backloggd review of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (republish)
https://www.backloggd.com/u/fontiago/review/1800598/
No other game feels like this, and learning the depth of its gameplay was like discovering a beautiful new language for the first time. There are tax-form-esque views of stat sheets for your mech parts but they all make tangible sense without much learning (plus the contextual help tool that explains what each one does – godsend). Aim assist at different ranges being its own stat is such a cool idea! There are just enough part slots to hit the enthusiast tinker fantasy bar without going overboard, and the same goes for the combat HUD – it has enough info to overwhelm you at first, but as you settle into the cockpit, you instinctively reach for a control you want and it's there for you. Although, it definitely needed to be 20% more visible on the element sizes and weights, especially the radar at the bottom and the central meters that show your weapon status.
The format and length is a breath of fresh air, too. It feels like it's been ages since I played a "select your next mission from a plain old menu" type of game, but it feels perfect here, with great pacing and worldbuilding giving you delicious crumbs at the exact rate you want them. The NG+ and ++ experience was fantastic, too, with plenty of surprises – definitely expect to play through ++, it's not like a Souls NG++ at all, more like a Nier "route". And even with three playthroughs, it really didn't overstay its welcome. I HIGHLY recommend you do the ending that Feels Worse on your first playthrough, though, the other ending doesn't quite work on your first playthrough for various reasons.
To try and explain how the combat feels seems a little reductive. I think playing a lot of Dawnblade in Destiny 2 gave me a head start on understanding the movement, but it really is just something you need to feel. The sandbox rewards you so much for experimenting with different weapons and finding their strengths. And even though the S rank full game process was a little weird (most are pushovers and some are opaque, annoying grinds), ultimately... I just want more of this game. From did it again – every trip into one of their universes is truly surprising, thoughtful, and compelling. They are titans of the art. (but also pls add an option to auto-toggle lock-on to ON at the start of missions, that bit is p annoying)
[Fully S-ranked and platinum trophy'd. Final playtime: around 65 hours.]