Armored Core: Last Raven Playthrough #1 - Pulverizer Route 1 (No Commentary)

Armored Core Series:    • Armored Core Series  
Please note that this game is being played in software mode and the visual quality is worse than the previous videos I've produced for the Armored Core games as a result.

Last Raven is the last of the main series of Armored Core games released for the PS2. Instead of a new vaguely different setting as is usual for Armored Core, Last Raven continues the story of Nexus.
It's possible to import your AC from Nexus but I started from scratch. I regretted this.

Last Raven introduces part destruction as a game mechanic. As you take damage, your various parts can break, losing effectiveness. If they hit red status, you lose the part at the end of the mission and have to repurchase it. In my experience, the system favors the AI which is unnecessary given all of the advantages they already get but the player can benefit from part destruction for a little while before fights end.

I do dislike this game. In fact, I think it's the worst Armored Core.

The mission ranking system came back. It's still arbitrary and I don't S rank every mission. At some point, I stopped caring about the rankings entirely because I simply wanted to be done with the mission.

The best thing about Last Raven is that it features branching story paths. Not seen in any real capacity since the original Armored Core on the PS1. There are different missions, bosses and endings for each of the 6 routes.

Notes
There's some crackling music after Prevent Reactor Meltdown. This is not an issue with emulation, it's intentional.

00:00 Intro
05:35 Eliminate Intruders
10:11 Remove Bridge Defenders
14:32 Pursue Withdrawing MT
19:19 Protect The Cargo
24:54 Destroy AC Vigilance
30:08 Halt Energy Production
40:40 Prevent Reactor Meltdown
47:17 Track Down Evangel
52:13 Eliminate Sorcerer
56:46 Investigate Recent Attack
59:14 Destroy AC Sight Hawk
1:04:13 Underground Investigation
1:10:57 Ending
1:12:09 Credits