a masterpiece, and the old AC's have a special place in my heart.

  • @abyssphantom6786
    @abyssphantom6786 11 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you for covering this amazing game.
    I will say it’s a little sad that you had to rush through the game with only 1 playthrough before giving a review.
    Also, I don’t think it’s quite fair to talk about about the used parts holding playthroughs back a little, without also mentioning that the game gives you the option to start your playthrough over at any time while still keeping all parts and AC progress you’ve made. Which makes up for the used part issue significantly.
    Also, the remake of Last Raven is a truly interesting tale on the series. It changes LR from being a sequel to Nexus, to instead the end of a Trilogy and makes it a follow up to AC3 and SL.
    Also, the remakes have a ton of new parts from other AC games, and allow remaking the title cover ACs from most previous titles.

  • @Nonexistentialism
    @Nonexistentialism 4 месяца назад +2

    When the exaggerated title is an understatement.

  • @SubjugatedAuthority
    @SubjugatedAuthority 11 месяцев назад +1

    I loved all of the games in the AC3 line, especially Nexus and Last Raven. It feels so satisfying to collect every item across all the various expansions and build a massive library of parts to play with. In middle school my best friend and I would just build all kinds of experimental ACs and 1 v 1 for hours. Good times, despite any system quirks

  • @alexanderminas28
    @alexanderminas28 8 месяцев назад +1

    -Ravens-
    An elite group of mercenaries. These pilots go for the biggest bidder while piloting their mechanized Armored Core war machines.
    In a world where freedom is constrained by those with power, these fierce warriors answer only to themselves.
    -Zanaida Route
    Edit: also. I know you only do one run. But there is a secret mission where it pushes you to the utmost limits.
    By overcoming it, you have every right to be called "Last Raven".

  • @omegaheartless
    @omegaheartless 11 месяцев назад +2

    Part of me thinks that Last Raven and 6 are somehow linked in some way, obviously the corps are different and there's no alliance now, but the fact that the title of Raven makes a comeback makes me think that after the last raven ending and the pilot dies, the mantle of Raven is used by other mercs, as a form of declarations of their own freedom and that the title itself has become more than just a callaign because of it.

    • @teagancombest6049
      @teagancombest6049 10 месяцев назад +2

      And that's basically what Branch tells you when you meet them

    • @natethegreat7967
      @natethegreat7967 6 месяцев назад +1

      They’re different universes entirely because, in the lore of AC6, Armored Cores were first invented on Rubicon-3 during its heyday before the Fires of Ibis.
      In the AC3 universe, ACs evolved from MTs while humanity was living in the underground city of Layered on Earth.

  • @motokid6008
    @motokid6008 11 месяцев назад +1

    Just caught up with your whole series. You got a sub! I hope you're enjoying Armored Core 6 and I highly look forward to your videos on Gen 4. They are my favorite games in the series. If only for the music.

  • @Yakasuki
    @Yakasuki 11 месяцев назад +2

    3rd gen is finally done, now off to 4th gen. Your are either going to hate or love 4th gen due to how much more different it is to the older games.

  • @Fedorchik1536
    @Fedorchik1536 11 месяцев назад +2

    Could you please add a reminder of how you scored previous AC titles when you score current one?
    Preferably, even, as a chart.
    I'd really like to see a progression in your scores.

    • @notcole
      @notcole  11 месяцев назад

      I've considered doing one for the final video, not sure if I'll do one sooner or not, but very strongly leaning towards doing when the series is coming to a close 🙂

  • @alejandro9043
    @alejandro9043 11 месяцев назад +1

    Heh, you actually beat Last Raven, well done, you're a better Raven than most (including myself), after all, this game might not only being the hardest AC title but also the hardest FromSoft game ever made, that being said, you still have 2 more gens to go before reaching Rubicon, so better prepare yourself 4 going NEXT.

    • @TexasHollowEarth
      @TexasHollowEarth 11 месяцев назад

      Yeah but all 4 of the next AC games are on 7th gen.... NO AC games AT ALL on 8th gen consoles. Closest we got was Daemon X Machina on Switch 🤷‍♂️

    • @alejandro9043
      @alejandro9043 11 месяцев назад

      @@TexasHollowEarth Im talking about the gens of the franchise, my fellow raven:
      Gen 1: AC1, Project Phantasma & Master of Arena.
      Gen 2: AC2 & Another Age.
      Gen 3: AC3 & Silent Line.
      Gen 3.5: Nexus, Nine Breaker, Formula Front & Last Raven.
      Gen 4: AC4 & For Answer.
      Gen 5: ACV & Veredict Day.
      Gen 6: ACVI (so far).
      Chole need to complete the gen 4 and 5 games to be able to "reach" (make a video review about ACVI) Rubicon.

  • @GaleHarquebus
    @GaleHarquebus 11 месяцев назад

    The item depreciation was a feature way back in first gen Armored Core, which was brutal because you can’t restart the mission after dying and still pay for expenses, and you can’t restart the campaign until you accumulate a massive debt.

  • @baval5
    @baval5 11 месяцев назад +6

    Last Raven is amazing. I understand your decision to do only 1 playthrough, but personally I believe you should have done at least 2 to attempt the Zinaida run, since thats considered the hardest path and Last Raven is known for its difficulty. Still you were able to get a feel for it anyway and the Flying Pulveriser route isnt exactly the easiest route either.

  • @ACFoxeye
    @ACFoxeye 11 месяцев назад

    Everything went according to my plans.
    You proved yourself worthy of carrying the Last Raven title.

  • @inquinimaris
    @inquinimaris 10 месяцев назад +1

    "Wait till you get to Last Raven" got me a little scared of it, but it ended up to be just a fairy tales.
    But, it made me completely rebuild my AC that been made in Nexus and Nine Breaker for the same reason - speed.
    I'm sticking with this one for a while. Still have to wait for my fren who haven't started Nexus yet.
    Screw Evangel tho.

  • @inixi8ocelot
    @inixi8ocelot 11 месяцев назад +1

    You haven't fought the true Ultimate Pulverizer (unlock and finish all missions to unlock this mission) and Ultimate Zinaida. There's also EX Arena. Too bad you didn't pick the early Zuben El Genubi and Rim FIre fight, they're fun to fight.

  • @Ikcatcher
    @Ikcatcher 11 месяцев назад +1

    “Now I am the Last Raven.”
    -John Armored Core

  • @GeekHazu
    @GeekHazu 3 месяца назад

    Incredible how good this game still looks.

  • @rikoaries
    @rikoaries 11 месяцев назад

    Dude's about to have major whiplash when he gets to AC4/FA

  • @jonathansmith6732
    @jonathansmith6732 6 месяцев назад

    I literally got goose bumps when i 1st play this. It was my 1st armored core game and i was absolutely enthralled by this game and still am

  • @Datightguy
    @Datightguy 10 месяцев назад +1

    Last Raven could have been the best AC game if not for some questionable design choices but it's still my favorite. I think the gameplay, story paths, parts list, and tuning system outweighs all the negatives.
    Someone at From really hated hover legs during LR's development though 😂
    They made sure they'd break in 10 seconds.

  • @Scarl3t03
    @Scarl3t03 11 месяцев назад

    I know you have only one week for a video, but for fully understand the game you need to do multiple run. There are even more crazy mission, especially the one of one ending or the very first mission.
    The first mission could be a walk in the park, or it will make you fight an extremely powerfull AC with your starting one lol, and that is the hardest boss of the whole game, as the damn FIRST mission

  • @ktvx.94
    @ktvx.94 11 месяцев назад +1

    Funnily enough, I only had enough time to play through this twice before AC6 dropped, and I've never battled a single Pulverizer. I knew about them from the "news" but that's it.

  • @LazyY91
    @LazyY91 11 месяцев назад +1

    IIRC, Last Raven was the first game on From Software that Miyazaki has worked on

    • @notcole
      @notcole  11 месяцев назад +1

      It was actually the first game of his career! Miyazaki got his start in game dev at FromSoftware and never left 🙂

    • @LazyY91
      @LazyY91 11 месяцев назад

      @@notcole ah wow, his sadistic spirit is present since the first game that he worked on? Hahaha

  • @KewneRain
    @KewneRain 29 дней назад

    omg... you took the hardest path possible on your first playthrough. congrats on succeeding!

  • @wargames2195
    @wargames2195 11 месяцев назад +1

    This game really influences AC6, more than even 4A, really wish they have the used/debt mode tho.

  • @brandongo9365
    @brandongo9365 11 месяцев назад

    Watched all of your AC vids so far and they are really entertaining. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on AC4 and For answer which is my 2nd fav armored core game

  • @bokimalou
    @bokimalou 11 месяцев назад

    Zinaida route is the true Last Raven experience

  • @R3TR0J4N
    @R3TR0J4N 4 дня назад

    i had the PSP version of the game. how i learned turning the camera to aim and dodging missiles, and since S+ rank rewards parts at the time

  • @rexailos475
    @rexailos475 9 месяцев назад

    Bro I waited to get up to this video and I played all 6 playthroughs of Last Raven and damn, even if I do understand the reason behind your single playthrough choice, I still think you missed out on A LOT, especially without the Zinaida route and the other small routes that make other characters like Evangel shine more

  • @ZeroBlackfire
    @ZeroBlackfire 11 месяцев назад

    I own AC2 (Another age), AC3(silent line),Last Raven, and AC6 (recently bought 6 and already got all 3 endings) AC6 *would* be just as unforgiving and brutal (if not more so) as LR, if it werent for the repair kits, and supply drops. Last Raven has the difficulty of 6, w/o repair kits and resupplies (for the most part).

  • @TheFr33D0M4ever
    @TheFr33D0M4ever 10 месяцев назад

    So I've been watching this series because I wanted to know the lore of Armored Core. I played Last Raven as a kid and could never beat it, now I know my skills were the problem lol. These videos also helped out with Fires of Rubicon as well

  • @aggelosaggelos5696
    @aggelosaggelos5696 9 месяцев назад

    in my playthrough of the game,in the mission you mention the first pulvarizer,i realized that if you dont kill the ac in the complex and flee in fear then the pulvarizer doesnt come....thats neat i guess

  • @Teixas666
    @Teixas666 10 месяцев назад

    7:38
    whilethis is a fair assesmenet the difficulty variance is due ot the different ending requirings specific paths
    LAst raven does something very mean by closing off 2 endings based on taking the starter mission " distribution center recon" whihc puts you against the Raven "Bolt": this mission is a newb trap but its also a requirement in order ot access 2 of the hardest endings with the hardest ending(Zinaida) requiring you to take basically every mission that involves AC fights, many of them timed 2v1's

  • @Ag-Stone
    @Ag-Stone 11 месяцев назад

    Nice video again. Glad you like it. Nice build Stinger x Nineball build.

  • @HunterForHire422
    @HunterForHire422 11 месяцев назад +2

    I chose to skip nexus and last raven when i played the series while waiting for 6 cause while i acknowledge the quality of the gameplay in this era of AC the difficulty (in large part cause some ACs straight cheat and checkpoints are not used enough) and the part economy being broken by used parts which limits experimentation in an already hard as hell game kept me away.
    Now that im in a post 6 world im ready to get into these 2 games but i am happy i waited till now.

  • @redreploid1713
    @redreploid1713 11 месяцев назад +1

    You should go back to this game and play through more routes, ultimate zinaida is waiting

  • @deviancepurplehaze6045
    @deviancepurplehaze6045 11 месяцев назад

    Last Raven is fun and challenge for old AC players. For beginners, this is the real deal.

  • @GOODZ7777
    @GOODZ7777 11 месяцев назад

    I loved the part where you can import your old data from the last game. Amazing feature i thought at the time

  • @oh_snarf
    @oh_snarf 11 месяцев назад

    Are you going to do the rest of the series i.e. "Armored Core 4", "Armored Core: for answer", (and if you want pain) "Armored Core 5"?

  • @chupa_mi_dongle
    @chupa_mi_dongle 10 месяцев назад

    The boss projectile at 13:42 looks like the Aurora back weapon in the new game!

  • @LVmobster27
    @LVmobster27 11 месяцев назад +1

    Is there a reason you want to adhere to your weekly schedule more than taking your time with the games? Maybe you’re just a very punctual and structured type, but I would’ve preferred to see a more comprehensive take on this game as someone who put so much into it recently. But still enjoyed hearing your thoughts!
    My experience with Last Raven on the Vita was pretty rough. The right stick I only used for the camera’s y-axis. You don’t have the shoulder buttons to work with, but at least you get to choose which concessions to make with how configurable the control scheme is. I thought it’d be better to turn the x-axis while still being able to press the face buttons to fire instead of having to stop the camera completely when I wanted to shoot something.
    I completed it except maybe 2-4 hidden parts and it felt like a real slog after a certain point having to replay it so much, especially with the mission unlock requirements being so esoteric. I actually chose as many different missions as I could my second playthrough and I got the same ending as the first time. But I was so obsessed with it that it didn’t matter to me as much. There were times I felt it was bullshit with everyone being H+, the crippled controls, and not having access to weapon hangers due to said controls so my ammo was always limited.
    But more than any of that, I valued so much how it consistently demanded more from me than any Fromsoft game I’ve played so far. I knew it’d make me a better player, and I guess the growth process felt more valuable with all the resistance. Having to execute everything almost perfectly with no room for error, playing on a razor’s edge like that, that’s the hardcore experience I was seeking after being really disappointed with the new Zelda’s combat. I could see a lot of people hating it though. I spent a lot of time feeling equal parts zen and irritation with it. I was a weird kind of absorbed with that game, but it sucked me in more than any other AC game (until VI came out).
    It was a very unique experience, I felt like I was kinda losing my sanity getting so entranced with something that actively seemed to resist my progression so often, but I got more out of it than almost any game in the series. Something like, “fuck you Last Raven, you can’t stop me. I’ll try 1000 times if that’s what it takes. And I’ll enjoy every second agonizing over my build in the garage and every failed attempt.” Thank god it didn’t come to that. But that’s the state of mind I was in at the time. It was like being in an abusive relationship but the fuckin is outta this world.

    • @notcole
      @notcole  11 месяцев назад +2

      Yeah, I have to stick to the schedule since RUclips is a large portion of my income and if I go too long without an upload, the algorithm will yeet my channel back into the abyss 😅

    • @LVmobster27
      @LVmobster27 11 месяцев назад +1

      @@notcole Ohh that makes sense. Maybe in the future you could do something like review each of LR’s endings if you wanted. Although I could understand wanting to move on to other things.
      “You gotta put that shit to work, every last credit”

  • @sarahyazaki8599
    @sarahyazaki8599 11 месяцев назад

    I voted on the pole, but what i actually would really like to see is a more thorough review of last raven. You really should come back to it after you finish this series, maybe even a video for each route.

  • @TheGundamsword
    @TheGundamsword 10 месяцев назад

    I learned a different lesson from this game. Extremely heavy tank builds with insanely powerful cannons were my best friends. 😂

  • @Moistsandeater
    @Moistsandeater 11 месяцев назад +1

    The slowest 4th gen gameplay is gonna be wild

  • @SparkRattle
    @SparkRattle 6 месяцев назад

    SL and LR will always be my favourites. I sure hope you got to replay LR and got through all the endings. Spoiler: Zenaida sure kicks my ass a lot in one of them.

  • @montywh
    @montywh 11 месяцев назад

    seeing Metal Gear on your strawpoll. my favorite youtuber went through that a few years ago, and it was all a burnout to the point he had to take a break and do something else to relieve himself for a short time. i wouldn't wish that on anybody else

  • @user-hb4om5iq3x
    @user-hb4om5iq3x 11 месяцев назад

    Now he will know the overwhelming power of NEXT...
    AC6 light weight: Wow I'm so fast, QB is over 530!
    NEXTs: That's our default boosted movement speed, you slow Normal without any Kojima particles

  • @SolidSL510
    @SolidSL510 10 месяцев назад

    I been owing PS1 and PS2 and never knew about this game. I know I would have have fun!

  • @curtisbrown547
    @curtisbrown547 10 месяцев назад

    I personally had my head get blown off basically every other mission, lol. Honestly i don't think money was ever enough of a issue to discourage experimentation tbh. If you play through over and over, an climb the arena your gonna have unreal amounts of money regardless of what you do, so you can experiment away

  • @nintara3746
    @nintara3746 11 месяцев назад

    correction: the used part system was in nexus too

  • @yakuvorster1896
    @yakuvorster1896 11 месяцев назад

    I was spoiled imo, with Last raven being my introduction to the AC series, and felt like in terms of customization it's downhill from here

  • @TheReallyBigBear
    @TheReallyBigBear 6 месяцев назад

    That was the super easy path, go back and do the True Zinaida ending, and you might break your controller or give it a higher rank.

  • @zacheryeckard3051
    @zacheryeckard3051 11 месяцев назад

    I'd kill for a remake of Nexus and Last Raven built on AC6.

  • @spudmaphot
    @spudmaphot 10 месяцев назад

    The used part system is rendered moot anyways by simply reloading a your save before making changes making it pointless.

  • @WanderingTayson
    @WanderingTayson 11 месяцев назад

    To play it only once? It feels like a massive disservice to this game - the last of the gen 2 - whos main mechanics is its multiple endings.
    I really look forward to the last raven video, since even with 6, last raven story still feels like one of the best. Specially cuz of the urgency of the 24 hours mechanic.

  • @EmeraldFatalis
    @EmeraldFatalis 11 месяцев назад +1

    Ha ha! This was the game in the series I've been waiting for you to reach. I have always considered Last Raven to be the hardest game and best story storyline in the entire series. S-ranking every mission in Last Raven was by far the worst.
    Edit: My headcannon is that Ninebreaker was the training program that Jack-o made YOU do before you could qualify for your first mission in Last Raven.
    This was the best story, but AC For Answer is the best gameplay IMO.

  • @hare75
    @hare75 11 месяцев назад

    The game was 7.5/10 for me
    Pros:
    - depth customizations
    - weapon variety
    - great mission designs
    - replayability
    - gameplay (decent/alright)
    - pvp
    Cons:
    - imbalance difficulty
    - no human plus (only cheat code)
    -BS! Enemy patterns

  • @beefbigshot8789
    @beefbigshot8789 11 месяцев назад

    maybe later in the future you can do another playthrough of the story, when you have the time

  • @anonprada203
    @anonprada203 11 месяцев назад

    This really makes me appreciate the absolute master ac6 is

  • @DeathMetalThrasher
    @DeathMetalThrasher 11 месяцев назад

    I only got 3 endings and this game kicked my ass.

  • @kevinlavoie8248
    @kevinlavoie8248 11 месяцев назад

    Last Raven is the best AC game overall but nexus is the most fun , revolution disk alone has remakes of some of the best missions from every game

  • @Direwolf13PS3
    @Direwolf13PS3 11 месяцев назад

    The other endings should push up your score once you get around to them.

  • @Stammer6
    @Stammer6 11 месяцев назад

    Even though Silent Line is my personal favourite AC game, based on my own personal criteria, I judge Last Raven to be the "best". It has the most part variety, some of the best part balance, it has the most refined mechanics (being the 8th game using its engine), an amazing story with tons of replayability and extremely varied gameplay, and it's also really challenging. I think it still holds that position even after Fires of Rubicon, but damn did that game make me stew on that for a while.
    The "Used Parts" system is present in Nexus as well, by the way. And while I don't super-duper like it either, I appreciate how it strengthens the game's economy. In every other AC game, you're swimming in credits by the end. Because even if you need a specific part for just one mission, you buy it, beat that mission, and then sell it back. You can also go into test mode (and I think even the Arena, since it's a simulation) without the part being considered "Used". Or of course, just reload your last save if you've tried it out and it doesn't work how you wanted it to.

  • @lumiknightwithawrench2946
    @lumiknightwithawrench2946 11 месяцев назад

    Certainly helps that Last Raven was *really* meant to be the last game for Gen 3 before they jumped to the Next Gen (heh), literally killing off any chances for a direct sequel after LR, and they really ended the game off with a bang.
    Also, if it wasn't obvious, the Number 9 is a very important number in this franchise (Ninth game was literally about Nineball), so once you get to Gen 4 and onwards, keep an eye out for that Magic Number, and see how you can break it.

  • @CamelotGaming
    @CamelotGaming 9 месяцев назад

    Man should have done the Zenaida route

  • @gustavoponto
    @gustavoponto 11 месяцев назад

    In the arena section you say that you can't have human+ in your first run, but you can't at all wayout gameshark or something like that, you need to cheat if you want it, and I think nexus was that way too

  • @The_Big_Jay
    @The_Big_Jay 11 месяцев назад

    I love the idea of a hard deadline, especially one you see in between every mission, but the fact it's only 24 hours kinda irks me with how unrealistic it is. Wars take years, and the idea of your AC pilot going back and forth and back and forth and back and forth, going from a basic AC to the best, with literally no sleep all within a 24 hour period is just silly to me.
    But on a more positive note, I love the Pulverizer designs. They're just familiar enough to recognize as an AC of some kind, but their proportions are all wrong, lanky, spindly, even insectoid in some cases.

  • @apukami3643
    @apukami3643 11 месяцев назад +3

    PS2 era is done

  • @fabioelcazatesoros
    @fabioelcazatesoros 11 месяцев назад

    I can't wait for 4 answer review

  • @dumbdumb3387
    @dumbdumb3387 11 месяцев назад

    Just so you know from what I heard ac 4 wasn't well recieved but ac 4:answer is totally worth it

  • @NullGuardian
    @NullGuardian 11 месяцев назад +2

    Misfire on the used parts system, new parts genuinely perform slightly better than used parts, but it takes a few missions for the degradation. Basically you've gotta buy your frame parts again every 10 missions or so for peak performance, used parts also break easier than new parts

  • @ColtonGamingTV
    @ColtonGamingTV 11 месяцев назад

    Always thought I would dislike Last Raven after Nexus, but this video has convinced me otherwise. Now it is just a matter of if I kind find the time to try it. Also, now I understand why people love Last Raven and honestly it might be my favorite but just need to play it.

  • @Xcomer0
    @Xcomer0 11 месяцев назад

    here is where the pain begins, i love it

  • @craftboy338
    @craftboy338 10 месяцев назад

    And this was my first ever Armored Core game XD

  • @toram6210
    @toram6210 11 месяцев назад

    I like the frame style locking system

  • @Sorain1
    @Sorain1 11 месяцев назад

    So... who wants to tell him that wasn't the 'ultimate' pulveriser... and was the _third_ hardest boss in the game?
    Edit: Still, you did a solid job, especially since you've been going through the entire series all proper like.