Since From Software has been using the same game engine since Armored Core 4 (Dantelion Engine), it's a rather simple process to port models and other assets between games, including Elden Ring and Armored Core 6. So we're probably going to be seeing A Cs running around fighting undead, and Flame giants fighting mechs soon.
Souls lore YouTuber SmoughTown made an hour-and-half video discussing the story (divided up into subtopics). I think that the game actually did a stellar job at delivering the core narrative with clarity, but the video did shine a helpful spotlight on a few things that I didn't quite catch, like the nature of Branch and ALLMIND possibly being a creation of Walter's father (Prof Nagai's assistant) to continue working towards Coral Release after Nagai thwarted it with the Fires of Ibis the first time around.
Whelp, I've done it. 100%. All parts, all weapons, and all missions at S-rank. Kind of annoyed at the way that I cheesed the final bosses with quad shotguns, but I don't find much fun in tinkering when there is an obviously correct answer.
Great game, though. Looking forward to whatever is next for the series. I understand that according to tradition there's going to be some sort of 1.5 version?
Hmm, well the real stand-out is of course Michigan. That dude has some great lines, and the actor delivered them with excellent gusto. Normally I don't enjoy the Drill Sergeant Nasty, but Michigan is just great. Really enjoyed his last stand alongside a 50+ MT squad too.
I also have to give props to Iguazu. His one-sided rivalry with 621 over the course of the game is somewhat funny-pathetic, but then on NG++ he overpowers a god-like AI through The Power of Hate just to get one last shot at you, which I thought was both awesome and hilarious.
Other than that, the characters were all competently put together, and I enjoyed my time with most of them. The only exception I can think of was "Chatty" Stick, whose character profile in the arena does not seem to match his actual writing, which just sort of confused me.
Edited by Kayeka on Sep 9th 2023 at 1:40:10 PM
I dunno how the heck you were able to tolerate S-ranking some of those missions, especially ones like the Watchpoint/Balteus and searching Institute City/CEL Ibis. Those bosses are absolutely demanding as heck, and I'm somehow supposed to eliminate them with both speed AND minimal damage/munitions consumption?!
If there is a 1.5, it might be as DLC Instead of a full game at retail, as Capcom Sequel Stagnation of that kind isn't really in vogue anymore.
Watch SymphogearStarting to see why some folks say the plot of AC 6 is basically a weird inception-esque copy of Daemon Ex Machina.
In addition to both being about the same exact concept (highly customizable mechs piloted by mercenaries that quickly zoom around the battlefield, fight other mechs, and giant bosses on a post-apocalyptic planet), the key plot points are almost the same too: ALLMIND is essentially Four in almost every way, the Coral resource behaves similarly to Femto (it's even colored the same!) and the big twist for both involves integrating key augmented mercenary pilots in order to help create the next stage of human evolution.
Just realised that Rusty's Overed Rail Cannon in the Ice Worm mission is a Shout-Out to the Positron Rifle sequence in Evangelion.
One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.A small balance and bugfix patch was released today with the focus on kinetic weapons, which all received significant buffs. Definitely useful since I know a good chunk of the kinetic rifles were generally regarded to be downright inferior to almost everything else. Oh, and Balteus, the Sea Spider, and CEL-IBIS were "adjusted" slightly, though I don't know if that was to make them easier or to remove glitchy behavior.
Did a few missions with the Etsujin, and man it's so much better now; it's basically a much lighter Hu-Ben, with a higher per-bullet damage in exchange for lower fire rate. The Zimmerman is still the ultimate kinetic weapon, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Sure wish the Haldeman also got a buff, though. As it is there's literally no reason to use it over the Zimmerman or Sweet Sixteen.
Hitokiri in the streets, daishouri in the sheets.

It's not 100% perfect, but someone was able to actually recreate
the Metal Wolf in Armored Core VI!