View source for Software:Armored Core: Nine Breaker

{{short description|2004 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Armored Core: Nine Breaker
|image = Armored Core - Nine Breaker.jpg
|developer = [[Company:FromSoftware|FromSoftware]]
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|[[Company:FromSoftware|FromSoftware]]|NA|[[Company:Agetec|Agetec]]|EU|[[Company:505 Games|505 Games]]}}
|producer = Toshifumi Nabeshima
|designer = 
|programmer = Akitoshi Sasamoto
|artist = Yuzo Kojima<br>Makoto Sato
|composer = Kota Hoshino
|engine = 
|series = ''[[Software:Armored Core|Armored Core]]''
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|October 28, 2004|NA|September 13, 2005|EU|May 5, 2006}}
|genre = [[Software:Third-person shooter|Third-person shooter]]
|modes = Single player, [[Software:Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]
}}

'''''Armored Core: Nine Breaker''''' is a 2004 [[Software:Third-person shooter|third-person shooter]] [[Engineering:Mecha|mecha]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] developed by [[Company:FromSoftware|FromSoftware]] for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]. It is the ninth entry in the ''[[Software:Armored Core|Armored Core]]'' series and a spin-off to ''[[Software:Armored Core: Nexus|Armored Core]]''.

''Nine Breaker'' removed story missions and placed much more focus on the Arena mode found in previous games. Training missions reveal that an organization has put the Arena mode together in order to train pilots for a potential future war as currently all corporations are at peace.

Players pilot [[Engineering:Mecha|mech]] robots called Armored Cores in a competitive Arena ladder. Armored Cores can be customized with hundreds of parts, with some parts only available after completing certain achievements. A training mode allows for players to practice certain skills that can help them within the Arena and allow them to unlock additional parts for their mech.

== Gameplay ==
In ''Nine Breaker'', players pilot large mech robots called Armored Cores. Unlike previous games in the franchise, players are not hired for missions and no longer earn credits, instead being only focused on fighting Arena battles to raise the player's rank.<ref name=eurog/>

A training mode included in the game includes 150 minigames for practicing specific exercises. Upon completion, the player is rated on their performance in the exercise. Within the Arena mode, players are placed onto a competitive ladder and must earn points from winning matches to advance on the ladder.<ref name=gspot/>

While previous games required that the player purchase customization options for their mech, ''Nine Breaker'' unlocks a majority of its parts from the start and allows others to be earned through performance achievements in the training or arena modes.<ref name=gamezone/>

Previous multiplayer offerings return in ''Nine Breaker''. Players can fight each other in 2 player [[Software:Split screen (video games)|split-screen]] modes or [[Engineering:Local area network|local network play]].<ref name=ign/>

==Setting==
Unlike other ''Armored Core'' titles, ''Nine Breaker'' doesn't have a proper storyline. Instead, it focuses on a training program that sees Armored Core pilots fight each other and hone their skills in the event that another war breaks out. The game hints at an underlying plot involving an organization putting together the training program due to a rare peacetime between corporate conflicts.

== Release ==
''Armored Core: Nine Breaker'' was initially released in {{wipe|Japan}} for the [[Company:Sony|Sony]] [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]] on October 28, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=035|title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker {{!}} FromSoftware - フロム・ソフトウェア|last=|first=|date=|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> [[Company:FromSoftware|FromSoftware]] partnered with [[Company:Agetec|Agetec]] and released a [[Earth:North America|North American]] version on September 13, 2005.<ref>{{Citation|title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/games/armored-core-nine-breaker|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> A European version was released in partnership with [[Company:505 Games|505 Games]] on April 28, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/505-games-srl/offset,225/so,1d/list-games/|title=MobyGames: Game Browser|website=MobyGames|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/games/armored-core-nine-breaker|title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker|website=Eurogamer.net|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 57/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-nine-breaker/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| EuroG = 5/10<ref name=eurog>{{cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Dan |date=May 7, 2006 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_acninebreaker_ps2 |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| Fam = 29/40<ref name=Fam>{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:アーマード・コア ナインブレイカー |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |date=October 2004}}</ref>
| GSpot = 6.2/10<ref name=gspot>{{cite web |last=Colayco |first=Bob |date=September 16, 2005 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armored-core-nine-breaker-review/1900-6133549/ |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker Review [date is mislabeled as "June 22, 2006"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| GameZone = 8.3/10<ref name=gamezone>{{cite web |last=Lafferty |first=Michael |date=July 19, 2005 |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/armored_core_nine_breaker_ps2_review/ |title=Armored Core: Nine-Breaker - PS2 - Review |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006081204/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r26435.htm |archivedate=October 6, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| IGN = 5.5/10<ref name=ign>{{cite web |last=Sulic |first=Ivan |date=September 19, 2005 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/19/armored-core-nine-breaker |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| JXV= 12/20<ref>{{cite web |last=Lafferty |first=Michael |date=July 19, 2005 |url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00006638_test.htm |title=Test : Armored Core : Nine Breaker |website=Jeuxvideo.com|accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| OPM = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=November 2005 |page=101}}</ref>
| OPMUK = 4/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker |magazine=Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine |publisher=Future plc |issue=71 |date=April 2006 |page=98}}</ref>
| PSM = 6/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Review: Armored Core: Nine Breaker |magazine=PSM |publisher=Future US |date=October 2005 |page=88}}</ref>
| XPlay = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name=xplay>{{cite web |last=Bemis |first=Greg |date=November 9, 2005 |url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/52972/Armored_Core_Nine_Breaker_Review.html |title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker Review |website=X-Play |publisher=G4 Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105112030/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/52972/Armored_Core_Nine_Breaker_Review.html |archivedate=January 5, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref>
| rev1= ''Gamezilla''
| rev1Score = 70%<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lucas|first=Kenny|date=October 1, 2005|title=Armored Core: Nine Breaker by Agetec|url=http://www.gamezilla.com/review.aspx?review=9105|website=Gamezilla|accessdate=November 10, 2019}}</ref>
}}

''Nine Breaker'' received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.<ref name=MC/> In Japan, ''Famitsu'' gave ''Nine Breaker'' a score of two sevens, one eight, and one seven for a total of 29 out of 40.<ref name=Fam/>

Critics noted that the game's removal of story missions, with ''IGN's'' Ivan Sulic stating: "Funny how a sequel can offer less, eh?"<ref name=ign/> Dan Whitehead, writing for ''Eurogamer'' noted that the game's focus on challenges and arena combat wasn't developed well enough, calling them "a series of competition scraps to plough through for no real reason". He noted that there was a framing story, but deemed it "hilariously half-hearted".<ref name=eurog/>

Criticism of the franchise's iterative nature continued in ''Nine Breaker''. ''IGN''<nowiki/>'s Sulic wrote: "I might have been able to copy and paste the text from my ''Armored Core: Nexus'' review into this space... given how similar the two titles are".<ref name=ign/> Greg Bemis from ''G4'' commented on the "stale" nature of the franchise, writing: "If you’re one of those ''Armored Core'' fanboys, congratulations! You just bought the same game...again".<ref name=xplay/>

Gameplay for ''Nine Breaker'' was considered challenging like its predecessors, but some critics noted that the challenge often became frustrating due to how inaccessible it was. While ''GameZone'' found the combat systems "balanced", ''IGN'' found it to be tedious.<ref name=gamezone/>'<ref name=ign/> ''GameSpot's'' Bob Colayco called it "straightforward" and added that "the game offers a decent amount of strategy since you decide how to set up your AC in order to best match up with your opponents".<ref name=gspot/> ''Eurogamer'' was particularly scathing about the gameplay, writing that "only the most masochistic will persevere with this curt exercise in uninspired destruction".<ref name=eurog/>

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.fromsoftware.jp/jp/detail.html?csm=035 ''Armored Core: Nine Breaker''] at [[Company:FromSoftware|FromSoftware]]
* {{moby game|id=/ps2/armored-core-nine-breaker}}

{{FromSoftware games}}

[[Category:Third-person shooters]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Armored Core: Nine Breaker}}