The Game-Changing Revolution in Armored Core 6: Bid Farewell to the Debt System!
The iconic debt system in early Armored Core games has been removed in Armored Core 6, bringing both pros and cons to the gameplay experience
Highlights
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will not feature a debt system, which may be seen as positive or negative by fans.
Removing the debt system removes a source of anxiety for players and enables them to fail missions without losing their progress. By choosing to exclude the debt system, the game aims to create a better balance between longer missions and making death less punishing, achieved through the inclusion of checkpoints.
With its August release date drawing near, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is generating more anticipation as FromSoftware reveals more about the mech action game. With a significant gap of around ten years between the releases of Armored Core 6 and Armored Core 5, it is expected that the former will incorporate changes to better suit present-day preferences.
Fans should not be startled to discover that the latest installment diverges greatly from Armored Core 5 and even previous entries in terms of its overall feel. A notable aspect in earlier titles was the concept of accumulating debt and potentially being forcibly enrolled in programs such as Human Plus, which enhanced the core's functionality but also resulted in the sacrifice of most of one's body and humanity. However, this notion of debt was eliminated in Armored Core 4 and Armored Core 5, and will not be reintroduced in the upcoming game. This absence can be viewed positively or negatively, depending on individual perspectives.
Negatives of Not Having Debt in Armored Core 6
The debt system in Armored Core sets it apart from other FromSoftware games and gaming in general. It serves as a powerful storytelling element that illustrates the harshness of a world dominated by warring corporations. Additionally, it offers practical gameplay advantages, enabling players to easily manage their progress and keep their previous mech.
Considering the length of Armored Core 6 in comparison to its predecessors, forcing players to reset the entire game due to debt would be an excessively severe punishment, outweighing any benefits gained from boosting. If the debt system were to be reintroduced, it could be utilized to maintain story progression while potentially restricting certain events or exclusive rewards.
Positives of Not Having Debt in Armored Core 6
The protagonist's need to maintain financial stability while undertaking missions further emphasizes their subservience to corporate entities. It would have been compelling to witness how a contemporary FromSoftware game could have incorporated this aspect into both the gameplay and narrative.
One notable advantage of not having a debt system in Armored Core 6 is the alleviation of an extra layer of anxiety. Players can now tackle missions without the constant concern of accumulating debt and the potential consequences of having to restart the game. This removes the unique drawbacks associated with other games in the series, allowing players to fail missions without any worry.
With approximately 60 hours of gameplay, Armored Core 6 is the longest installment in the series. However, the potential of losing weeks of progress due to a debt system can be exhausting. Most From Software games, including Armored Core, are renowned for their high difficulty level. Reintroducing this fail state could discourage many players from continuing or even starting the game.
Moreover, bringing back the debt system feels contradictory to the changes made in the game to balance out longer missions. These changes aim to maintain the missions' challenge while avoiding a constant test of endurance. One significant alteration is the inclusion of checkpoints in Armored Core 6, which makes death a more forgivable mistake compared to previous entries.
Although deductions for repairs and ammo refills have always been present in the series, Armored Core 4 in 2006 was the last game to have a proper debt system. Finding a meaningful way to reintroduce it would have been a challenging undertaking. However, FromSoftware made the decision to leave it behind and instead chose to showcase the game's challenge through alternative methods.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will be released on August 24th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
