Summary
Armored Core 6was released this week, reviving the vehicle-combat series after a decade-long absence. Boasting a wide range of gameplay improvements, as well as a few player-friendly additions, the title offers a unique experience among developer FromSoftware’s modern lineup. Before its release, FromSoftware repeatedly confirmed thatArmored Core 6is not a Soulslike. Despite this, fans were quick to identify the genre’s influence on the title. In no area is this influence more apparent than inArmored Core 6’s tutorial, where players are forced to confront the AH12 HC Helicopter. A tough tutorial boss is nothing new from FromSoftware, butArmored Core 6’s AH12 HC breaks a longstanding tradition, raising the stakes for its tutorial boss fight and plunging players head-first into the game’s challenging combat.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconis the first title in theArmored Coreseries since 2013’sArmored Core: Verdict Day. Taking the fan-favorite series to new heights,Armored Core 6evolves previous titles' already stellar gameplay and infuses it with modern controls and a reworked Assembly system. Perhaps the biggest change comes in the form of Repair Kits, which, unlike previous titles, allow pilots to heal themselves three times per mission. Additionally, the new Impact mechanicallows player and enemy ACs to be staggered by continuous hits, opening them up for devastating amounts of damage.
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Armored Core 6’s Features a Traditional FromSoftware Tutorial Boss
The title may not be a Soulslike, butArmored Core 6carries on a FromSoftware traditionin its tutorial. Following some minor skirmishes in which players can get a handle on the game’s combat against simple enemies,Armored Core 6throws players into a 1v1 boss battle with the AH12 HC Helicopter. The AH12 HC boss fight sharply raises the game’s difficulty, and is wholly unlike any prior enemy encounter. Not only does the helicopter attack the player non-stop with both machine gun fire and homing missiles, but it can fire at the player from beyond the map’s limits. The AH12 HC’s extreme difficulty is proving divisive among players, with some venting their frustrations in negative Steam reviews and online videos.
Part of what makesArmored Core 6’s AH12 HC so difficult is the restrictions placed on players in the tutorial mission.TheArmored Coreserieshas long-featured a substantial customization system, allowing players to outfit their AC with armor, weapons, and parts that complement their play style and the mission environment. InArmored Core 6’s tutorial, players are locked into a pre-determined loadout which consists of a sword and a missile launcher. On top of this, the AH12 HC boss fight takes place on a raised platform housing rows of small buildings, which offer little shelter against the combat helicopter’s homing missiles and ability to attack from beyond players' traversable stage.
The AH12 HC Must Be Defeated to Begin Armored Core 6
FromSoftware is well-known for its difficult tutorials, as other properties such asDemon Souls,Bloodborne, andElden Ringend their opening missions with a daunting challenge. While these bosses can be defeated, they often exist to narratively defeat the player, initiating the title’s story mode.Armored Core 6’s AH12 HC breaks tradition in this area, as players are required to defeat the boss to begin the story. In fact, players will not be able to unlockArmored Core 6’s training missions, which teach basic combat and traversal, until mastering both mechanics against the AH12 HC.
Armored Core 6has received mostly positive reviewssince its release earlier this week. However, the extreme difficulty presented by defeating its tutorial boss has led some fans to post negative reviews across various platforms. While the AH12 HC continues a trend for FromSoftware, requiring players to defeat the boss to unlock the game’s story and tutorial missions breaks a long-standing tradition. Fans of FromSoftware’s modern lineup will undoubtedly enjoy the challenge, and players who struggle can rest easy knowing that success opens the door to AC customization.
Armored Core 6is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
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