i got some questions.

[Automaton Trooper]

is the game worth it solely for the single player campaign?

do i need to play any previous titles of this franchise to understand the lore? or is it alright to start with this game?

[k-ricks]

yes
no Ac6 is has its own lore

[ImHelping]

AC6 not only has a worthwhile single player, it had a decent plot the first time through instead of waiting for the expansion. Unlike armored core 3, 4, and 5.

Really the main "lore" you need to know is that "Normal mode" is like having your car in neutral, and "Combat mode" is having it in drive, not attack mode. (This seemingly useless detail will make sense eventually).

Also there are no parts locked by multiplayer. only the offline campaign arena offers unlocks. You really want weapon swapping before you start putting points into damage buffs (You get enough for everything in NG+ runs that unlock more content, but first time through gotta pick and choose but can pay to respec the side upgrades tree)

Make sure to play the tutorials as they come up, on that note. some unlock some early game parts.

As for the infamous stage one helicopter? That is either easy or a bastard depending on how often it flees out of bounds so you can't stab it. A lot of self declared veterans get defensive about that because old games had you instant fail for touching the mission border, instead of just an invisible wall.

Unasked hardware questions: AC6 is the final game I ever installed on a HARD DISK before I got rid of it for even more terabytes of SSD storage. It ran better on a hard disk than a lot of games these days run on an SSD.

[nocommercialvalue]

100%. The only Armored Core game I have played previous to this was Armored Core: Nexus as a young boy. None of that knowledge carried over and I easily consider myself a big fan of the series again.

One of the few modern games that may exist perfectly for the player looking to play single player. I have played very little PvP, won a match or two and lost a lot more. PvP is still very fun, but nothing beats the narrative and cinematic battles in the single player. 10/10 would wipe my memory to get abused by Balteus again.

[Steel Haze]

Worth
but is a short game for full price tho

[D. Flame]

Single player is the main draw. Multiplayer is an unfun gimmick. PvP is mostly just spamming with a meta build, and it really isn't fun, even when you are winning.

On the other hand, I put over 100 hours into single player. I was not a fan of the game at launch, but it has gotten better.

[Basarab Laiota]

What else even is there besides the single player campaign?

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by Basarab Laiota:

What else even is there besides the single player campaign?

Well, the online PVP exists. The non-ranked free play lobbies are a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ghost town these days sure, but it exists.

Originally posted by D. Flame:

Single player is the main draw. Multiplayer is an unfun gimmick. PvP is mostly just spamming with a meta build, and it really isn't fun, even when you are winning.

On the other hand, I put over 100 hours into single player. I was not a fan of the game at launch, but it has gotten better.

That was why team matches were my favorite. Nobody expects the helper robot with the "Not Meta" line rifle that can fire a charge shot without overheating dinging somebody then letting your teammate get the kill for all the points. Or bringing the weak 6 shot launcher explicitly for "Best launcher for killing emergency bubble players a mile away"

Though the nerfs to my beloved super heavy thruster so a heavy can chase a sky light through raw endurance and 500+ assault speed is no longer a thing sure did not help there.

(You can admit to everyone "No my 380 light build can literally walk backwards out of the way of the majestic, after I got staggered, my light is busted vs heavy., bazooka buffs are only 'op' against heavy" and nobody wants to listen)

[Basarab Laiota]

Originally posted by ImHelping:

Well, the online PVP exists.

Oh... That's why the game kept telling me "Lost connection to server, switching to offline mode" over and over? I didn't even know PvP was a thing.

[Protoman]

You only unlock PvP a few hours into the game. After you unlock the Arena, there's another option called "Nest". That's the PvP.

Edit: you unlock Nest after you complete "Ocean Crossing", the final mission of chapter 2.

[Maverick]

The only Armored Core game I had played previously was Project Phantasma, so safe to say for me it has been awhile. That being said, huge thumbs up from me.

[Automaton Trooper]

thank you to everyone who gave their opinion, i want to get this game now but first i must know: Does it go on sale often and are the sales good (50% off and above)?

[Basarab Laiota]

Originally posted by Automaton Trooper:

thank you to everyone who gave their opinion, i want to get this game now but first i must know: Does it go on sale often and are the sales good (50% off and above)?

It was just on 40% off back when I bought it. So I'd imagine next time it goes on sale it will be at 50% off. Maybe. Possibly.

[Zany Fish]

QA: Yes

The PvE alone is worth the purchase if you dig mecha action.

QB: No

AC6 is stand-alone. There has been suggested lore links between prior generations, but frankly they did such a non-existent job of linking the lore of games from the first generation to the 3rd that only 4th and 5th gens have a very clear link to their lore (5th Gen is after 4th gen and it is referenced; 4th gen references older generations prior to the Lynx generation of ACs).

AC6 does not seem to reference anything from prior generations. It may have homages to older generations, but that seems to be as far as it takes things.


To recap the generation flows:

AC1 -> Project Phantasma -> Master Of Arena (these all are supposed to happen on a Present/Past/Parallel Present timeline, IIRC)

AC2 -> Another Age (after the Gen 1 plotline, but it isn't too evident so you could play this generation and enjoy it without needing to know Gen 1 events, though some things homage back to Gen 1 encounters)

AC3 -> Silent Line (No clear understanding on how this links to generation 2 events, but the technological advancements seem linked if one played Gen 2 games)

Nexus -> Nine Breaker -> Last Raven (Not clearly referenced, but these take place after Silent Line events, and we never received US localization of Formula Front on PS2 so we misse3d out on alleged insight that game gives to link events from Silent Line as prequel to the Nexus Era)

AC4 -> For Answer (This gen references the old 3rd gen ACs and provides typical insight on how the new tech has advanced and is better than the old stuff, but still pretty much enjoyable stand alone)

ACV -> Verdict Day (This gen starts off references a downfall and degradation of AC technology. Would be enjoyable stand alone if not for the heavy online service focus of these two titles. I forget the current state of servers.)