Actually I would have to say both. And I have an example of why (but no photos). The armored core series actually provides both styles of Japanese and western Mech design. Most people when they think Armored Core instantly think of the two legged, gundam style designs you can create in this series. But actually AC offered MANY customizable parts and weaponry. My OWN style was a massive machine with a Mech torso, a radar antenna for a head (literally, it was JUST a radar antenna), Gian tank treads for legs, the arms were nothing more than oversized bazookas (no hands), and I had two oversized missile racks that fire vertically. This design I used to decimate the the other mechs in arena combat (from AC: MOA and onward excluding AC4).
For missions (because ammo use deducted from your pay) I used a nimble gundam style mech with an effecient laser that shot more or less like bullets instead of the "Flashy Mega Beam", a laser blade, and a smaller spread missile rack for emergency use. The lasers draw power from your generator so you have no ammo deduction, however your repair cost skyrockets, so I built this machine for speed and "absurdity" as others will call it.
And one final point. the AC series has always used both styles for your enemies, MTs can either be walking ATAT style or two legged chunky machine with sheild and cannon and upwards. All an MT is essentially, is a massproduced guard unit. and AC4 distinguishes MTs even further with NORMALS which are just mass produced and nimble Japanese style mechs while MTs remain as the blocky western style.
So, I like both because I have played Armored core since Master of Arena on PS1 or PSX whichever you prefer. And for all of you who think that Armored Core mechs are JUST japanese style, they arent. They are what you create from interchangeable parts, so if you want function over form, create a tank style or four legged machine with a sniper cannon on its back and gatling guns for arms. And as far as the "boosting" mechanic with a tank? as heavy as my machine was, it was little more than jump jets from the MechWarrior style game.
For missions (because ammo use deducted from your pay) I used a nimble gundam style mech with an effecient laser that shot more or less like bullets instead of the "Flashy Mega Beam", a laser blade, and a smaller spread missile rack for emergency use. The lasers draw power from your generator so you have no ammo deduction, however your repair cost skyrockets, so I built this machine for speed and "absurdity" as others will call it.
And one final point. the AC series has always used both styles for your enemies, MTs can either be walking ATAT style or two legged chunky machine with sheild and cannon and upwards. All an MT is essentially, is a massproduced guard unit. and AC4 distinguishes MTs even further with NORMALS which are just mass produced and nimble Japanese style mechs while MTs remain as the blocky western style.
So, I like both because I have played Armored core since Master of Arena on PS1 or PSX whichever you prefer. And for all of you who think that Armored Core mechs are JUST japanese style, they arent. They are what you create from interchangeable parts, so if you want function over form, create a tank style or four legged machine with a sniper cannon on its back and gatling guns for arms. And as far as the "boosting" mechanic with a tank? as heavy as my machine was, it was little more than jump jets from the MechWarrior style game.
