Augmented Humans in Armored Core 6: Pilots Beyond the Brink

Augmented Humans in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon represent a significant evolution of the Human PLUS concept from earlier Armored Core titles. They are individuals who have undergone extensive surgical and cybernetic enhancements designed to optimize their piloting abilities within Armored Cores (ACs). These augmentations push the boundaries of human capability, allowing them to achieve feats of control and responsiveness far exceeding that of ordinary pilots. The process, however, comes at a cost, often involving the suppression of emotional responses and the erosion of their original identities, blurring the line between human and machine. They are essentially human weapons, tools refined for combat efficiency above all else.

The Price of Perfection: What Makes an Augmented Human?

The path to becoming an augmented human in the Armored Core universe is a brutal one, demanding a sacrifice of the self for the sake of piloting prowess. The specifics can vary but generally involve the following:

• Neurolink Interface: A sophisticated neural interface is implanted, allowing the pilot to directly interface with the AC’s control systems. This bypasses traditional manual controls, enabling instantaneous reactions and precise manipulation of the machine. The degree to which this interface is successful varies widely.
• Cybernetic Augmentations: These enhance physical capabilities such as reaction time, strength, and endurance. They also include sensory enhancements that provide the pilot with a heightened awareness of their surroundings within the AC.
• Psycho-Emotional Conditioning: Crucially, augmented humans often undergo procedures designed to suppress or eliminate emotional responses. This is to minimize hesitation and maximize focus during combat, removing any vestiges of moral quandaries.
• Coral Dependency (Rubiconian Augments): In the context of Rubicon and the events of Armored Core 6, the unique substance known as Coral plays a key role. Some augmented humans display a connection to Coral, amplifying their piloting abilities but potentially leading to unpredictable consequences and altered perceptions.

The result is a pilot who is less human but more machine, ideally equipped to push an Armored Core to its absolute limits. This dehumanization, however, forms a core thematic element of the game, raising questions about the ethics of such enhancements and the cost of war. Unit 621, the player character, is the embodiment of this theme, a blank slate shaped by the demands of Walter and the conflicts on Rubicon.

Gameplay Implications

From a gameplay perspective, the Augmented Human status can manifest through:

• Enhanced AC Performance: Augmented pilots can often handle more demanding AC configurations, push their machines to greater speeds, and execute more complex maneuvers.
• Increased Responsiveness: The direct neural link translates to near-instantaneous reactions, allowing for split-second decisions and precise control in the heat of battle.
• Unique Abilities (Potentially): Depending on the specific augmentations, some pilots might possess unique combat abilities or tactical advantages. In older games, the Human Plus enhancements gave players distinct gameplay advantages.
• Mental Resistance: Augmented pilots in AC6 seem to have increased mental resistance due to suppression of emotions.

Narrative Significance

The concept of the Augmented Human in Armored Core 6 feeds directly into the game’s narrative themes:

• Dehumanization of War: The creation of augmented humans highlights the ways in which war can strip away individuality and turn people into weapons.
• Ethical Considerations: The game raises questions about the morality of enhancing humans for combat, exploring the potential consequences of sacrificing humanity for the sake of efficiency.
• Loss of Identity: Many augmented humans struggle with their sense of self, grappling with the loss of their original identities and the psychological toll of their enhancements.
• The Nature of Control: Augmented humans are often beholden to powerful organizations or handlers, raising questions about autonomy and free will.
• Coral as a Catalyst: In AC6, Coral further complicates the issue, representing both a source of power and a potential path to further dehumanization or even transcendence.

What is C4-621’s backstory?

The past of C4-621, the player character, is shrouded in mystery. What is clear is that they underwent extensive augmentation and conditioning, losing much of their original identity in the process. They are essentially a blank slate, molded into a weapon by Walter.

Who is Walter?

Walter is C4-621’s handler, providing missions and guidance throughout the game. He has a complex and enigmatic relationship with 621, treating them as both a valuable asset and a tool to be used.

What makes Fires of Rubicon different than others?

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon significantly differentiates itself from its predecessors in terms of storyline and plot, offering compelling reasons to replay the game multiple times. The game has numerous branching paths that allow the player to take part in missions that drastically differ from one another, impacting the way the story progresses and changes the endings available to the player.

Augmented Human FAQs:

Here are some frequently asked questions about augmented humans in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon:

1. Are all Armored Core pilots augmented humans?

No, not all pilots are augmented to the same degree. There’s a spectrum of augmentation, with some pilots undergoing minor enhancements while others, like C4-621, have undergone extensive modifications.

2. Does becoming an augmented human guarantee success in combat?

No, augmentation doesn’t guarantee victory. Skill, strategy, and the AC’s configuration are also crucial factors. Augmentation simply provides a potential edge.

3. Can augmented humans be “cured” or revert to their original selves?

This is a complex question with no easy answer. The extent of the augmentations and the psychological impact can make reversion difficult, if not impossible. It is unknown at this time.

4. How does Coral affect augmented humans?

In Armored Core 6, Coral can have a profound effect on augmented humans, potentially enhancing their abilities or causing them to experience hallucinations and altered states of consciousness.

5. Is it possible to resist the effects of augmentation?

The extent to which an augmented human can resist the psychological effects of their modifications varies. Some may retain a stronger sense of self than others.

6. Are there different types of augmentation?

Yes, it’s likely that different organizations and factions utilize different techniques and technologies for augmenting pilots.

7. Is Human PLUS the same as Augmented Human?

While similar in concept, “Augmented Human” in Armored Core 6 appears to be a more nuanced and narratively integrated version of the “Human PLUS” system from older games.

8. How tall is an Armored Core mech?

They generally stand around 32 feet (10 meters) tall, though there can be variations depending on the specific model.

9. What happened to Earth in the Armored Core universe?

Earth suffered a catastrophic event, forcing humanity underground and shaping the dystopian world of Armored Core.

10. Are there any benefits to being a human plus?

The ability to go beyond normal human limitations is an advantage. Human PLUS offers players distinct gameplay advantages.

11. Is Armored Core 6 a “Souls-like” game?

While it shares some design elements with FromSoftware’s Souls series, Armored Core 6 is primarily a mech action game with its own distinct identity.

12. Who is V.IV Rusty?

V.IV Rusty is a member of the Arquebus Vesper squadron and a “self declared” eighth generation augmented human.

13. How does the “Neurolink” work in Armored Core?

The Neurolink is an advanced interface inserted into the pilot’s skull to provide an extremely advanced connection. The varying degrees of success in integrating this technology make them more effective or can make piloting less effective.

14. Do the Armored Core Mechs have cockpits?

ACs prior to Armored Core V, the cockpit lacks a way for the pilot to abandon his craft in an emergency. From Armored Core V onward, the cockpit comes equipped with an emergency jet-pack and a personal sidearm.

15. How can video games like Armored Core teach us about the human condition?

GamesLearningSociety.org can provide more insights on this topic, but in short: Armored Core 6‘s exploration of augmented humans offers a compelling lens through which to examine themes of identity, dehumanization, and the ethical implications of technological advancement. By putting players in the role of C4-621, the game prompts reflection on the cost of war and the very definition of what it means to be human. You can explore more about games and learning at the Games Learning Society website.