Most mecha games offer a pre-set ride of choice with a suitably fixed weapon load out to boot. Affording the opportunity to literally create your own mecha from disparate component parts, isn’t something that was widely available to gamers back in 1997.

This is where From Software saw an opportunity and after their King’s Field games on the PSone, they thought they had the technology to pull it off. However, to create cogent mecha designs that could be literally built from component parts would require a unique talent. That talent manifested itself in the increasingly versatile Shoji Kawamori, who created a slew of base designs in the knowledge they would be disassembled into disparate parts. Thus the original Armored Core was born.

Following on from the combination attacks in a previous update, 4Gamer now has the scoop on the Cross Over Attacks in the forthcoming Another Century’s Episode Portable. Unlike the the previous attacks of this kind, where only the player had to connect prior to the attack initiating, your ally will also need to be in the vicinity for the attack to work. In addition, once the attack is triggered the player will be momentarily prone; adding more risk to this feature. Following on from this, the update also shows new shots of the GN-0000+GNR-010 00 Raiser, Type-0/0A Shinkirou and VF-25S Messiah. The game is still slated for a January 13th release in Japan and you can pre-order it here.

4Gamer has a selection of new screenshots for the next Artdink developed Macross game on the PSP, Macross Triangle Frontier. From the moe-tastic Academy mode to new shots of various variable fighters strutting their stuff. The Academy mode allows the player to basically attend Mihoshi Academy as a student and build up their character’s attributes there, these then carry over to the game itself. In addition a 1000 plus event triggers are tucked away in the Academy mode, meaning that much of the game will rely on the player having to wade through a dating sim in order to blow up robots. That aside, the game will also still support custom soundtracks as well as a new data install setup. The game is still slated for a February 3rd release next year and you can pre-order it here.

With the upcoming Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon slated for release next year, D3 have announced three new games in the series. From the plucky PSP port of the excellent second game, shown above, to even a new mobile game (called Earth Defense Force Legend). However, the big surprise is the announcement of Earth Defense Force 4. It seems that Sandlot are still hard at work, as at the very least they’d be needed to port the upcoming PSP version. The news of proper continuation from Earth Defense Force 3 (aka 2017 in the West) is very much appreciated though.

For those somewhat confused as to what these games have to do with mecha, well the simple fact is that without Sandlot’s prior expertise (and subsequent technology base) in the genre the EDF games wouldn’t exist. If you’re at all curious about this lineage then we heartily recommend you read our feature on the subject. The new promo video is also shown below.

In the latest column it appears that not only will Virtual On Force be localised into English on the Japanese and Asian versions (presumably triggered by your console’s system language settings) but also that it will be entirely region free as well. Whilst there is still no word on an official Western release, this does allow for importers to buy the game without fear of it not working on their 360 (meaning you can buy it here if you want to). This was done intentionally as well it seems, as a sort of thank you to the Western fanbase. In addition to this good news, the column also lays out all 32 of the game’s achievements too.

To mark the release of Break Blade’s fifth “movie” on the 22nd January, Border Break Airburst will allow players to use costumes from the anime via their BB.net service (as shown above). Break Blade is an interesting anime, formerly based upon a manga, as it sets the narrative in what appears to be a pseudo-medieval past where people are able to control quartz with their minds. The main protagonist, that of Rygart Arrow, is the only one that doesn’t have this ability and is thus able to control an ancient and mysterious mecha. The anime also has involvement with one Takayuki Yanase, who has a long and illustrious mecha design career in gaming. From Murakumo to Metal Gear Solid 4, not to mention SRW W and ACE 3, he does get around.

As with all Border Break related news though, we’re still much like a cat pawing at a fluffy ball of wool behind a glass screen. After tasting the mechanical nectar not that long ago, we need our fix again basically. Considering how much of a money spinner the arcade game is for Sega though, we’re becoming less hopeful for a console port. To make up for this sad state of affairs, we’ve linked the Break Blade opening (in HD) below. The opening song is called “Fate”, as written and sung by the hugely talented KOKIA.

As we mentioned previously, the just released Gundam Musou 3 will receive its first batch of DLC on December 22nd (oddly co-inciding with the release of Virtual On Force no less). The DLC will be split into three mission packs, costing a 100 yen each (on PS3) or 80 Microsoft Points (on 360). There will also be multiple new mobile suits attached to each pack. Whilst we already knew about the GNX-Y901TW Susanowo and NZ-666 Kshatriya, according to 4Gamer there will also be the GN-006 Cherudim Gundam, GN-007 Arios Gundam and GN-008 Seravee Gundam included too. It’s apparent in any case that DLC will be quite vigorously supported for the game, whether that any of it will make it out of Japan come Gundam Musou 3’s inevitable Western release remains to be seen though. Still, we’re just happy to see the Musha Gundam and Musha Gundam Mk. II from the first Gundam Musou game again.

4Gamer has the scoop on a new playable addition to Gundam Extreme Versus. That of the blade wielding GN-001 Gundam Exia from the first season of Gundam 00. In addition, the Exia can be encountered on one of the EX stages as an enemy in the game (specifically 3-A EX). As well as the inclusion of the Exia, there’s also a new boss mobile suit design in the game now. Specifically, a mode of the Extreme Gundam called the Tachyon Phase, designed again by Kunio Okawara. We think it looks pretty sweet. As always, still no word on the obvious PS3 release but the game is looking pretty damn amazing, hopefully we’ll know more in the New Year.

As shown in the latest column over at the Virtual On Force site, there’s now a 1:1 scale Temjin 747 emblazoned across the side of the Gigo arcade in Akihabara, all 16.3 metres of it. For those somewhat confused, VR’s aren’t as big as most mobile suits so the poster is actually pretty accurate. Separately, 4Gamer has some new gameplay videos of the port in action. The game is released next Wednesday, 22nd, in Japan and you still pre-order your copy here.

Game Watch has some nice coverage of a recent update (Rev 2.50) that occurred on December 16th to the glorious Senjou no Kizuna arcade game. Specifically on the inclusion of Torrington Base from Gundam 0083 (video shown below). What’s especially nice is that the map has the Albion as the Feddie base, with a Zanzibar II on the other side obviously (for the Zekes). As always, it’s pretty cool that the game is still getting supported with content (even after 4 years).