The Groundbreaking Evolution of FromSoftware's Armored Core 6: Unveiling the AH12 HC's Innovative Departure

Highlights

Armored Core 6 has been released after a decade-long hiatus, offering a unique gameplay experience with improvements and player-friendly additions.

Although not officially classified as a Soulslike game, Armored Core 6 clearly demonstrates the influence of the Souls series, notably through its demanding tutorial boss battle against the AH12 HC Helicopter.

Deviating from the norm, the tutorial boss fight in Armored Core 6 requires players to defeat the boss in order to access the game's story and tutorial missions. This decision has garnered mixed responses from fans.

The long-awaited release of Armored Core 6 has finally arrived, marking the return of the beloved vehicle-combat series after a ten-year hiatus. Developer FromSoftware has made numerous gameplay improvements and added player-friendly features, making this installment stand out from their other recent titles. Despite FromSoftware's insistence that Armored Core 6 is not a Soulslike, fans have quickly noticed the genre's influence, particularly in the challenging tutorial boss fight against the AH12 HC Helicopter. This boss fight breaks tradition and sets a high bar for players, immersing them in the game's demanding combat right from the start.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is the first entry in the Armored Core series since 2013's Armored Core: Verdict Day. It takes the beloved series to new heights by building upon the exceptional gameplay of previous titles and introducing modern controls and an overhauled Assembly system. One of the most significant changes is the inclusion of Repair Kits, which provide pilots with the ability to heal themselves up to three times per mission, a departure from previous games. Additionally, the new Impact mechanic allows continuous hits to stagger both player and enemy ACs, creating opportunities for devastating damage.

Armored Core 6's Features a Traditional FromSoftware Tutorial Boss

In the tutorial of Armored Core 6, players engage in minor skirmishes to familiarize themselves with the game's combat mechanics. However, the real challenge arises when they face the AH12 HC Helicopter, a formidable 1v1 boss battle. Unlike previous encounters, this boss fight significantly raises the difficulty level. The AH12 HC relentlessly attacks players with machine gun fire and homing missiles, even from outside the boundaries of the map. Its extreme difficulty has garnered mixed reviews, with frustrated players expressing their discontent through negative Steam reviews and online videos.

One of the contributing factors to the AH12 HC's difficulty lies in the limitations imposed on players during the tutorial mission. The Armored Core series has always boasted a comprehensive customization system, enabling players to tailor their AC's armor, weapons, and parts based on their preferred play style and mission requirements. However, in Armored Core 6's tutorial, players are restricted to a predetermined loadout comprising only a sword and a missile launcher. Furthermore, the boss fight takes place on an elevated platform flanked by small buildings that provide little protection against the helicopter's homing missiles and long-range attacks.

The AH12 HC Must Be Defeated to Begin Armored Core 6

FromSoftware is renowned for its challenging tutorials, with games like Demon Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring concluding their introduction missions with a formidable trial. These bosses serve not only as adversaries to overcome but also as catalysts to propel the game's narrative. However, Armored Core 6's AH12 HC dares to deviate from this established pattern by mandating players to conquer the boss in order to commence the story. In fact, players will be unable to access Armored Core 6's training missions, which provide instruction on fundamental combat techniques and traversal, until they have demonstrated mastery of both mechanics against the AH12 HC.

Since its recent release, Armored Core 6 has garnered predominantly positive reviews. Nevertheless, the arduous difficulty posed by defeating the tutorial boss has prompted certain fans to express their discontent through negative reviews on various platforms. While the AH12 HC perpetuates FromSoftware's signature demanding gameplay style, the requirement for players to vanquish the boss in order to unlock the game's story and tutorial missions breaks a long-standing tradition. Fans of FromSoftware's modern lineup will undeniably relish the challenge, and those who find it challenging can take solace in the knowledge that triumph unlocks an extensive range of AC customization options.

Armored Core 6 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.