“Best mobile game on console” is what someone told me and I think that fits very nicely. I’m having fun, though I’ve got maybe an hour of actual playtime in.

- overall, really really REALLY good game but I’m not sure if it will win GOTY over something like TOTK. It’s a close second, but I’m not sure if the inital reactions to the game are on par as Elden ring. Regardless, defo worth the $60. - mech building looks confusing at first, but after 2-3 sessions of messing with your AC you’ll start to understand. The best way to understand how AC building works (imo) is to think of “what stats are affected by what armor” AND NOT “what armor affects what stats.” - combat is more akin to sekiro than the other games since demon souls. Part of the reason being the emphasis on AC “posture” and your weapons more as tools than actual weapons. Haven’t played the previous AC games but from what it looks like it’s not a GIANT departure from the previous games. So, yeah. Amazing game and really pairs well with listening to the music I listen to.

Beat it three times, might do a fourth to 100% and for fun. It’s fantastic. 9/10. My one complaint early on was boss difficulty, but after learning more and revisiting them? I enjoyed them a lot more. The one point off I have is there’s not enough. They have so many interesting story beats and unexplored territory (show us the shrink-wrapped pilot, From Software) that either gets glossed over, or mentioned once. Asides that, though? I loved it. PS- shoot me a dm if you need help or want to hear me ramble about it. I’ll gladly do so.

It feels amazing to be back on AC since ps2 days. I was once a machine gun maniac spraying everywhere with bullet. With the debt system removed, I am going back to old days again. [spoiler]Which costs me and my bros a massive debt to pay. :'([/spoiler]

It scratches the itch but it doesn't live up to the PS1-PS2 era for me. Way too much emphasis on staggering enemies. I feel it really limits playstyle. Heavy always had an advantage but speedy mechs boosting in and out of cover to whittle down enemies used to viable. Now you need to keep the pressure on to keep stagger up so guerilla tactics don't work, you'll just burn ammo. Given how fast and mobile bosses are, you'll miss at range, meaning you'll need to stay close. Miniboss MTs and certain AC enemies also seem to button read as they'll boost in synch with when you fire. Doesn't matter if they need to because you're right on them or if they're across the map and you're barely locked, perfectly in synch with the moment you fire. Also not a fan of how certain arm weapons will interrupt you when you fire them. Large back weapons requiring you to take a knee were always a thing, but it's jarring when i'm flying by in a bipedal AC and suddenly freeze in place if I fire a bazooka. And on tank or quads you can only fire one at a time with a delay after firing one before you can fire the other. All that said, the level design is really good. Glad to see they returned to the verticality of the originals. Also really enjoying the arena. Honestly, that feels the most classic "Armored Core" to me. [b] [/b] Don't get me wrong, I'm still having fun, but it's not looking like it'll crack my Top 5 AC games. [b] [/b] tl:dr [u][b]Like:[/b][/u] - AC design - Arena - Mission variety u][b]Don't Like:[/b][/u] - Stagger mechanic - Bosses feeling spongey due to stagger mechanic - Bosses requiring "right answer" builds (particularly early on when parts options are limited) - Controls feels drifty [u][b]Meh:[/b][/u] - The music - The story - Decal design tools - Prefer the old "box" FCSs

Alot of fun, although some bosses feel a bit overtuned, unless you are running a super specific build, also double flamethrowers are the bleed build of armored core

so I've been skipping all the mission briefings and stuff because I dont particularly care to listen to them. my gaming time has been cut short. So far it's playing very familiarly to the from soft formula even if it is a mech game rather than a sword/magic game. I am pleased.

I LOVE it.

The last one I played was AC 4 and I'm into anime style mechanical violence. So I'm biased. RTX 3070ti/ ZEN 3700X. 1440, 60fps mid/high it's been buttery smooth. RTX only in the mech bay, haven't seen that yet. Some things are more forgiving. No debt in the traditional sense. Swap loadouts at continue screens and whatnot. Repair kits. But. Some of the missions and boss encounters are more epic. So it sort of balances out a bit. Sort of. If people are refunding at the chopper.... those difficulty spikes would be so much more harsh with debt. Human PLUS might offset that. But it would be an interesting time. Seeing it at better resolution and framerate than back in the day is sweet. I guess there's replayability in that I think 3 runs are needed for all endings/all mission paths. Hit sure how long the campaign might be. My playtime is going to be skewed because of assembly. Re learning the controls and how to be a mech pilot. Arcadey, but feels tight enough. Mechwarrior it ain't. If we're hoping for MilSim this ain't it. Way faster than MW or Hawken (RiP). More like Gundam. Or AceCombat.