Armored Core 6: Unleashing the Power of an Iconic FromSoftware NPC - What You Need to Know

Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon aims to please more than just dedicated fans of the franchise. While it is the newest addition to the series, FromSoftware, the development studio, has not worked on an Armored Core game since Armored Core: Verdict Day in 2013. Instead, FromSoftware is best known for its successful dark RPGs such as the Dark Souls franchise, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the recently released Elden Ring.

Given FromSoftware's reputation for creating immersive and atmospheric RPGs, it is highly likely that Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon will also cater to its newer audience. Fans can anticipate the inclusion of beloved weapons like the Moonlight Greatsword, which has made appearances in previous Armored Core titles. However, when it comes to introducing familiar non-playable characters to the world of Rubicon 3, FromSoftware may face challenges in bringing in one iconic character.

Patches Has Been In Almost Every Recent FromSfotware Game

Patches, a recurring character in FromSoftware's games, often appears as a cunning non-player character (NPC). In Bloodborne, he takes the form of a spider, regularly appearing to provide players with dubious advice in different locations. Recently, in Elden Ring, he appears as a boss and merchant in Murkwater Cave.

Once players have reduced his health by half, Patches no longer poses a threat and players can engage in his questline. Patches also makes a surprising appearance as a Lynx in Armored Core: For Answer, released in 2008. As a mercenary named Patch the Good Luck, he uses a unique mech with reverse legs to snipe enemies from hidden vantage points. However, upon realizing that his comrades have been defeated and he is also facing defeat, Patches quickly surrenders and pleads for mercy.

Patches' Iconic Gimmick May Not Work As Well In A Mecha Game

With a few exceptions, players usually encounter Patches in a similar manner. Upon meeting him, Patches often lures players to a specific location by pretending to help them discover something intriguing, typically some kind of treasure. As players approach the designated area, a cutscene ensues where Patches pushes them into a hole or off a ledge, leaving them in a precarious situation. Players must then fight and navigate their way back to higher ground where Patches eagerly awaits, pleading for forgiveness.

Although Patches appears in Armored Core: For Answer, the iconic encounter that has become renowned in FromSoftware RPGs such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne is not utilized. This is due to the obvious reason that Armored Core games provide players with the ability to equip their robots with technology that enables easy traversal of vertical spaces. With this feature, players can effortlessly escape Patches' traps and confront him within seconds.

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While it is highly unlikely that Patches will lack any traps based on verticality in Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon, he still has the potential to hinder progress through other means. For instance, he could deploy an Armored Core that disables opponent abilities and then throw them into a pit. Patches would also pose a nuisance if he were to attack players during one of the game's many boss battles. FromSoftware has various options for incorporating this iconic NPC into their latest game. While Patches may not employ the most familiar approach to players, Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon offers numerous opportunities for him to employ different tactics.

Armored Core 6: Fire of Rubicon will be available on August 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.