Is Armored Core 6 a Souls Game Reddit?

No, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is not a Souls game, despite sharing a developer – FromSoftware. While it borrows some elements like challenging boss fights and intricate level design, its core gameplay loop, customization options, and overall pacing are distinctly different from the Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring, or Sekiro series. The “Souls-like” label often gets thrown around, but it’s more accurate to describe Armored Core 6 as a mecha action game with FromSoftware’s signature difficulty and design sensibilities.

Understanding the Confusion: Why the “Souls-like” Comparison?

The confusion stems from several factors:

• FromSoftware’s Reputation: After the massive success of the Souls games, any title by FromSoftware is automatically viewed through that lens. Expectations are high for challenging gameplay and a specific level of polish.

• Difficult Boss Fights: Armored Core 6 features challenging boss encounters that demand strategic thinking, precise movement, and understanding enemy patterns, similar to Souls games. These fights are often cited as evidence of a “Souls-like” influence.

• Emphasis on Learning and Adaptation: Players need to learn enemy attack patterns, weapon weaknesses, and adapt their AC build to overcome challenges, a common theme in both Armored Core 6 and Souls games.

• Exploration and Discovery: While not open world like Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 rewards exploration within its mission environments. Discovering hidden items, alternate routes, and combat strategies is crucial for success.

• Emphasis on Death and Retry: Failing a mission is common, pushing players to analyze their mistakes, adjust their AC build, and try again. This cycle of death and learning is reminiscent of the Souls experience.

What Makes Armored Core 6 Different?

Despite these similarities, significant differences set Armored Core 6 apart from the Souls genre:

• Gameplay Focus: Souls games prioritize close-quarters combat with a focus on stamina management, precise timing, and deliberate attacks. Armored Core 6 emphasizes fast-paced, ranged combat with a focus on boost management, weapon cooldowns, and target tracking.

• Customization: The customization options in Armored Core 6 are far more extensive than in any Souls game. Players can completely customize their AC, from weapons and armor to legs, cores, and FCS, dramatically affecting performance.

• Narrative Structure: Souls games often feature fragmented lore told through item descriptions and environmental storytelling. Armored Core 6 has a more direct narrative, albeit still with FromSoftware’s signature ambiguity and intrigue. Missions have clear objectives and characters provide dialogue and context.

• Progression System: Souls games use a level-based progression system where players increase stats to improve their character’s capabilities. Armored Core 6 relies primarily on upgrading your AC parts through earned currency. The player’s skill is also highly important.

• Multiplayer: While both series offer multiplayer, their implementation differs. Souls games emphasize co-operative gameplay and PvP invasions. Armored Core 6 offers dedicated PvP arenas where players can test their customized AC builds against each other.

The Verdict: A Unique Experience with Familiar Sensibilities

Armored Core 6 is not a Souls game. It’s a distinct mecha action game that draws upon FromSoftware’s design expertise. The challenging difficulty, intricate level design, and rewarding sense of accomplishment are hallmarks of FromSoftware’s games, but the core gameplay, customization, and narrative structure firmly place it outside the Souls genre.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Armored Core 6 as hard as Dark Souls?

While Armored Core 6 is challenging, its difficulty manifests differently. It often requires strategic AC builds and adapting to enemy weaknesses rather than solely relying on precise timing and reflexes like in Dark Souls. Some players may find certain bosses more or less challenging depending on their playstyle.

2. Do I need to have played previous Armored Core games to understand the story of Armored Core 6?

No, Armored Core 6 is a standalone story set in a new universe. While familiarity with previous titles might offer some context or appreciation for certain mechanics, it is not required to enjoy or understand the game.

3. Is Armored Core 6 open world like Elden Ring?

No, Armored Core 6 is not an open-world game. It features a mission-based structure with linear or semi-linear levels. However, these levels are often intricately designed and reward exploration.

4. What are the different AC builds I can create in Armored Core 6?

The possibilities are vast. You can create heavily armored tanks, agile skirmishers, long-range artillery platforms, and everything in between. Experimenting with different combinations of weapons, legs, cores, and FCS units is key to finding builds that suit your playstyle.

5. Does Armored Core 6 have PvP multiplayer?

Yes, Armored Core 6 features a dedicated PvP arena where players can test their customized AC builds against each other in ranked and unranked matches.

6. Is there character customization in Armored Core 6?

While you don’t directly customize a human character’s appearance, the depth of AC customization allows you to express your creativity and tailor your mech to your specific preferences.

7. Can I play Armored Core 6 co-operatively with friends?

Armored Core 6 does not feature co-operative campaign gameplay. The multiplayer aspect is strictly focused on PvP arenas.

8. What are some tips for beginners in Armored Core 6?

Focus on understanding the energy management system, experiment with different weapons and parts, learn enemy attack patterns, and don’t be afraid to fail and retry missions. Watch gameplay videos and read guides to learn advanced techniques.

9. What platforms is Armored Core 6 available on?

Armored Core 6 is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

10. Does Armored Core 6 have multiple endings?

Yes, Armored Core 6 features multiple endings that are determined by the player’s choices and actions throughout the game.

11. How long does it take to beat Armored Core 6?

The main story can be completed in around 20-30 hours, but exploring all content and achieving all endings can take significantly longer, depending on your skill and playstyle.

12. What are the different weapon types in Armored Core 6?

Armored Core 6 features a wide variety of weapon types, including rifles, machine guns, shotguns, missile launchers, melee weapons, and specialized energy weapons.

13. Is Armored Core 6 beginner-friendly for players new to the Armored Core series?

Yes, Armored Core 6 is designed to be more accessible to new players than previous entries in the series. While it retains the series’ core mechanics, it introduces them in a more gradual and intuitive way.

14. Are there difficulty options in Armored Core 6?

No, Armored Core 6 does not offer traditional difficulty settings. However, the deep customization options allow players to tailor their AC builds to overcome specific challenges, effectively adjusting the game’s difficulty.

15. Is Armored Core 6 worth playing if I’m a fan of FromSoftware’s other games?

If you enjoy FromSoftware’s signature design sensibilities – challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and a rewarding sense of accomplishment – then Armored Core 6 is definitely worth checking out. While it’s not a Souls game, it offers a unique and compelling experience that shares many of the same qualities.