FromSoftware‘s Armored Core franchise, though adhering to dark themes and mature storytelling, couldn’t be more different from the much more popular Souls games, generally speaking. Armored Core 6 revitalized the franchise last year, bringing its high-octane action and granular customization tools to a whole new audience of players willing to put their full trust in FromSoftware in the wake of hits like Elden Ring, while proving just how well one franchise could inform the other.
Though games like
Bloodborne
,
Dark Souls
, and
Elden Ring
aren’t literally connected by story or lore, they all fall under the broad category of “soulslike” or “soulsborne.”
The soulslike wing of FromSoftware‘s oeuvre is characterized by deep customization and build variety, but the games are practically linear when compared to the Armored Core franchise. As far back as its first releases on the original PlayStation, Armored Core has put deep and meaningful customization front-and-center, encouraging engagement with its upgrade paths by cleverly weaving them into the main gameplay loop. Put simply, while other games (including the likes of Dark Souls) may offer build-crafting systems as an optional way for players to gain an advantage in combat, Armored Core‘s build-crafting is at least fifty percent of its gameplay loop; it’s not something done simply to get a leg up, but rather a skill to hone in and of itself. Soulslike games may never reach these levels of detailed customization, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use Armored Core as inspiration.
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If Armored Core 6 DLC Happens, It Has an Obvious Challenge Ahead of It
Extending Armored Core 6’s life through DLC sounds like a no-brainer, but it is bound to struggle replicating something the base game nailed.
FromSoftware’s Soulslikes Could Learn From Armored Core’s Emphasis On Speed
Variable Character Speed in Soulslikes Vs. Armored Core
Epitomized in Armored Core 6, speed levels are a crucial aspect of stat-tweaking in the mecha-centric series. Expected variables, like the weight of certain pieces of gear, are present, but Armored Core also allows players to purchase upgrades like boosters that greatly increase their speed ceiling. Like just about every corner of Armored Core‘s customization suite, this can get rather technical, but the core idea is: if a player wants to make an uber-quick AC and dart around the map like a fly looking for a window, they can do that. It just might take some experimentation.
The control that players have over speed in soulslike games is, by comparison, both restrictive and shallow. While classes like Elden Ring‘s Bandit tout agility and high attack speeds, their ability to quickly tear through enemies is ultimately understated. A player’s attack speed will be determined by what weapons they use, while their movement speed will be tied to their equipment load, granting faster rolls with more I-frames based on three broad categories: light, medium, and heavy. This system is present in Elden Ring, the Dark Souls trilogy, and Demon’s Souls, though it should be noted that Bloodborne doesn’t have the same light, medium, and heavy gear stats as the other FromSoftware soulslikes.
Put simply, there’s no easy, accessible, or reliable way to craft a super-fast build in FromSoftware’s soulslikes, at least not in the same way that it’s possible through Armored Core‘s customization options. If a future soulslike from the fabled company could lean into its build-crafting a bit further, perhaps raising the ceiling on overall movement speed and I-frame generation in exchange for a massive decrease in defense, for instance, then player agency could be greatly elevated. It may be a bit unrealistic to expect the same level of personalization as an Armored Core game, but AC definitely highlights that FromSoftware’s soulslikes have some room to grow in this regard.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
- Date Founded
- November 1, 1986
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- CEO
- Hidetaka Miyazaki
- Parent Company
- Kadokawa
- Known For
- dark souls , Armored Core