Overview

The Armored Core series has held a reputation for featuring some of the most cutting-edge video game music ever since its debut in 1997. However, the music for the franchise has evolved and transformed considerably over the years, due to its sound directors being keen to experiment in each game. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the franchise, From Software released a special box set featuring four games, an artbook, a documentary, and a best soundtrack. The soundtrack features selections from each of the series' soundtracks released up to 2006 and certainly reflects the aforementioned diversity.

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The soundtrack reflects the series' respectable origins with several tracks from the original Armored Core. "High Fever", for instance, combines a blend of mechanical electronic beats with more soothing synthpads and various treble frills. The result offers a certain sense of energy and immediacy, which is appropriate for an action game, though is also quite understated and downbeat to reflect the greater ambience of the game's visuals. With elating beats, ethereal soundscapes, and epic interludes, "Circulation" is clearly inspired by anthemic trance music. However, Keiichi Segawa still expresses his unique voice throughout and ensures that the track is sufficiently dark and mature to fit the game.

The composers took a more elaborate and artistic take on subsequent additions to the series. "Grip" from Armored Core: Project Phantasma greatly develops upon the more hostile sound featured on the original game: the synthesis is tighter here, the stylings are more in line with psychadelic trance, and the development is much more comprehensive. "Apex in the Circle", a selection from Master of Arena, once again fits the game with its blend of bittersweet synthpads and mechanical beats, but is more accessible to listeners with various catchy hooks and compelling rhythms. Surprisingly, however, the three selections from Armored Core 2 ignore the title's numerous creative masterpieces, in favour of more gimmicky experiments like "Beatmask".

It was with Armored Core 3 that the soundtrack acquired a unique voice against mainstream electronica of the day. Most notably, Tsukasa Saitoh's "Artificial Sky IV" reflects the more dramatic and surreal feeling of the game with its tragic worldly vocals and dense electro-orchestral instrumentation. "Administration" also reflects the shift to new styles and this final battle theme takes no prisoners with its heavy orchestration. Armored Core: Silent Line developed on these elements even further and its main theme, "Silent Line I", is an especially welcome addition to the album. By further blending orchestral and acoustic forces, it is fascinating how Kota Hoshino combines a conventional portrayal of militarism with futuristic mechanised elements.

The series returned to its electronic routes with Armored Core: Nexus. However, "Shining" will still takes series' listeners by surprise given its light-hearted and cheesy tones. Hoshino manages to blend the series' more off-the-wall sounds with upbeat electronic beats and lyrics such as 'Shining every day'. Small selections from Armored Core: Formula Front and Armored Core: Last Raven close the album. "isaku-No.373" and "Fake Facer" follow series' tradition with their mixture of colourful synthpads and hard-edged beats. More surprising are "5 point Five" and "Six" from the latter game. With irregular rhythms, hardcore beats, and voice samples, these tracks certainly befit the featured fast-paced mechanised action, but are rather inaccessible.

The soundtrack does feature four exclusives from games that didn't receive soundtrack releases. "Act Zero" and "Detect" from the expansion Armored Core 2: Another Age continue the experimental electronic approach of its predecessor with lovely fleshed-out mixes. However, "Act Zero" is rather exceptional for the way it integrates some moody orchestral elements into the mix, until then forbidden for the series. The controversial Armored Core: Nine Breaker also receives a rare commemoration on "The Encounter World" and "Break Point". Both are close in style to the upbeat contemporary pieces featured in Armored Core: Nexus, with the former even featuring some uplifting piano riffs and some more of Hoshino's trademark vocals.

Summary

Armored Core is evidently a series that allows its composers to do almost whatever they like. This production method would be dubious at most companies, but it's fortunate From Software has one of the most impressive sound teams in any company, and each of their Armored Core scores up to 2006 was highly unique and impressive. This best soundtrack certainly reflects this and provides a worthwhile commemoration of the series' music for those prepared to purchase an expensive box. Despite its strong selections and various exclusives, most listeners will nevertheless find the series' full soundtracks more rewarding than this compilation.

Overview

Armored Core: Formula Front is one of several Armored Core titles that didn't receive a soundtrack release, perhaps due to its mediocre critical and commercial reception. Five tracks from the game were nevertheless released in a promotional soundtrack and provide a solid reflection on the score as a whole.

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Tsukasa Saitoh headlines the soundtrack with two variations of the same theme. "Fake Fever" keeps the series' electronica focus alive after some deviations in earlier soundtracks. It opens with some soothing synthpads, but gradually becomes overwhelmed by fast-paced electronic beats that take the track to its upbeat and energetic core. The development keeps the track exciting throughout and the mixing is also consistently excellent. There is also a remix of this track created exclusively for the PlayStation 2 version of the game. It's a little less multifaceted, but still offers a fine blend of colourful treble synth and gritty bass elements.

"isaku-No.373" is an excellent addition for representing the futuristic environment and mechanised combat of the game. Ayako Minami's approach is inspired by more conventional techno artists than Saitoh, but she still keeps things fresh with dynamic layering and vocoder parts. The sometimes abstract and industrial sample choices are especially ideal for representing the mechs. This track is one of the more representative examples of what the soundtrack to Armored Core: Formula Front offered overall.

"Inject the Right Tracks" is the most anthemic track on the soundtrack. Daisuke Matsumoto was clearly inspired by mainstream trance artists with his fusions of ethereal electronic beats and gentle piano work here. The track is a little simplistic, but makes up for it with diverse development and much atmosphere. Experienced underground Hideyuki Eto also shows his willingness to offer hard industrial grooves and urban elements on the other addition to the soundtrack, "AP 10%". It's similar to his work on Armored Core: Last Raven, though a little more accessible.

Summary

Though a multi-artist, multi-platform collaboration, the soundtrack for Armored Core: Formula Front still maintained the high quality electronic music many have come to expect from the series. Though these five selections are impressive and representative, they're probably not worth tracking down given they're still a small sampling of the overall soundtrack.