Armored Core VI - Fires of Rubicon (From)

Mr Crispy

We knew it was in development more or less, but it's been officially confirmed at The Game Awards. Coming in 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_px40TUf6zQ

Retr0gamer

Mental to see people excited about an armored core game!

I only played armored core 4 and didn't like it but apparently that's the worst in the series. Heard great things about the rest of the games and listen to the soundtracks regularly as they are incredible. Interesting to see what this is all about.

Mr Crispy

People are excited because of From's recent track record, I'd venture.

Icyseanfitz

When was 5 released? 2012? be very interesting to see how this turns out after all the games from have done in between. When you think about some of the mechanics in froms souls like games you can actually see the evolution from armored core, the gear/equipment/load etc.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119974306#Comment_119974306

Oh I know. It's just weird seeing people excited about a niche From property. They would have been totally ignored or flown under the radar before.

I'm actually really enjoying the recent glut of videos and essays re-evaluating From's back catalogue and them all almost always coming to the conclusion that 'this is pretty weird and esoteric but also awesome once you get into the mechanics'. I was always put off From games until Demon's Souls due to the awful reviews.

Potential-Monke

I think AC2 was the last one I played, and now that I know it was a From game I completely understand why I got stuck and couldn't progress because of the difficulty. Thoroughly enjoyed what I played of it though, just got stuck on a save with low health and an immediate unwinnable battle because of it. I'll be keeping an eye at least.

Retr0gamer

Well Miyazaki was only there for AC4 for answer. AC though is more like a hardcore mech sim though and going into debt because you can't keep up with the upkeep of the mech is kind of part of it. From did a lot of very different games until souls games took over.

Mr Crispy

Miyazaki interview with IGN. Contains one or two tidbits, but nothing that surprising.

https://www.ign.com/articles/armored-core-6-interview

one armed dwarf

Picked up ACIII (well, 'acquired') on the back of this news. Anwyay, turns out it's Gran Turismo where you build robits and have to worry about inertia and resources when putting pieces together. It's like light/medium/fat roll but on a much more granular level where everything interacts with everything else. Will be very interesting to see how this kind of design goes down with a wider audience. I think with the right kind of player guidance it could be successful, one thing I find slightly frustrating is not realising at first that a lot of the terminology of the game is described in the game's manual, which I had to go find online

I picked this one as there's a bit of a split in the fanbase between the pre and post-4 games, where the old ones have you build a bunch of clunkers but the mech building and its impact on player control is a bit more involved while in the newer ones you're building these warp speed robot ninjas. So I wonder if 6 will split the difference a bit there

bugs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120006767#Comment_120006767

Up to Silent Line, it's quite methodical; lots of focus on build per mission per situation. Still very difficult but in most cases you can tailor your core to however way you want to play within reason. The major changes moving beyond this game is extending the use of boost ten fold and making it much more effective. Same gameplay, more or less the same build options but now everything is going at 10x speed in mostly much bigger mission areas to account for the changes. I like both and look forward to what VI brings.

Mr Crispy

Gameplay and release date (August 25th);

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz3yRaHTPHM

Retr0gamer

Looking good. Hoping this finally gets me into the series although I've only really tried AC4 and that's apparently not great.

Funnily enough I was just listening to some AC music on spotify. Really hope they get the AC composer back.

Potential-Monke

Damn. That's a good trailer. It excites me. Looks like amazing mech fun, which will probably be hard as balls but at least the movement ain't slow so that's something. That Premium Edition... €440! The Collectors Edition, which is the same minus the "garage" for the figurine is €250. 10 years ago I would have.

Retr0gamer

I'd normally be against plastic tat special editions but that ain't no plastic tat.

I terms of difficulty the armored core games traditionally aren't the same difficulty as souls games. They're usually quick short missions and the main gameplay is outfitting your mech to deal with the mission, a wrong set up can be a disaster.

From what I played of the ps1 games the game also likes to put you heavily in debt with your contract company but it's more a commentary on the dystopian war economy.

Mr Crispy

Vaati doing his thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkmnaMLCfAQ

ketchupmessi63

I played the first of these games back on the ps1, but for some reason I never bothered to try the newer titles... I might get this one, though, looks cool and FROM are definitely on a winning streak for the last...well... 13-14 years (I'm counting form the original Demon's Souls release)

Retr0gamer

From made some absolute bangers before Demon's Souls. We all just collectively ignored them or reviewers gave them a cursory glance and middling reviews without giving the mechanics a chance to shine. I can't even blame the reviewers in this case as I'd dismiss From games as well. But going back to them now the likes of the King's Field series, Kuon, Shadow Tower, Echo Night. All incredible series. Even Armored Core seems to be well loved but I ignored it as I dismissed the series as a series for Mecha Perverts (which it kind of is). Hoping this gets me into the series the way Ace Combat 7 did for me and AC.

Mr Crispy

New footage out today. It's part of a larger video that was shown to the media. Vaati gives his thoughts below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTZXmLRGIug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTPLucLU5I

Retr0gamer

This is looking incredible and the music is top tier armoured core.

Retr0gamer

Good summary of what to expect

https://twitter.com/IronPineapple_/status/1668982493356122112?t=IUHQhPVPANX4iHIrANB6NQ&s=19

Andrew76

I’ve never played an Armored Core game before but this looks great. Souls like combat with customisable mechs, yes please. Man it’s just good to have a new From Soft game coming out, 25/08 isn’t that long to wait either.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120719826#Comment_120719826

The word from Armored Core fans is this is a straight up AC game. There's a few Souls influences that have crept in but it's AC through and through. Not a bad thing. I've been meaning to try get into the series due to the glowing praise I read for it.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721027#Comment_120721027

Sounds like it might be a perfect entry point for series newbies like me so. 🙂

Once they get this and the Elden Ring dlc out the door, they need to give us some Bloodborne love (although my eldest is hoping for Sekiro dlc too).

Retr0gamer

I think my issue was the only one I played is considered quite a poor entry in the series, AC4 and I was told I should have started with 'For Answer' which funnily enough was miyazakis first creative roles in game dev.

one armed dwarf

If you're going to play For Answer then starting with AC4 is actually the way to go. It's a fairly bare bones game but a perfectly fine onboarding to FA

FA is weird tho, it's so blisteringly fast and imo it doesn't really provide the same satisfaction as the earlier titles when it comes to tweaking. A lot of things get streamlined in it and mechs can turn on a dime with the quick boost and quick turn abilities, which look like they come back in VI. But VI's pace looks not as insane as FA so maybe a balance is preserved there a bit

Last Raven is the one I had most fun with. It's the first one Miyazaki worked on, as a planner, before going on to direct AC4 and FA. Obsessing over turning speed and stability and all that fun stuff meant a lot of time in the garage

Retr0gamer

https://youtu.be/ev07yVt8UkQ

Story Trailer

DarC_Kn1ght

https://youtu.be/uwymxKLId4c

_______

Andrew76

Vaati has a new video out on it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1crLkr56E

Mr Crispy

https://twitter.com/armoredcore/status/1692310342523863244?s=20

🤖🔫

Retr0gamer

I just want to hear more of that soundtrack.

Andrew76

Looks like it’s kicking off midnight Irish time. Looking forward to this (although not interested in pvp).

Vicxas

Not interested in PVP but it did look cool

Retr0gamer

https://twitter.com/manfightdragon/status/1692330563942977795?t=uwhYL1m-gjxESJHq2c64EQ&s=19

I hope this doesn't mean outrageous shader stutter.

Andrew76

I think I only had two instances of stutter with Elden Ring on PC so was grand for me. Wonder will AC6 be the last new game they release on that engine so? Seems to be getting on a bit.

Probably going to get this on PS5 though as the eldest lad is looking forward to it also.

johnny_ultimate

I’m definitely on the fence about it, despite interest being piqued. By all accounts it’s a very different game than ‘Souls, but mechs’ - appropriately so given the series, but will definitely wait to hear from a few Armoured Core newcomers to see how they fare with it. I’m not into fidgety mech customisation and builds, so want to hear how much that factors into it relative to the more action game side of things. And close proximity to Baldur’s Gate 3 on PS5 means I’m happy to hold off a while to hear how folks get on :)

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120999390#Comment_120999390

It was definitely there all the time and very bad. Might just not be sensitive to it.

Retr0gamer

https://youtu.be/kQJb8He0pYA

Not long to go.

Vicxas

Wonder when the reviews are out? Not that it'll matter to most of us.

johnny_ultimate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121015456#Comment_121015456

Some time today, apparently.

Retr0gamer

Unlocks after work tomorrow on PC. Have a busy weekend so I'll at least get to play a bit of it. I really hope they fixed the shader stutter issues or have a shader comp step but this is From Software so not holding out hope.

Unearthly

Game looks great. Going to give it a go this weekend as well

McFly85

5/5 from Eurogamer, few 8/10s around too.

The story and length of the campaign seem to be the big criticisms, but gameplay looks to be universally lauded. Looking forward to this!

Potential-Monke

Got a bit of a bang of Returnal like gameplay during that trailer, and the ad looks glorious in 4k60. Will pick it up physical just in case it's more Souls than action.m, but im liking the look of everything so far.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121017356#Comment_121017356

It's definitely not a Souls like. The developers in interviews seem to be very annoyed with all the western press asking them about Souls inspiration in the game to which they exasperatingly reply 'It's just an armored core game'. Miyazaki has said him self he just wanted to make a game that sticks to armored core and not reinvent it.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121017277#Comment_121017277

I'm reading a few reviews and the narrative criticisms seem to miss the mark. It really sounds like they didn't get it as it's coming across as very AC. All the games around trying to survive in an end stage capitalist nightmare. The dull grey military environments highlight it and the fact you are told nothing as you are just another expendable pawn in the machinery of mega corporations vying for more profits while destroying the world around them in their fight against each other.

I'm all aboard for that. I mean it's a series where the ending of one game is you committing mass genocide on company orders by taking down ships escaping the planet and being reminded with each one you take down 'well done, that's another 20 million dead'.

I fully expect the Vaati Vidya videos going in depth on the story and themes.

Potential-Monke

I've always confused this series with Front Mission, so I don't really know what it was like previously. Souls-like worries were genuine because of their recent run of success with that series/type, wouldn't be unexpected for it to merge over. Maybe there's a 3rd franchise option: Dark Core, AC gameplay with DS "difficulty".

Anyway, reviews are good, sounds and looks amazing, I'll probably pick this up Friday.

one armed dwarf

Best thing to think of going in is not Souls or Returnal. Best to look at is as Gran Turismo with robot combat.

If you enjoy tweaking stats and tuning stuff, picking parts out and optimising it for a gameplan to deal with a tough mission, that's what this game is about. Missions can be about 10 minutes, but maybe you spend an hour in the garage picking parts out. That's the kind of series this is

Souls is very far from it. Certain design concepts map across I guess, this has a posture system like Sekiro. But then again, the old games had overheating and shields so it's not that new a concepts either.

Retr0gamer

Yep, it's a series for mech perverts.

Anyway, I can't find anything about shader stutter but looks like the PC port supports ultrawide resolution and 120Hz. At least they haven't gimped ultrawide on purpose like they did with Elden Ring.

Retr0gamer

Current mood:

EoinMcLovin

https://youtu.be/_RdxQgGJqy4?si=ynhVf8kLnCJOayrk

____

Retr0gamer

Quick go of this. Played the opening level and the first two missions.

First the PC port. From have got their **** together with the engine at least. Runs buttery smooth on my 6900xt. 60 fps at 3440 x 1440 (supports Ultrawide) maxed out. Also absolutely no sign of any shader compilation issues.

Gameplay, this is definitely an Armored Core game and not a souls game. Fairly simple controls, multiple layers of complexity. The ACs are an absolute joy to control, it has the freedom of movement from AC4 but instead of being able to boost and fly constantly, you have to return to the ground to recharge boost. It's a much better system. The level of customisation is crazy but it is an AC game and I spent most of my time with the game in the garage making my AC pretty and debating what compromises I needed to make to get a better AC.

Early days but it's a very strong first impression.

Have to leave it there now until Monday. My girlfriend needs to understand the sacrifices I make for her.