Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon • Retrospective • [The History of From Software]

Armored Core VI is a third-person shooter mech video game developed by FromSoftware.
it released 10 years after the last Armored Core title and picks up the creative thread where it was left of in Verdict Day.
in this viseo I discuss the creative behind the scenes stuff, the mechanics, I theorize a bit on the story and close out my series retrospective (until another AC launches)
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:29 Creative Stuff
10:51 Story
26:30 Gameplay
01:35:18 The Player
02:01:13 Conclusion
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My From Soft videos:
SinclairLore : Themes in Armored Core
• Themes in Armored Core...
Armored Core Videos:
Armored Core 1: • Armored Core • Retrosp...
Armored Core 2: • Armored Core 2 • Retro...
Armored Core 3: • Armored Core 3 • Retro...
Armored Core 4: • Armored Core 4 • Retro...
Armored Core 4 Answer: • Armored Core for Answe...
Armored Core V: • Armored Core V • Retro...
Armored Core Verdict Day: • Armored Core Verdict D...
ARMORED CORE 1 CHAT: • Themes in Armored Core...
Dark Souls Videos:
ANALYSIS: • DARK SOULS • The Ultim...
LORE: • Exploring the Story of...
TRANSLATION: • Gwyn's Story • Dark So...
Sekiro Videos:
ANALYSIS: • Sekiro • Analysis (Ful...
LORE: • Exploring the Story of...
Bloodborne Videos:
ANALYSIS: • Bloodborne • Analysis ...
LORE: • Exploring the Story of...
TRANSLATION: • Bloodborne's Story • T...
Demon's Souls Videos:
ANALYSIS: • A Look Back At • Demon...
LORE: • Exploring the Story of...
TRANSLATION: • Re-Exploring the Story...
King's Field Videos:
King's Field 1: • A Look Back At • King'...
King's Field 2: • A Look Back At • King'...
King's Field 3: • A Look Back At • King'...
King's Field 4: • A Look Back At • King'...
Shadow Tower Videos:
• A Look Back At • Shado...
• A Look Back At • Shado...
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Interfaces & Immersion video:
• Interfaces & Immersion...
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Patreon: / medievalmegaman
Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/aesiraesthetics
Discord: discord.gg/uP6pbrFFXA

[@Bath0rius]

About the economy in the game being de-emphasized, I personally think that this makes a lot of sense from a narrative perspective. The corporations in AC6 are infinitely more wealthy and powerful than the ones we've seen in the previous games. They are chasing the most valuable resource in existence and are willing to pay extremely large sums of money to mercenaries, if it helps them achieve their goal of gaining control over the coral. You're not a mercenary trying to barely make a living, you're in a resource war, driven by extreme greed of already immensely wealthy entities. Therefore, money not being a big concern to you, since any amount of money is insignificant compared to the value of the coral, is very understandable. (Obviously I understand why debt and the economy basically not being a factor at all might be disappointing, I'm just saying, that there's a narrative justification for it.)

[@Ghorda9]

it also allows the game to be more unforgiving in other areas.

[@zachthompson9976]

Thank you for this! As a newbie to the series with ac6 and someone who has enjoyed this retrospective series after and while playing ac6 it has bothered me that the economy is so forgiving, even though I enjoy the freedom it gives greatly. I couldn't come up with an in universe explanation to satisfy me so it's always been a problem for me. Thank you for solving that problem friend 😊

[@bombomos]

I don't think the economy is de-emphasized at all. It took me 3 playthroughs to afford to buy all the parts in the shop. Most other Armored Cores you can do that on the second playthrough. Cuz the difference is most other Armored Cores you NEED to have at least two different ACs. One for regular missions. And one for running hard or AC filled missions. Plus ammo is a lot more plentiful in AC6 than other games. And most of the missions are military based big operations rather than small scouting missions or fix out base defenses by pushing the big red button. Lol So AC6's economy makes sense, but at the same time weapons and parts cost alot more than previous entries so you won't get them all very fast like other titles

[@Bath0rius]

@@bombomos I get what you mean, though that's not really what I was referring to. In AC6 you're never really concerned about not having enough money and going into debt is completely impossible I think. So those economic considerations are not part of the equation in the game, the way they were in some previous titles.

[@_BlackenedSun]

Armored turd 6 has to be the most forgettable game I’ve ever played no story, same boring repetitive mission,and ugly ps3 graphics no wonder this garbage died on launch

[@Ikcatcher]

As someone who only played AC6, your retrospective series has really shown me what a unique franchise Armored Core is

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@zachthompson9976]

It's been the same for me. Like many I discovered the series when ac6 was announced. It's been great learning about the franchise while playing ac6

[@Verminator4]

A comment on C4-621 as the player name, it’s worth noting that the number 4 has bad mojo in Japanese superstition similar to the number 13 in Christianity as it has associations with death. This number is very often used in the context of human augmentation in the mecha genre dating back to the anime Zeta Gundam, which featured a character called Four Murasume, who is probably the most famous example of augmented humans in the genre. Four isn’t her real name, it’s her batch number at the Murasume institute where her augmentation was carried out, and her real memories and identity were erased. She’s got one of the most tragic and memorable plot arcs in that show and subsequent Gundam series and other mecha media often call back to it. I think 621 being 4th gen and thus “C4” is a call back to this as well as tying back into the original superstition behind the number. Ironically though, whereas in most of the rest of mecha fiction human augmentation is often seen as a tragic and misguided attempt at emulating some special characteristic, such as attempting to artificially recreate Newtypes in Gundam, the gen 4 augmentation in AC6, cursed as it is, is the special catalyst for achieving Coral Release in the third ending for the game, which is more analogous to Undead being able to link the fire or otherwise achieve world-altering outcomes in the Dark Souls series.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Oooh, I didn't consider this, good insight! :)

[@arsarma1808]

Other C generations can be used for the coral convergence as well. I think O'keefe was C3, but he got updated surgery to remove his coral dependence, making him inviable. Sully is a generation 1 augment, and was attempting to make contact for ALLMIND when you go to fight him. The other C4 on the planet is Iguazu

[@zachthompson9976]

Thank you! I love learning tid bits like this from other mecha fiction, which I have little experience with other than the amazing Iron blooded orphans

[@nicholaswhitmyer3450]

Also funny that g13 is also the other unlucky number were also assigned to in the red guns

[@dumbsterdives]

I think your read on what Ayre is exactly is pretty on the money. She is, as Allmind calls it, a "C-Pulse Wave Mutation". And from Father Dolmayan's story, we know she's not the only one. My reading is that Coral on a base level is a eusocial colony organism, like earth's siphonophores. The individual components are very simplistic and can't do much, but they collect together to become a sort of super-organism. The coral flow, as Ayre calls it. The mutations caused by extreme density can result in the individual coral units developing into a more distinct entity like Ayre or Seria, and Contact with a human infused with coral allows them to properly manifest, which is why Ayre and Seria both seem to have been rather undeveloped when they were first encountered.

[@15awesomehighfive]

I don't think Snail's ambush is a cheap moment for 2 reasons: 1) it's in character for Snail to best 621 in the surprising, cunning way he does, 2) you get the chance to avoid being taken down later by heeding Allmind's advice and now being the one to ambush Snail, reinforcing Allmind's power and creep-factor alongside the catharsis inherent in revenge.

[@dumbsterdives]

I will note there does seem to be in-universe reasoning for why the economy is under-emphasized, and that's that Walter needs us out of debt to do the work he needs us to. Most notably in the NG++ mission "Escort the Mobile Mining Platform", where because we failed to fulfill the contract we don't get our actual promised pay from the RLF. But we still get a reward, because Walter pays us out of his own pocket. Definitely still kinda sucks that its become such a non-factor, but at least there's a decent reason

[@meeperdudeify]

meanwhile, Ayre is Broke as Fuck

[@coreyrachar9694]

You did it! I remember way back in the day I commented something like 'an armored core retrospective would be sweet!' on one of your videos and all these years later here we are, at the end of a full series analysis. It was much greater than I could have asked for, Aesir, you sir, are the man.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you, glad to hear it was worth the wait :)

[@StainlessPot]

Allmind does tell you its motivation straight up, and often: Allmind exists for all mercenaries.

[@iamthehobo]

I'm so excited to hear you are close to completion on your game. I've been following for a few years, and as your KZbin channel has taken off I wondered if you had abandoned the reason you'd started in the first place. I don't know you but I'm proud of you

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you very much :)

[@SmoughTown]

Oh yeah! Grabbing a hot chocolate

[@deliriushunter]

Legend 👑

[@AesirAesthetics]

Enjoy :)

[@jtreview7506]

I really love the characters giving you their blessing to do the other ending cause I felt so bad about wanting to do them till I heard that and it was the only reason I was able to platinum it from an emotional standpoint

[@jtreview7506]

@@awhellnah__ he’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s a true homie

[@BlueMagicite]

Thanks for the vid! Was starting to see the similarities with AC6 and Bloodborne's story beats that I thought I was going crazy lol. Nice to see From Software constantly using similar themes and setting scenarios while presenting them in totally different ways. Really appreciated how you brought parallels with how Old Blood and Coral are used in very similar manners in their settings, with Coral's volatility being a really funny reconfigure of how Old Blood runs the risk of "exploding" into beasthood, horrifying collateral damage being huge risks in both scenarios.

[@Alex-ip1dn]

An absolutely amazing series. Both armored core and your work Aesir. Thank you for all these awesome videos. Much love!

[@carlhaucke3304]

Jawdropping masterpiece, even after platinum iam digging and playing this game. Beautiful video

[@AesirAesthetics]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@DomDomPop]

I was honestly surprised that the supply sherpas didn’t integrate part replacement functionality into them, but honestly it makes more sense to let you do it after you die and have seen what parts and weapons the enemy warrants using, and lets them allow you to do it upon each death instead of just at single supply points. An interesting thing I noted, though, is that allowing enemy ACs that duel to use repair kits as well, it elevates the repair kit function from just a gameplay mechanic to something that ACs just have, player or not, and so it ends up justified in the story. Plus, it gave them a good way to trigger voice lines without you accidentally skipping them by killing your opponent too fast.

[@piratekingthaszar7912]

This is one of the few games that actually makes me feel bad for my usual mindset of "thats very interesting Ms. Xenos. Please face the wall."

[@vermillioncross657]

Also really enjoy how in depth you go in to development process

[@kabaaltheraven4471]

Aesir, whenever I see that you have uploaded, It always makes my day, you are legit one of my favorite creators on this platform. ^v^ My experience with Armored Core before 6 was mainly in Formula Front on psp. I cannot tell you how much your retrospectives on this franchise has accelerated my enjoyment of 6, and how much I want to dive into the older games! You've released this less than a week after I completed NG++ on AC6, and I cannot think of a better way to relax and digest my experiences with this awesome game.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Enjoy :)

[@treefroggy]

You just barely touched on something I have been saying all along: when you said AC was not from softwares first game released, but it was their first game designed. There has been an ebb and flow between armored core, kings field, armored core, shadow tower, armored core, Evergrace, armored core, skip a few, and demons souls. People are too worried about other games influence on AC and don’t realize this. But also, I agree, AC6 is not my favorite. It’s beautiful, but I prefer the PS1/2 armored core games, which feel more chill, and have way bigger maze like facilities and caves to get lost in. I also really really miss the techno beats. I liked the contrast old armored core has to other from soft games, simultaneously more chill gameplay, and more upbeat tunes. Armored Core 6 is super stressful like a souls like, way more focused on bosses, way more linear facilities and caves, and the music is downright depressing… not my fave

[@stealthyremote7424]

This video having anything less than 100k likes is mind boggling. This is straight up a AAA tier retrospective. I haven't seen any of the other AC videos you've done but after this one I'm definitely going to binge them all. I really hope your channel explodes in popularity. All the love from a new subscriber! ❤

[@AesirAesthetics]

thank you :)

[@Dawn7431]

idk if anyone has said this yet but i absolutely love the colour scheme of your mech!! Also, great video dude!

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol! Thank you :D No one had said anything about my mech yet!!! >:O

[@societyman6591]

I am sympathetic to most of your critiques of Elden Ring, but the Radahn fight is far superior to the ice worm fight. Both fights have great presentation, but the ice worm's mechanics boil down to finding an opening, which is all about anticipating where it will emerge and present its face for the player to have a chance at hitting it with the stun needle launcher. Radahn's fight, when stripped of all the heraldry, is still a mechanically fun fight.

[@guilhermecardoso2365]

I disagree because torrent is just way too weak and good luck healing him mid fight. The worm is so much more fun to fight, even if it's way too easy

[@JerfVR]

Instead of an intense monster hunt, the ice worm fight just felt like a long QTE. First time I played it I just backed off and watched how it was bouncing around and got it. Graphically and thematically impressive. Gameplay was practically nonexistent. The weaponized mining walker early on felt much more involved despite being fairly easy.

[@darkwhispersstories47]

​@@guilhermecardoso2365eh the most entertaining part of the fight is watching Snail and Iguazu die super easily xD

[@darkwhispersstories47]

@awhellnah__ throw ds1 as well Like imagine justifying anything after anor Londo LMAO

[@Supercohboy]

Agreed. The IW fight is more of a time sink than a fun challenge after the first couple of completions. And you don't get unique dialogue for saving Chatty from punching out during the mission either :(

[@Whiteyy191]

Wow, really great video. Clearly you’ve done your research.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@badmemesruineddreams6129]

I think this is easily one of the most interesting videos on AC6 I've seen. I was never really into any souls game but hearing the comparisons of a few of AC6's story beats and games like BB, as well as the gameplay changes they made in 6 overall really got me thinking just how much the development cycle was impacted over its runtime. The biggest concern that I see with calling a new game, and particularly the one we got, Armored Core 6 is that idea and element of continuity within the series. Even with the massive changes that games like ACIV and ACV brought they where still trying to move forward and add on top of the core gameplay/narrative/design elements that the previous games had brought in. What strikes me the most with AC6 is that the vast majority of comparisons it gets are to games like Sekiro or BB, not just as having influence on a few points, like a gameplay mechanic or style for a few armor pieces, but for several big aspects like the narrative, design, and gameplay itself. Watching this video helped me to realize that. I like its customization, its got solid gameplay moments, the FS boss battles are there for the huge cinematic fights, but I never felt it fit in with Armored Core as a concept. Not because it wasn't a new game based on my personal favorite Armored Core nor that it adds in elements from FS's recent soulslike games. It feels like something very different is at the core identity of Armored Core 6, maybe that is because of issues during development or maybe something adjacent to what happened to 2017 Prey where they where told to use a different name than the one they wanted.

[@SA-mo3hq]

This series has been an absolute delight for a crusty old Raven like me. Thank you. I think the final story path of AC6 is an intensely hopeful final breaking of the cycle. If you take the AC series as one continuous continuity, it paints humanity as stuck in a self-destructive, endless cycle of corporatised warfare and subjugation by well-meaning but inhumane AI. By AC6, this endless, suffocating war may have played out hundreds, maybe thousands of times, showing that humans are categorically unable to break free of the exploitation of the Mech Economy. Only through injection of new life, only by symbiosis with the Coral, could humanity finally, hopefully, break the cycle and escape into a truly different path of evolution.

[@meeperdudeify]

Main System Activating Combat Mode

[@Battletoads2]

I have 860h in Elden Ring and 135h in AC6. I'm 43 and have been gaming since I was 8 y/o. I have just this to say. I want AC6 dlc/expansion more than anything in gaming. Period. Even more than the ER Shadows of the Erdtree.

[@zachthompson9976]

This video is so fucking good! This is my third time watching it. It's informative, thoughtful, and very entertaining. Great game! On my 4th playthrough. I just can't stop playing it

[@drjcup3228]

Just discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago. Been eagerly awaiting this video.🙂

[@AesirAesthetics]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@drjcup3228]

Immensely!

[@gordwrath6811]

I know you may have wanted to have a selection of mechs, to steer your build. But I think giving us all a generic mech, and seeing what we do, was the best way. It allowed us to be so much more individual in our builds.

[@lesslighter]

also the starter AC is basically just a "starter ac" just like the old games meaning 4th gen and 5th gen are semi unique in their own ways, while ACV starts you in a biped once you get over the tutorial mission you have all 4 major leg types though they are junk to choose from

[@NineConsonants]

Discussion of starting builds at around 45:00 I thought actually highlights a huge missed opportunity for From, namely the Preset AC Data feature (the thing no one ever used that lets you copy mechs you've fought in the Arena). In my head, the AC Data was a cool way to help stuck players, as it would be a way for From to give ideas for builds and encourage weirder purchases. As long as they playtested it and had them delivered at the right time, certain pain points (such as challenging bosses) could be eased by using certain AC Data. I attempted to do a challenge run where you can can't make mechs, only use AC Data, and it turns out you cannot make almost any mechs from AC Data at all, and none with 4 weapon slots filled, until already past the ice worm, which is very late in the game. Almost all the mechs require late parts, which is really a bummer and makes the AC Data feature seem entirely pointless. I feel like they either needed to remake these mechs with earlier parts (which would limit the design of these mechs, which I don't think is good), or just make these Preset AC Data ACs as complete loans - you don't actually get the parts, or even pay for them, but you can still use the Preset AC Data mech. This way it would sorta give you a sneak peak into the future, letting you have something to work for. Maybe an early AC Data has a shoulder rocket you really like when you tested it, and when you can finally buy it you now are excited to pair it with other things you like. The one thing I did learn though is how strong the starter AC is once you have adjusted to playing the game, since it's by far the strongest preset AC data you have for the majority of the game, although I got hardstuck on the ice worm.

[@lesslighter]

the issue with AC data which has always been the case is that you dont get to access their full configs literally speaking until you have completed all parts library and or unlocked all tuning points as is the case in 4th gen where such thing started, fun if not a very lopsided feature of the game

[@schmity007]

Your point about Snail's cheap shot on us. To be honest I actually like the fact that it's a bit frustrating and comes out of nowhere. Much like Lautrec ruining Firelink Shrine, it's a completely in character action of Snail, and it's his actions that strip you of your AC, making him all the more irritating. From a design standpoint, I think the problem is that they wanted Snail to use the same tool the player did (stun needle), but if they had let you remain in control there's a high likelihood you would avoid the shot from just idly running around post battle. This in turn leads to a few options, they could give Snail a better weapon than the player can get in game, with an instantaneous shot, so fast it's impossible to dodge. They could have the player be forced to stand there, so as to have the shot land, just without a cutscene. That option also being one that immediately raises alarm bells to players, as every other boss fight let's you remain in control after victory. They could swarm you, but it's possible to actually win that, so the units would need to be infinite like the first Seathe encounter's floor attack. Really, there's no way for the shot to land without ripping control away from the player, so imo doing it abruptly in a cutscene actually works best, as the player is most likely to be off guard and assuming the worst of it is over after the fight. I certainly prefer it, to the notion of the man so cowardly he wouldn't reveal himself prematurely to save a comrade's life, suddenly deciding to rush us down when he knows how absolutely deadly we are. He just saw us best Ibis, it's frankly ridiculous to think that coward would do anything but snipe us from afar, if he was ordered to capture us after the fight

[@arbernardo7554]

Great insight, as always.

[@vizi02]

With how many times I have seen the game being compared to Sekiro due to the stagger system, I'm glad you've drawn more comparisons with Bloodborne, because both it and AC6 occupy pretty much the same mindspace for me - both manage to make the combat so engaging, entertaining and visceral that playing them is like a more agressive and mobile version of comfort food. And it's impressive in both games' unique way, because Bloodborne's cannon fodder focuses more on taking you out right then and there, while AC6's fodder focuses more on whittling you down on the long run, especially if you play with self-imposed old-school rules and don't use repait kits until you're in a boss battle. I wasn't a fan of Sekiro's hyperfocus on stagger (or rather, enemies having HP bars that don't really matter), so AC6's method of making both regular damage and stagger bonus damage reasonably big enough to not let one overshadow the other was a neat addition to the combat's agression, especially against enemy ACs. In regards of the economy not mattering much, I find this to be case ever since Nexus, altough I think AC6 is the best version of the post-Silent Line economy with how the focus is on two things. One being that AC parts and weapons are arguably the most indvidualized in their stats and roles for a generation starter game; and other being that everything is expensive enough that you do have to make decisions about which parts/weapons to use, and which of them being put in "storage" for when you want to swap something after dying to a miniboss/boss. And speaking of, I really like how you can access the assembly screen after death but not the shop, so you have even more incentive to test stuff in the test room and finding out what works for you and what doesn't. This isn't related to a specific thing you mentioned, but I do like how OG Raven, Freud and Iguazu together feel like intentional callbacks to certain aspects of AC as a whole. To me, OG Raven represents doing immoral things for the sake of having a job and income, Freud represents the AC mentality of changing AC equipment every now and then and seeking ways to test them, and Iguazu represents the way Human+ used to be the sort of failstate in AC1 - a punishment for having too much dept, being stripped from your individuality and thus freedom, while other AC pilots of your caliber can get by, being free and debtless. EDIT: Forgot to mention it, but you said you hope that detractors of AC4 will find their complaints addressed with 6, and to me: yes, absolutely. It's not only what ACV's correction towards a more grounded game should have been, but this is how AC4's and FA's increased speed and sense of action should have been done in the first place, period.

[@pinkemoslayer6337]

We're finally here, boys! 🥳

[@AesirAesthetics]

Enjoy :)

[@user-eg7il4pi3y]

really excellent so far

[@AesirAesthetics]

Glad you think so!

[@shotsniper009]

I did not know I needed this video so much. I tried a little bit of ac4 demo but was confused I fucking feel in love with AC6 though can't wait to go back to the older games now that I know what im doing

[@shockedb]

man i pray we get a dlc or a spin-off soon… i dont want it to stop 🤧

[@AesirAesthetics]

We fly high!!!

[@benjaminotalora363]

The moment I became obsessed with the assembly was around my second playthru, I was having trouble with one of the alternative missions with my usual zippy build so I decided frick it and slapped together a random heavy tank tread build. Not only was playing the mission a completely different feel, I ended up plowing through areas that gave my light build trouble.

[@tratamarack441]

Your voice almost sounds like Daniel Southworth's version of Vergil, at a lot of points. It's almost like hearing Vergil nerding out about a giant robot game.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Loool

[@irishijo1]

I think my biggest gripe about AC6 is the range of everything. There are no Sniper Rifles, no Sniper Cannons, and most weapons are effective between 100-200m away. Its not a big issue for most players, but as someone who likes sniper playstyles and who wanted to make a Quad Sniper as soon as I saw what 6 changed about them... I dunno. The lack of range I feel doesnt hurt the game, but does make the game feel alot more clausterphobic, and to me makes the combat more restrictive

[@vermillioncross657]

Thanks a lot off for your videos.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Glad you like them :)

[@JokerJay1990]

Finally! I got my coffee. I am ready.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Enjoy :)

[@Wilhelm4131]

It's a fact that Aesir always makes the best retrospective videos.

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@ProjectD13X]

Would you consider making a video on a potential wishlist on what you might want to see from whatever this generation's For Anwer/Verdict Day title might entail?

[@casabuenagabrielg.176]

Nice vid btw, now we'll have to wait if fromsoft would continue the gen sequel tradition or just settle with an expansion dlc

[@mattbarton2341]

Probably one my most favorite games ever.

[@KaikuPen]

On C4-621's designation, I read some fans speculating that it might be a reference to "Nineball", 6+2+1=9.

[@AesirAesthetics]

maybe

[@KaikuPen]

@@AesirAestheticsI admit; It's a bit of a leap, and with AC6 I find it hard to tell what is a coincidence, and what is a deliberate reference to previous games or the mecha genre itself. Dark souls is full of Berserk imagery and inspiration for example. And the Ibis fight is obviously inspired by the Kshatriya and Qubely from Gundam's UC timeline. But did FROM intend for the institute AC's to resemble the disorder units from AC2? sorta like how the Balam and Arquebus base AC models are clearly inspired by Crest and Mirage respectively. What about how the closure satellite's eye was shot in a way that mirrors the satellite cannon's in the ACSL opening?

[@wcjerky]

@@awhellnah__ "HL3 confirmed" vibes.

[@Tuberuser187]

I think the "tax" for a theoretical garage could be another currency, something like "favours" where if you do simple and short "find this data" or "kill x number of enemies" you earn a favour and then one of the factions like RaD send a mobile garage. Perhaps you don't have the currency but you get a "you owe me one" if you ask for the help, then you get one of those simple missions or perhaps a small side objective in another mission, say you owe BALAM so they want you to scan one of the Arquebus wrecks in the Ice Worm mission and failing to do it really annoys BALAM and you get locked out of the support until you make amends.

[@Boss_Fight_Wiki_muki_twitch]

Been waiting for 6 for a decade, loved it for the most part. There are some issues: 1) Same turn speed irrespective of AC weight 2) Attack power not inversely proportional to ease-of-use for some weapons (contrasted to previous titles) 3) Not big enough differential between attack/stun/fire rate/range for some weapons (relates to #2) 4) No true long ranged gameplay, besides missiles/rockets, due to the ricochet mechanic Also, PvE ACs are not subject to the same limitations as players like ammo or energy

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

wait - I never knew that AI ACs have infinite energy and don't need to reload. So they are pausing on their dodging arbitrarily?

[@Boss_Fight_Wiki_muki_twitch]

@@AdamOwenBrowning reload yes, tho ai ammo never runs dry. only 2/3rds sure the ai energy pool is bottomless. posted vids of all ac6 fights and you can see the ai does things exceeding what its ac specs are capable of.

[@alecolson8360]

I can’t believe I didn’t recognize Sulla’s name, the Roman historical parallels are crazy! Thanks a bunch! I’ll buy ur game :) I also feel like Iguazu might actually be more similar to allmind than first appears. Allmind seems really clinical and detached but the further you get with her the more you realize she is very jealous of humanity. She even has her own OC!

[@gamedominatorxennongdm7956]

Kate Markson, ALLMINDS vtuber persona.

[@HanJia879]

About Ayre and sentient coral waves, I am a little disappointed about how they are handled (just a little). It feels like they are contaminated by humanity. Here is why: while coral waves are capable of sentience, given their existence as energy forms, thus have no real need to interact with its environment or even each other, there is effectively no path for such life form to have things like culture and individuality. They can think, yet there is nothing for them to think, and no need to do so. The existence of human on their planet is what give them the path to actual thought. Ayre did not choose to speak to 621 in English (or Japanese depends on which dub you choose), it's the only language she knows. Coral's ability to interact with man-made systems allowed them to learn from human. At this early stage of interaction with humanity, the coral did not just get "inspired" by human culture, they most likely full on adopted the whole thing. While the game gave us a truly alien life form, they are not given the opportunities to grow into their own thing. Ayre is effectively a human without a body. In this sense Allmind is more alien than the coral. At least AI have entirely different moral standing from human.

[@meeperdudeify]

While Coral may adopt human cultural mannerisms and language, I'd argue that many of its goals and actions are still interestingly alien. Corals flocking instinct, for instance, while analagous to the behavior of many animals, is far more wide reaching; coral is tracked moving across continents and oceans to concentrate further. Similarly, the concept of Coral Release, seems to be both a goal of coral entities, as well as something they are unable to explain to humans. While their means of interacting with humans are fundementally shaped by human language and culture, they still have alien goals and motivations.

[@TeamOneDay]

Just finished watching the last retrospective, funny timing. What a journey Armored Core was. I remember watching a friend play the original Armored Core...God like, around 2 decades ago? Got me hooked when he gave me his spare copy and I've been a fan ever since. Even with drastic changes from AC3 to AC4 to AC5 I still really enjoyed every entry (even if I had some criticisms along the way). Here's hoping for more content for AC6 in the future.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Here's hoping!

[@ZXApocrypha]

Awesome vid, easy sub

[@AesirAesthetics]

welcome aboard!

[@SexyJay]

Finally someone giving the AC6 soundtrack some well deserved attention. It’s absolutely amazing and it’s sad seeing so much hate for it!

[@vladimirsabol808]

Another Aesir banger!!!

[@tjrage6168]

My game of the year for 2023

[@eyescreamsandwitch52]

your interpretation of coral is... interesting...

[@00paincakes00]

great video! I've been following all of these retrospectives as a newcomer to the series but diehard fan of this newest installment. thanks for the great content! I personally disagree with one of your points and would like to share. you mention that Balam and Arquebus discard the ideological angle in this game that the other ones play into. i believe that they do have clear ideological differences that are highlighted through the game, they're just not at the forefront of the story, and more of a subtle world building feature than a plot device. they're both money hungry at their core, after all they're only on Rubicon to seize the coral, but how they attempt to go about it says a lot. Balam is warlike, harsh, upfront, confrontational and honest. they make machines that hit hard and can be hit hard. they run their redguns like a military organization, and despite his gruff exterior Michigan is a caring, inspiring leader to his men. they believe in the honor of the battlefield, to romanticize it. they're taking over Rubicon by right of conquest, and if someone comes along and beats them then that was fate. Arquebus, on the other hand, is subtle and conniving. they build energy machines that can fly fast and kill from a distance. the vespers are corporate ghouls, constantly backstabbing one another for a higher spot on the ladder. Snail himself throws Maeterlinck's life away on a diversionary tactic, just like he was planning to do to us at the wall, and Pater jumps like 5 callsigns over the course of the campaign. they keep internment camps where POWs are "adjusted" with torture and surgery to act properly. they're obsessed with keeping up the appearance of civility, and results above anything else. this dynamic is why Balam never stands a chance in the long run. Snail pulls a tom Sawyer on Michigan at the ice worm fight, convincing him that the glory of killing the monster is worth the loss of the PCA fleet. Arquebus works less for more gain, and Balam is promptly annihilated with coopted PCA tech. its a sad story, really. despite their brutish exterior Balam were too fair and too proud to keep up with Arquebus, who despite their façade of civility will commit any horror to get ahead.

[@zachthompson9976]

Aesir is revealing the awesome power of a true fromsoft nerd! Algorithm plz bless this video. People need to see this

[@zlodrim9284]

Finally, Aesir delivers! Loved your assessment of the latest entry in the AC franchise and how it compares to the previous games, what it brings new to the table and how you've recognized Miyazaki's themes being all over it, which is just as you said a year ago: "Don't call me prophetic, I'm just a guy seeing trends". And you weren't wrong. I really liked the game, it's one of my favorite gaming experiences this year and I think From Software really nailed it and made a great game overall. If they decide to make one more AC game or give VI a DLC treatment, I'm all in and look forward to seeing what they'll cook up next, also interested to see whether they're going to turn towards a new IP entirely once they are done with Elden Ring's DLC next year. One thing is certain, whatever From Software does, they simply cannot miss and always give us a new, interesting gaming experience that completely dominates the conversation for months to come and they've had one of the greatest gaming runs in the industry ever since Demon's Souls. And to see them release a game of such caliber a year after Elden Ring, just wow. Also, you have a script ready for Bioshock 2? NICE, that game is overlooked, a maligned sequel as you called it in one your podcast episodes, and Minerva's Den DLC might just be one of the best standalone DLCs out there, and it's absolutely shameful how unappreciated and barely mentioned it is. It's not as great a title as 1 was, but it's pretty good and does a lot to refine and improve on the foundation set by 1, and I think it deserves to be talked about and appreciated more, so I'm interested to see how you will approach covering it.

[@MathMasterism]

This video just validates my opinion that the Ayer ending is objectively the best ending.

[@Godeias]

Sekiro is the ONLY modern FromSoft game I haven't beaten. Stuck on the Fire Demon side boss, I just want to beat him before I actually fight the final boss because I'm a stubborn man.

[@IntrusiveThot420]

At 1:09:00 or thereabouts, another upside of an "estus" or "repair kit" system is that it locks the bulk of a player's HP away in any given moment. If you have 9000 max AP, your heals heal for 6000, but a boss can combo you for 5000, you might have to take the risk of repairing at 3000 and being vulnerable to being one-shot if you miss a dodge. Or you can accept that you'll need to play faster, and pop the repair kits whenever you dip under 5000 AP, losing out on 6000 AP of overall healing. Decisions, decisions!

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

Something that adds to your point here about risk vs reward and flexibility through repair kits, they cannot be used if you are pressing other buttons. Repair kits force you to commit that one second to stop firing (or at least pressing any "fire" buttons) to spend some of your DPS in exchange for that heal. It further enhances the tradeoff.

[@solus9016]

22:40 The only connection I could find between 24-621 and C4-621 is that C is the 3rd letter of the alphabet, so it's number 2 if A = 0. It's a stretch, but that's the only thing I could think of

[@slowjamsliver7006]

Okay, Sulla wasn't there just to intercept you. There is also a Data Log from a destroyed stealth bot, between the first and second section of the level, that indicates that ALLMIND know about Ayre being at the Watchpoint. Lucky Sulla was going to trigger the same Coral blast you did or was at least protecting it until Ayre could be safely transferred to him.

[@slowjamsliver7006]

@@awhellnah__ There is no indicate that ALLMIND is certain of different method apart from doing Coral as a drug to connect with a Coral mutation, and with clock ticking causing a Coral explosion is our only other remaining method to interact with a Coral mutation. Thus we can't be certain he was never going to cause an explosion there.

[@randomaj237]

Maybe you mention this later, but the personification and ideologies of the corporations somewhat come from its members in my opinion. Snails cold pretentiousness calculated success. And Balam’s upfront ambitions and characteristics through michigan. This is something I really liked as it had me liking arquebus in the beginning, and hating them by the end of chapter 3 and preferring Balam instead.

[@SilentSpeak]

Personally I would have preferred even more parts that you can customize your Mac with like more internals and more external armor features like shoulder pads maybe and change out different like hand parts not just the entire arms but changing out the actual like fingers you know like maybe if they had a shoulder armor

[@AesirAesthetics]

Gimme capes! Gimme roman helmet hair!

[@user-yd3tb8xk8w]

I kinda just assumed Snail grinds a lot of Path of Exile so he made his emblem look like that games currency. 🤣

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol

[@Fedorchik1536]

This is also explains why he's such an ass to everyone - there is a new league and he has to waste his precious time on us and all this coral story.

[@OutrunCitizen]

How do you know who is responsible for what levels in sekiro? Are the credits that specific?

[@AesirAesthetics]

could you timestamp what part you're talking about?

[@MaitreMechant]

sorry if that was already asked but will your game be on steam ?

[@vijaydizzle]

letsgoooooooooo

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@eyescreamsandwitch52]

I see the healing mechanic the other way around, if they gave us all our AP back instead of dividing it into Repair kits, you'll notice how little damage you take. I feel like the button was wasted on the whole repairing mechanic that in the end was unnecessary as it does not pause your nor does it leave you to an opening and it just lead to me 1 tapping a lot of stuff in the single player with certain combos.

[@deliriushunter]

GOTY!!!!

[@powervidsful]

One thing I want to add is that you and a few others all reference dune/cyberpunk as elements of the design, which is somewhat true however ypu Misythe biggest elements, mecha which if you are familiar with it would see how many elements ac6 really has.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Absolutely! There is a great video to be made about how the Mecha genre has influenced the design of Armored Core over the years but I don't know anything about Mecha so I'm not the one to make that video. I look forwards to seeing it when someone else has though :)

[@user-is9kc4le6y]

AC6 is a epic master piece.

[@sleeperdart]

It is absolutely critiquing humanity, it's critiquing our reaction to what comes next

[@Supercohboy]

AC6 feels like it's FromSoft's attempt at a "final goodbye" to the old generation of AC games. After playing the same campaign over and over again, I've had a lot of time to scrutinize the details, and I think I see elements of what was planned versus what they could realistically implement. To put a long story short, it seems likely that AC6 was originally going to be pseudo-open world (look at that teaser trailer...), but those plans fell through as they needed to focus on making the game a tight, fun combat experience. Granted, this is a guess partly based on historical precedent; this happens to a lot of games. Since they weren't able to build the big semi-open world game that was planned (complete with an underground city region whose Coral lake may have once been a poison swamp...) I believe they decided to make AC6 more of a final goodbye to old systems. ACS overload is back and annoying, but fair/generally fun. All the old tropes and "laylines" of storytelling from previous traditional AC games are back. Ravens are a big deal for example. The guns and AC designs all harken to some of the oldest AC designs of the series and it's all a real swan song to ACs 1-3 especially. This seems to be a game that had troubled development behind the scenes, but the devs did a great job masking it and working with the resources they had. As is FromSoft tradition, and especially Armored Core development tradition. The entire series has been built on layers of compromises that have generally resulted in a final, imperfect but entertaining, product. I'm hoping for one or two DLCs and an accompanying same-generation sequel since the game sold so well, fingers crossed, but we'll see. The devs definitely deserve a break and all the time they need to come out with their next project, ER and AC6 have both expressed worrying trends in FromSoft's development cycles that I'm hoping are corrected, even in spite of how excellent both releases were. Edit: And with AC6 specifically being a sunsetting of the old generation, I'm hoping for more complex systems and an interesting future for the series. Maybe that's what was being hinted at with Ending C, that Armored Core may go into space next, and if they choose to, we could see some interesting Newtype sorts of antics going on with human/AC/Coral symbiosis being central to the setting. We'll have to see what the future holds.

[@DRNT940]

Yamamura didnt know what he was doing.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Let's dispell this myth that Yamamura doesn't know what he is doing! He knows exactly what he's doing!

[@DRNT940]

@@AesirAesthetics ok, sure

[@jactstone]

With the plant related moniker related to the vascular plant and xylem, and with AC6 assets being modelled to scale in comparison to Elden Ring, you could say Vascular Plant is the biggest "Tree" From Software has ever made.

[@AesirAesthetics]

"The Trees of From Software" Video coming soon...

[@Raganui]

I am absolutely curious how the future of AC6's universe could look in any of the endings. The Mech Economy isn't a thing, since everyone has gone so much bigger. Mechs are just a part of this bigger world, than being the biggest military thing in it. And at the end... did we all become the mechs? Transcending body of flesh and blood to be one of metal and Coral? Also, a fine end to your series.

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)

[@okami473]

congrats you're free !

[@AesirAesthetics]

Lol

[@slimebuck]

@@AesirAesthetics back to work 621, don't forget we are here for a reason

[@justinld]

I love this game but do not have as much time to game anymore and got stuck early on on Balteaus. I've tried it like 20 times but only got close to beating the boss once and just haven't had the time to go back and play with all the other games that have come out this year!

[@AesirAesthetics]

completely fair! There is a treasure trove waiting for you after Balteus, but it is one of those thingswhere you either have the time to put yourself through the meatgrinder or not :(

[@Ankan637]

If you want a tip from someone who struggled as well, try tank legs, with shoulder laser cannons and handheld pulse weapons. I struggled with Balteus for hours, and got him first try with this build

[@sixthcairn]

If you want a tip, Balteus gets infinitely easier even on Loader 4 once you notice that all of his moves have a massive blond spot right behind him; just staying behind and under him nullified a lot of his attacks, which is why he tries his best to run away from you to create distance, don't let him do that.

[@humanratteler9760]

I appreciate it, but I’m also not gonna casually walk away, pin this down for later and play ten+ games before the video essay XD

[@Web-jz9rg]

I swear that the trailer is not recognized as canon. But after the video I'm going to go look for source.

[@treefroggy]

It’s not magic, it’s spirituality.

[@annyonny1224]

Grab yourselves a six pack boys it's time

[@ligaar0849]

Walter's ac's paintjob looks nothing really close to nineballs schese other than that the main paint is a red. not even the same red though.

[@ThisIsYourGodNow]

i wish they would have hired some more unique sounding VAs for the English dub. It sounds too generically AAA to make me care, too Critical Role. Ended up playing it in Japanese

[@mrstudent9125]

Lol, a retrospective after a few months

[@AesirAesthetics]

In 10 years, the title will be apt, I'm future proofing it :)

[@cyberninjazero5659]

53:00 I'm sorry Aesir but So Says Jay beat you to making the "Armored Core is inspired by Dune" video. It's so over

[@AesirAesthetics]

I uploaded this video on September 25th!!!! Did he still beat me!?!?!

[@cyberninjazero5659]

@@AesirAesthetics His was uploaded September 12th... IT'S SO OVER

[@AesirAesthetics]

@@cyberninjazero5659I used to be somebody 😢

[@Godeias]

I honestly didn't like Ayre, even after understanding her story, so the fight with her at the end meant nothing to me. Mostly because they don't really give you a chance to like her, it seems like the game just expects you to, but her dialogue just comes off as annoying and manipulative at times. Walter and Rusty grow on you throughout the story so when I had to fight them it almost made me cry, and I felt physically and mentally hurt throughout the entire fights with both of them. I can kill Ayre over and over and feel nothing though lmao. Hell, I felt more for Chatty than Ayre, even.

[@WorkedSix28zerozero1]

I have to agree with this. I wish we had more opportunities to bond with Ayre to make her loss more impactful. Rustys death hurt me and lasted with me longer than Ayre.

[@raptorjesus5488]

I feel like im the only person who felt nothing when rusty showed up to kill you in the fires ending or to help you in the liberator ending and laughed out loud when he went on about having "found my purpose" as my purpose was finding a paycheck, walter showing up at the end of the liberator ending made me go "oh yeah your here" i have all 3 endings and plan on playing through it again to get the last of the weapons

[@00paincakes00]

one more thing! one more counterpoint if you'll entertain me. i think that Iguazu's final fight with 621 is not a confirmation of Carol Dory's theory of the exceptional human, but in fact an optimistic refutation of it. if the theory is that exceptional humans are the justification for out existence and evolution, then Iguazu should have died, or been completely subsumed by ALLMIND because as we see all game he's the opposite of exceptional. he's a worse pilot than us, he's cantankerous, he holds such a bitter grudge against us that he sacrifices his body and his sense of self to kill us. but even that guy, that fuckin loser, can overpower ALLMIND through sheer force of will. not because he's an exceptional human, but just because he's a human. humans, no matter how "exceptional", have will, and drive, and that's the secret ingredient that a computer could never hope to replicate. our strength doesnt come from exceptional humans, it comes from our humanity, an exceptional trait we all share.

[@serse8455]

41:00

[@zoyboy1914]

First Not really tho, love your videos!

[@AesirAesthetics]

:)

[@zoyboy1914]

Btw, at the end you mention VI is not quite your favourite, is it 3 ? Cheers!@@AesirAesthetics

[@AesirAesthetics]

I can make a case for 1, 3 and 4 Answer. I also think if I get around to Last Raven, it might turn out ot be my favourite one.@@zoyboy1914

[@zoyboy1914]

We got similar taste there haha, I also prefer 4 answer 1 and 3 (SL) … I knew your taste was good when you were the only youtuber who saw Demons Souls as the masterpiece that it was and delved into overlooked gems like Shadow Tower Abyss, much love and keep your awesome video coming ❤ @@AesirAesthetics

[@AesirAesthetics]

Thank you :)@@zoyboy1914

[@giancarlo5945]

Armored core 6 GOTY

[@victorprati7908]

lmao is this the new trend now?

[@AyBee9725]

The ice worm is a terrible fight, if you can even call it that. It’s just a glorified QTE. The Rokumonsen hidden fight when you spare Swinburne is so much better

[@TepidBlack]

wdym “retrospective” this game is literally still current 💀

[@AesirAesthetics]

I got bones younger than this game you whippersnapper!

[@arisumego]

AC6>>>>>Elden Ring for me