Armored Core 6: Unlocking the Secrets of New Game Plus (NG+)
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The second playthrough in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, often referred to as New Game Plus (NG+), is a continuation of your story with enhanced features and new opportunities. It allows you to carry over almost all of your progress from the first playthrough, including your accumulated COAM (currency), acquired parts, OS Tuning upgrades, and unlocked emblem patterns, while presenting a fresh narrative experience with new missions, altered mission structures, and additional story elements leading to a different ending. This is crucial for achieving full completion and understanding the complete lore of Rubicon.
Deep Dive into Armored Core 6’s Second Playthrough
Armored Core 6 isn’t just a one-and-done experience. The second playthrough, and subsequently the third, are designed to encourage exploration, experimentation, and a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics and narrative. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Carrying Over Your Progress
The most significant aspect of NG+ is the ability to carry over the vast majority of your hard-earned progress. This includes:
- COAM: You retain all the currency you accumulated in your first playthrough, allowing you to immediately purchase any missing parts you desire.
- Parts: All of your unlocked AC parts are carried over. This gives you immediate access to your favorite builds, allowing you to tackle challenges with familiar strategies or experiment with new combinations from the outset.
- OS Tuning: The OS Tuning upgrades you invested in during your first playthrough, such as increased ACS recovery or improved weapon handling, persist into NG+. This gives you a significant advantage early on.
- Emblems: All unlocked emblem patterns and customization options remain available, letting you personalize your AC with your favorite designs.
- Combat Log Data: All combat log data carries over, allowing you to continue hunting for missing logs in the new missions.
- Nest Ranking: Nest ranking and pilot data carries over, allowing you to continue to compete against other players.
This generous carryover system makes the second playthrough less about grinding for resources and more about experiencing the new content and story branches.
New Missions and Altered Story Arcs
The core of the NG+ experience lies in the introduction of new missions and alterations to existing ones. These changes are not merely cosmetic; they often involve:
- Alternative Objectives: Missions that previously had a single linear objective may now offer alternative paths and goals, allowing you to influence the outcome of the conflict.
- New Encounters: Expect to face different enemy configurations and even encounter new enemy types in familiar locations. This keeps you on your toes and forces you to adapt your strategies.
- Branching Story Paths: Certain decisions and mission choices can lead you down entirely different narrative paths, unveiling new story elements and character perspectives. This is crucial for unlocking the other endings.
- New Boss Fights: Some missions may contain new boss encounters.
- Early Access to Missions: Some missions from the original playthrough may now be available earlier.
- New Dialogue: The dialogue in the old missions may change, giving you more insight into the world of the Armored Core universe.
These changes significantly alter the pacing and flow of the game, providing a fresh perspective on the events of Rubicon.
Unlocking the True Endings
Armored Core 6 features multiple endings, and accessing them requires playing through the game multiple times and making different choices in key missions. The second playthrough is essential for unlocking one of these alternate endings. By pursuing different objectives and making different decisions, you can steer the narrative in a new direction and witness a different resolution to the conflict.
Increased Difficulty
While you carry over your progress, the game’s difficulty also subtly increases in NG+. Enemies may have higher health, deal more damage, or exhibit more aggressive AI. This ensures that even with your upgraded AC, you’ll still face a challenging and engaging experience.
Progression Towards Platinum Trophy
For those aiming for 100% completion, or the Platinum Trophy on PlayStation platforms, completing the second playthrough is mandatory. It is through subsequent playthroughs that all missions, endings, and combat logs can be unlocked, ticking all the boxes needed for completion.
Why is NG+ so engaging?
Armored Core 6’s NG+ is more than just a repeat playthrough. It’s a structured way to explore the game’s complexities.
- Strategic Experimentation: With your resources intact, you can freely experiment with different AC builds and weapon combinations, allowing you to discover new strategies and playstyles.
- Lore Deep Dive: The new story elements and character interactions provide a deeper understanding of the world of Rubicon and the motivations of its inhabitants.
- Personalized Story: The choices you make in NG+ have a tangible impact on the narrative, allowing you to shape your own version of the story.
- Increased Challenge: The enhanced difficulty keeps you engaged and encourages you to refine your skills and strategies.
- Achievement Hunting: For completionists, NG+ is essential for unlocking all achievements and trophies.
In essence, NG+ transforms Armored Core 6 from a linear action game into a branching narrative experience with a strong emphasis on player choice and customization. It’s a testament to the game’s replayability and depth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly carries over to the second playthrough?
Almost everything! You’ll keep your COAM, AC parts, OS Tuning upgrades, emblems, combat logs, and nest ranking. The only thing you don’t carry over is your story progress.
2. Are there any new weapons or parts in the second playthrough?
No, new weapons or parts are not unlocked in the second playthrough, but alternative mission paths can allow you to receive weapons earlier than the initial playthrough.
3. Does the difficulty increase in NG+?
Yes, the difficulty subtly increases. Expect enemies to be slightly tougher and more aggressive.
4. How many endings are there in Armored Core 6, and how do I unlock them?
There are three main endings. You’ll need to play through the game at least three times, making different choices in key missions each time, to unlock all of them.
5. When do the new missions appear in NG+?
The new missions and altered mission structures will be present from the very beginning of your second playthrough. Look out for alternative mission choices and branching paths.
6. Do I need to complete all missions in NG+ to unlock the alternative endings?
No, you don’t need to complete every mission. Focus on making different choices in key missions that impact the story.
7. Can I still access the Arena in NG+?
Yes, the Arena remains accessible in NG+, and your progress from your first playthrough is carried over.
8. Are there any new enemies or bosses in NG+?
There are new bosses added in specific missions in the NG+ playthroughs and alternative versions of bosses.
9. What happens if I start a new game instead of continuing to NG+?
Starting a new game will erase your progress. You’ll start from scratch with no COAM, parts, or upgrades.
10. Is it worth playing Armored Core 6 more than once?
Absolutely! The new missions, altered story arcs, and multiple endings make it a highly rewarding experience to play through the game multiple times.
11. Does NG+ affect the availability of Combat Logs?
Yes, Combat Logs may appear in different locations as a result of the new missions available in NG+. This makes it easier to unlock the related achievement and to have a better collection.
12. How does OS Tuning carry over exactly? Do I need to re-purchase upgrades?
All OS Tuning upgrades you’ve already purchased are carried over automatically. You don’t need to re-purchase them. You can continue to spend earned OST Chips on other upgrades.
13. Can I skip cutscenes in NG+?
Yes, you can skip cutscenes in NG+, which can save time on subsequent playthroughs, if you choose to.
14. Does PvP get affected by NG+ in any way?
No, PvP is unaffected. It’s a completely separate game mode that doesn’t tie into the campaign progress.
15. What is the difference between the second and third playthrough?
The second playthrough introduces some new missions, altered story arcs, and leads to one alternative ending. The third playthrough introduces even more new missions and story branches, allowing you to unlock the final ending. It’s the culmination of the entire branching narrative.