FromSoftware stands as a globally acclaimed and highly regarded game company. With a history spanning 37 years, the company has produced a total of 37 games. It all began with the debut series, King’s Field trilogy, released between 1994 and 1996.
Shortly after, in 1997, the creation of Armored Core gave rise to a fresh series that dominated the company's popularity until the breakthrough success of Demon’s Souls in 2009. This was succeeded by the Dark Souls series in 2011. Their accomplishments paved the way for other similar titles, including Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the massively successful Elden Ring.
Given the immense popularity of the new genre, Armored Core was placed on the sidelines. Apart from Armored Core V and Armored Core: Verdict Day, launched in 2012 and 2013 respectively, no further titles have been released since then.
However, the tide is turning with the introduction of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, which will be available on various platforms.
If you're a dedicated enthusiast of Dark Souls and you're intrigued by the prospect of exploring the Armored Core realm, yet find yourself uncertain about what lies ahead, let's delve into a comprehensive overview. This will cover everything essential for your understanding, encompassing both the resemblances and distinctions between the two.
What do Armored Core and Dark Souls have in common?
Armored Core and Dark Souls may not share numerous commonalities, but there are certain attributes within Armored Core that would resonate with Dark Souls enthusiasts. These include a demanding gameplay experience, a richly developed lore, and the art of constructing intricate worlds.
In Armored Core, a rigorous and challenging combat system prevails, differing from the Dark Souls series in terms of subtleties and rhythm, yet centered on strategy, expertise, and unwavering determination. Familiar tactics like recognizing foe behaviors and pinpointing vulnerabilities remain essential, alongside the meticulous management of resources such as energy.
The world of Armored Core also unveils a profound and complex narrative as you navigate through its captivating landscape, mirroring a hallmark of the Dark Souls series. While it places slightly more emphasis on storytelling than Dark Souls, the profundity and expansiveness of the lore are akin.
What is different about Armored Core compared to Dark Souls?
Armored Core and Dark Souls exhibit fundamental distinctions across various aspects. The genre and gameplay diverge significantly, as do the backdrop and storyline. Let's explore the reasons behind these disparities.
Genre and Gameplay
Armored Core represents a mecha-oriented third-person shooter game where players operate extensively modifiable mechs named Armored Cores. It follows a linear, mission-centric plotline and places substantial emphasis on personalization.
In contrast, Dark Souls is a fantasy-themed action RPG centered around close combat. Players control humanoid characters as they navigate a labyrinthine, interconnected realm.
The key distinction to note is that Armored Core deviates significantly from the soulslike genre. It lacks the fundamental elements that characterize the Dark Souls series and other similar titles, such as bonfire checkpoints, restorative flasks, soul accumulation and recovery mechanisms, and the absence of a networked world design featuring unlockable shortcuts.
Setting and Narrative
Past installments of Armored Core took place in a distant era wherein a catastrophic event compelled a majority of Earth's population to inhabit subterranean habitats, while two major corporations vied for dominance over both the populace and the planet.
In comparison, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon adopts a somewhat distinct narrative. It unfolds in a forthcoming era where humanity has successfully colonized various regions of outer space, including a celestial body named Rubicon 3, which boasts an abundant supply of a rare and highly coveted substance referred to as Coral.
Even from this concise description, it becomes apparent that the setting diverges dramatically from the somber, interwoven medieval realm plagued by the curse of undeath and the recurring cycle of igniting the flame in the Dark Souls series.
Armored Core 6 might be FromSoftware’s best PC port yet
Elden Ring stands as FromSoftware's most acclaimed game up to now, and a significant factor contributing to this achievement is its functional state—once again showcasing the developers' proficiency, a feat replicated in their latest release. The translation of games onto PCs can be unpredictable, yet the reception for Armored Core 6's adaptation couldn't be more favorable, as early players of the revived franchise have reported.
Remarkably, the PC version of Armored Core 6 has garnered praise, even when running on hardware as limited as the Steam Deck. FightinCowboy, a prominent YouTuber, who had the privilege to preview and record the game's PvP mode, conveyed that this port surpasses the optimization standards of Elden Ring.
Given recent experiences with less-than-optimal PC ports like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and The Last of Us, it's understandable that many fans had reservations about how Armored Core 6 would perform on PC. However, the latest feedback seems to quell any apprehensions.
Moreover, if you're a gamer who envisions enjoying the mech-combat gameplay from the comfort of your bed, this aspiration seems viable with the Steam Deck. According to FightinCowboy, using the Valve handheld device maintained a commendable frame rate of 50FPS even on high graphics settings.
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