Armored Core Mission Strategy

Mission: Terrorist Pursuit
Requester: Isaac City Guard
Advance: 0 C
Upon Success: 23000 C

• Although this mission is not really that difficult, it can be extremely frustrating at times. Trying to hit that small, fast MT can be a challenge. Here's a tactic sent in by Al_Armist@yahoo.com.
• Rather than chasing the little bugger around the first level and having him disappear down the tunnel to the second level, just go directly to the second level entry tunnel and shoot at him from there. He usually won't go past you, thus preventing chasing him all over the second or third floors. This tactic will decrease the deductions for cars destroyed and increase your income.

Mission: Stop Gas Exposure
Requester: Raven's Nest
Advance: 20000 C
Upon Success: 25000 C

• This is another mission people are having trouble with. For this mission you can use most any AC config except the very slow ones. A fast AC is recommended to go through this mission as quickly as possible. Weapons aren't really used that much in this mission. Worry more about getting out alive than killing every enemy in the mission. When the mission starts, go to the entrance to your right. Blow the gate and destroy the two cannons on the ceiling. Turn right at the corner and run down until you get to the intersection. From this point on, work as fast as possible since, you are now in the gas. At the intersection, there should be a path to your left and a wall to your right. Check your map and you should see a secret passage behind the wall. Destroy the wall and go through. You'll come to another wall. Destroy that and you'll see two doors to your sides. Go in each and plant the bombs on the generators. Make sure to put the bombs on the side of the generator with the control console. After that continue on the middle corridor. Don't worry about the enemies and just keep moving. Turn right at the dead end. Keep going through the corridor until you see another path to your right. Make a right there and keep going. The next right should be another generator. That is 3, 2 more to go.

• Watch your AP and keep moving to avoid getting hit by the enemies. Go back to the corridor and keep going in the direction you were going in before. You'll see another path to the right but just keep going straight. You'll find another generator at the end of that corridor. After that, go back to the right you didn't take earlier or the first left you see when coming out of the generator you were just at. Keep following the corridor. It's a long corridor but at the end you'll see the door to the last generator. Avoid the enemies and plant the last bomb. To excape, take the path to the right after leaving the last generator. Take the first left you see. Follow the path and you'll see the tunnel leading outside. Follow it and you're home free. If you're energy is very low, be careful of the 2 ceiling cannons on the other side of the gate to the outside. If any of this is confusing to you, E-mail me and I'll try to help you even further.

Mission: Destroy Floating Mines
Requester: Raven's Nest
Advance: 0 C
Upon Success: 50000 C

• This is probably the most difficult mission in the game. Many people have had trouble with it. I assume you know which mission I'm talking about. It has two parts. The first part is fighting two rooms full of MTs. That's not the hard part. The second part, where your ammo and AP is replenished, starts off with one of the most frustrating parts of the game. You have to, by jumping and boosting on moving cubes, reach the top of a rectangular tunnel that's very, very tall. On top of that the cubes have cannons on them and there are two MTs trying to kill you as well. After you get to the top, there is a small corridor that leads to another huge tunnel. This is where 9-Ball/Huster One is located. You'll have to fight and kill him twice and two other MTs before you reach the main computer. Destroy the main computer and the mission is over, the end.

• Most people don't have that much trouble with the first part of the mission. It's the second part that stops them. In order to get to the top of that huge corridor, you need an AC that's light and has good jumping abilities. Four legged and tanks legs are not recommended. Look at my AC Configuration Suggestions Section for some examples of good ACs for this mission. First, I suggest killing all or most of the cannons and the two MTs so that you won't get knocked off or hurt. Try to use your mapping system to find the location of cubes that you intend to land on. With about 3-4 well placed jumps, you can easily reach the top. "Plus" pilots won't have much trouble getting up there. If you do start falling, try to land on the nearest possible cube, so that you won't have to start over. Always wait for your energy bar to recharge between jumps and try to jump on cubes that move vertically so that you have a smaller chance of missing it. Keep a look out for mines(small white objects) as well.

• After you reach the top and enter the corridor, jump down the hole into another huge tunnel. Jump down to the bottom of the tunnel and you should see the small hole there. 9-Ball should already be trying to get you. Jump down the small hole and kill the MT you see down there. After you kill the MT, switch to your powerful weapons. I suggest the plasma cannon back weapon. Wait in the corridor for 9-Ball to drop down. It may take awhile but he will eventually follow you. Lure him in even more by standing close to the hole. Don't stand too close though. When 9-Ball jumps down, he should immediately fly towards the ceiling. That's when you hit him with all you've got. After you kill this 9-Ball, go through the corridor. You should encounter another MT. Kill it. You'll see another hole in the ceiling at the end of the tunnel like before. Again, wait for the second 9-Ball to drop down. This one is a bit more aggressive than the first so be prepared. Use your most powerful weapons. After you kill the second 9-Ball make sure you have enough ammo to kill the last MT at the top of the third huge tunnel. After that, there is a blue energy tunnel connecting the two walls in the first huge tunnel. Becareful, because there is a mine at the end of the tunnel. Once you get past that, the computer awaits. Use your guns or sword to destroy it. Once destroyed you'll see the ending of the game.

• That was the hard way of beating that mission. A little easier way would be to avoid 9-Ball all together. That's right, you can just fly past both 9-Balls and go straight for that computer. I apologize for leaving that part out before. Although, you will have to face 9-Ball sooner or later. Thank you to those who reminded me. One other thing, when you complete all the missions, you now have no limitations on your AC. You can build a big AC with fast legs if you want. It is sort of cheating somewhat but it's one of the rewards for completing all the missions. Remember you need to complete all the missions to have this ability and not just beat the game. If you're still stuck even with this guide, E-mail me and I'll try to help you.

End Game

• Well, after completing the game you may think that there really isn't anything to do. You're wrong. Many options are open to you after you complete the whole game, especially now since you can go over your AC's limitations. One option would be to try to buy all the parts so you can use them in versus or link mode. Here is the fastest way, I think, to get money. First you buy the most powerful laser cannon arms or the laser rifle if you prefer. Play the second AC battle sponsored by the Raven's Nest where you fight the red AC from the guarding frieght train mission. Use a long distance FCS and target him and fire. You'll take him out if a few shots before he even gets a chance to fire at you. If you come out without a scratch you get an easy 42000C. Do this as many times as you like and you'll compile lots of credits in no time without any real risk of losing. If you are bored (which I think won't happen soon) you can try replaying old missions with different AC configs. For example, try beating hustler one with only a sniper rifle. If all else fails try restarting the game and try to get 100% success and 100% over-all. The replay value for this game is astounding.

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