Unleashing the Epic Evolution: Discover the Astonishing Legacy of Armored Core 6 in the Soulsborne Universe

Highlights

Armored Core 6 is receiving positive reviews and is considered a return to form for the series.

The game incentivizes players to learn from their mistakes and make progress, which is a crucial aspect of the Soulsborn games' identity.

Furthermore, similar to the Soulsborne games, Armored Core 6 promotes experimentation and customization by providing the option to freely modify mechs without any penalties.

First unveiled at The Game Awards 2022, the release date for the highly anticipated Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon has finally arrived. Both critics and fans have responded positively to the game, with many considering it a triumphant return for the series and possibly the best Armored Core title to date. Prior to the release of Armored Core 6, Hidetaka Miyazaki, a prominent figure at FromSoftware, made it clear that fans should not expect a Soulsborne game with mechs. Despite this disclaimer, there is still one important Dark Souls legacy embedded in the game. Specifically, Armored Core 6 rewards players by turning every failure into a valuable learning opportunity.

With the introduction of Demon's Souls, the precursor to the Soulsborne series, FromSoftware established a unique style of action RPG that punished players for approaching the game as they would other titles in the genre. Rather than mindlessly rushing through the maps, hacking and slashing enemies along the way, players had to adopt a meticulous approach to combat encounters to avoid facing a game over screen. However, within this challenging combat system, there was a valuable lesson that rewarded observant players. Each failure presented an opportunity for growth, gradually enabling players to comprehend the game's mechanics and improve their skills. Although not a Soulsborne game, Armored Core 6 unquestionably carries on this age-old tradition.

Each Failure in Armored Core 6 Encourages a New Strategy

Unlike the slow progression in the Soulsborne series where players start with minimal skills and equipment, Armored Core 6 immediately immerses players in the cockpit of a formidable mech. Right from the beginning, players experience the thrilling combination of speed and power, as they swiftly take down rank-and-file mechs in fast-paced missions. However, once players confront their first boss, the stakes are raised exponentially.

The vast range of options for customizing the mech can be overwhelming initially. But as players face stronger adversaries and inevitably encounter failure multiple times, they begin to grasp the advantages and disadvantages of different loadouts. Through this process of trial and error, players become more proficient at selecting the appropriate style for each encounter. While a bipedal mech armed with dual-wielded shotguns might effortlessly conquer one challenging enemy, it could prove to be an insurmountable obstacle against a different formidable opponent. Failure in Armored Core 6 encourages players to experiment, mirroring a crucial aspect of the Souls series.

Penalty-Free Respec of Mechs Familiarizes Players With AC6's Menus

In all Souls games, failure is a crucial aspect of the process, but it often comes with severe consequences. Before Elden Ring, players were restricted to their chosen character builds, with limited options to adapt or create a new character when faced with challenges. However, Elden Ring introduced the ability to respec characters after defeating Rennala, allowing players greater flexibility. Taking inspiration from Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 also enables players to respec their characters regularly, promoting and encouraging experimentation with different strategies for tough missions. This results in players spending significant time navigating Armored Core 6's extensive customization screens. The abundance of options may initially be overwhelming, but players eventually gain knowledge on selecting the right tools for each situation. Both Armored Core 6 and the Soulsborne games highlight the significance of failure as a natural part of the learning process, offering valuable insight to players.

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