History VideoGame / ArmoredCoreNexus

''Armored Core: Nexus'' is the eighth game in the ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' franchise by Creator/FromSoftware. It was released in 2004 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2.

Consisting of two discs, ''Nexus''' main story takes up the entirety of the first disc, "EVOLUTION." Included in the second disc, "REVOLUTION," is a massive collection of UsefulNotes/PlayStation-era ''Armored Core'' missions redone in the newer engine, as well as numerous music tracks, artworks, and videos to celebrate the franchise's history.

* AscendedExtra: Jack-O and Evangel were around in ''Nexus'' as part of the supporting cast. ''Last Raven'' gives them important plot roles, fleshes out their characterization and even elevates them to FinalBoss status in some of the routes.

* DubNameChange: [[spoiler:The FinalBoss, who is simply referred to as "UNKNOWN" in Japanese, was given the name "[[VideeoGame/ArmoredCore1 Nine-Ball]]" in the English version. Whether it's just a name or if it's meant to be an explicit case of HijackedByGanon on the localization team's part is unclear.]]

* PerspectiveFlip: Alongside remakes of missions from past games, the "REVOLUTION" disc also includes new "what if?" variations on missions that allow you to fight for the opposite factions, such as working alongside the [[VideoGame/ArmoredCoreProjectPhantasma Doomsday Organization]] or trying to rescue the [[VideoGame/ArmoredCore1 infamous Human Plus experimentee]].

* HegemonicEmpire: Mirage begins as this, maintaining an army that can sustain a war against all of its rivals at once while holding enough influence to force [[FictionalUnitedNations the OAE]] to do its bidding. [[spoiler: Begins transitioning into [[RisingEmpire a more direct bid for control]] as Mirage comes out of the war with an intact military and no one except Jack-O’s Ravens’ Ark to stand in their way. Whatever would have happened next is derailed by the rogue drone swarm’s sudden attack.]]

* HegemonicEmpire: Mirage begins as this, maintaining an army that can sustain a war against all of its rivals at once while holding enough influence to force [[FictionalUnitedNations the OAE]] to do its bidding. [[spoiler: Begins transitioning into [[TheEmpire a more aggressive approach]] as Mirage comes out of the war with an intact military and no one except Jack-O’s Ravens’ Ark to stand in their way. Whatever would have happened next is derailed by the rogue drone swarm’s sudden attack.]]

* HegemonicEmpire: Mirage begins as this, maintaining an army that can sustain a war against all of its rivals at once while holding enough influence to force [[FictionalUnitedNations the OAE]] to do its bidding. [[spoiler: Begins transitioning into [[TheEmpire a more aggressive approach]] as Mirage comes out the sole faction with an intact military. Whatever would have happened next is derailed by the sudden attack from rogue drone swarm.]]

''Armored Core: Nexus'' is the eight game in the ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' franchise by Creator/FromSoftware. It was released in 2004 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2.

Sometime after the events of [[VideoGame/ArmoredCoreSilentLine the Silent Line]], the surface has been fully conquered by humanity, and the [[MegaCorp corporations]]' control over the world is stronger than ever. When a newer corporation called Navis quickly rises to power thanks to their discovery of powerful [[LostTechnology lost technology]], the largest corporation, Mirage demands that it be shared with the other corporations. Navis vehemently refuses, putting the two at odds. As Mirage presses on the issue, the other corporations use it as an excuse to further their own agendas. In the middle of all this is the Ravens' Ark, an organization mediating between the corporations and the [[AcePilot elite order]] of [[HumongousMecha AC]] pilots known as [[HiredGuns Ravens]] that is keen to turn a profit from the conflict.

A SoftReboot of the third generation, ''Nexus'' overhaul many aspects of the series gameplay. Modern FPS-style dual analog controls are finally included, though the original control scheme is still an option. You now have the ability to tune all of the Core parts beside the FCS, allowing you to increase positive stats and decrease negative ones. "Hangar" cores are introduced, which can store small weapons and left or right slots. Heat management is given an increased focus as your own parts and booster action will now generate heat.

Consisting of two discs, ''Nexus''' main story takes up the entirety of the first disc, "EVOLUTION." Included in the second disc, "REVOLUTION" is a massive collection of UsefulNotes/PlayStation-era ''Armored Core'' missions redone in the newer engine, as well as numerous music tracks, artworks, and videos to celebrate the franchise's history.

* AllThereInTheManual: The date of the game's events is ambiguous in-game but the ''Armored Core 10 Works Complete File'' book indicates that it takes place at least fifty-five years after ''Armored Core: Silent Line''.

** The OAE ''try'' to be this as the intermediary between the corporations but they instead spend the majority of the plot getting pushed around by Mirage to act against Navis.

* BlatantLies: Mirage claims that its interest in the new resource isn't at all out of self-interest and that it only wants Navis to share the resource for the benefit of all. Considering Mirage's history as well as the numerous surreptitious measures they then take to grab the region, nobody believes a lick of what they're saying.
* BullyingADragon: Mirage attempts to destroy the player along with an enemy base through an aerial bombardment, despite the fact that Mirage themselves had already hired the player to take out the base. They do this even after three events have already happened in the story: the player has already proven to Mirage that they are a capable pilot; the player is already a high ranker at this point; and [[spoiler:Jack-O's restructured]] Raven's Ark making it clear that corporate shenanigans against the Ark would not be tolerated. As payback, the Ark sends the player on an all-expenses-paid mission to thrash an important Mirage facility.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Genobee's Dual Face is an all-black, ominous-looking AC but Genobee is ultimately just another Raven following orders, [[spoiler:until the end of the game, that is, where he's actively disobeying them [[HeroAntagonist to prevent a potential crisis.]]]]

* TheRival: Evangel builds one with player over the course of multiple Arena battles. His continuous defeats leave him increasingly frustrated.

* VillainProtagonist: Whereas prior ''Armored Core'' games have the player characters make the world better in one way or another, ''Nexus'' shows the negative effects of what happens when a mercenary with [[OnlyInItForTheMoney little compulsion]] takes jobs without a care for the repercussions. They play all sides, occasionally engage in unsavory jobs, and in the end, can potentially take out one of the people trying to prevent a catastrophe.

* DubPersonalityChange: Compared to the cold, [[CreepyMonotone robotic]] depiction in the English version, the Japanese version of Genobee is [[BadassBaritone deep-voiced]], emotive and easygoing enough to ask as a friendly gesture and training etiquette that the player go easy on him in their test battle.

''Nexus'' is followed by the plotless ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreNinebreaker''. Its story is concluded in ''VideoGameArmoredCoreLastRaven''.

Sometime after the events of the Silent Line, the surface has been fully conquered by humanity, and the [[MegaCorp corporations]]' control over the world is stronger than ever. When a newer corporation called Navis quickly rises to power thanks to their discovery of powerful [[LostTechnology lost technology]], the largest corporation, Mirage demands that it be shared with the other corporations. Navis vehemently refuses, putting the two at odds. As Mirage presses on the issue, the other corporations use it as an excuse to further their own agendas. In the middle of all this is the Ravens' Ark, an organization mediating between the corporations and the [[AcePilot elite order]] of [[HumongousMecha AC]] pilots known as [[HiredGuns Ravens]] that is keen to turn a profit from the conflict.

It got a direct sequel in 2005 with ''Armored Core: Last Raven''.

* VideoGameRemake: After a sort. The "REVOLUTION" disc remakes and restructures numerous missions from the first three games (''Armored Core'', ''Project Phantasma'', and ''Master of Arena'') into the ''Nexus'' engine and gameplay. There isn't really a plot tying any of it together, nor does it actually try to remake any of these games as a whole, but it does serve as an idea of how the games could've been modernized for the time.

* SuperPrototype: As detailed in ''[[AllThereInTheManual Armored Core 10 Works Complete File]]'', the final boss is this to the major antagonists in the sequel, ''Last Raven''. [[spoiler:The "Unknown"/Nine-Ball encountered at the underground facility is in fact a prototype Pulverizer that has most of the maneuverability and firepower of the more advanced aerial Pulverizers whilst also having anti-missile defense systems that nearly all the later models lack]].

* CreepyMonotone: Genobee speaks like this in the English version, unlike in the original Japanese version where he instead has a [[BadassBaritone deep voice]].

* DubPersonalityChange: Compared to the cold, robotic depiction in the English version, the Japanese version of Genobee is emotive and easygoing enough to ask as a friendly gesture and training etiquette that the player to go easy on him in their test battle.

** Later on, Kisaragi quickly realizes that the lost technology they accidentally activate at [[spoiler:Borbos Mine]] is actually ''really dangerous'', so they send the player in a desperate attempt to disable it before it's too late. [[spoiler:They fail.]]

* BullyingADragon: Mirage attempts to destroy the player along with an enemy base through an aerial bombardment, despite the fact that Mirage themselves had already hired the player to take out the base. They do this even after three events have already happened in the story: the player has already proven to Mirage that they are a capable pilot; the player is already a high ranker at this point; [[spoiler:and the new Raven's Ark under Jack-O making it clear that corporate shenanigans against the Ark would not be tolerated]]. As payback, the Ark sends the player on an all-expenses-paid mission to thrash an important Mirage facility.
* CitadelCity: Bayload City, a heavily fortified, enclosed city serving as Navis' headquarters. Its defenses are repeatedly tested thoughtout the story by Mirage and terrorists, [[spoiler:until finally it falls when Crest takes it in a surprise betrayal against Navis. By the end of the game, it's completely abandoned and the buildings inside are in ruins]].

* DarkIsNotEvil: Genobee's Dual Face is an all-black, ominous-looking AC but Genobee is ultimately just another Raven following orders, [[spoiler:until the end of the game, that is, where he's actively disobeying them [[HeroAnatgonist to prevent a potential crisis.]]]]

* DubPersonalityChange: Compared to the cold, robotic depiction in the English version, the Japanese version of Genobee is emotive and easygoing enough to ask the player to go easy on him in their test battle.

* ItsPersonal: Once the player kills Pin Fire, they'll receive this kind of threatening email from a vengeful unknown party. Later Arena matches with Rim Fire imply that he's the sender.