/agree with this although i don't like where the series has gone since 4, it's gotten a little too fast and gundamish, i played the series up until silent line, i think it has a bit of a cult following otherwise there wouldn't be a bajillion games in the series.
Speaking of under appreciated giant mech games....CHROMEHOUNDS (which is actually from alot of the same people who brought us armored core)
it's such a shame that sega had to shut down the servers for this game it reminded me alot of older armored core games.
It might be a little slow paced for a mech game but there was alot of strategy involved.
ah i remember when i took out three base rushers with my shotgun tank ah good times...good times. i think I'm going to mourn this game a little now