As a long-time Armored Core fan since the PS1 original, I‘ve eagerly awaited AC6‘s release to dive back into its mechanized clashes. The series always delivers challenging real robot battles and customization I crave.
Now with New Rubicon‘s next-gen graphics making giant walking tanks look better than ever, I knew this installment wouldn‘t disappoint. But what truly sets Armored Core 6 apart is its new focus on branching story decisions altering everything from narrative to final bosses fought.
This guide will cover how AC6‘s choices affect ongoing storylines, specialized parts unlocked, spectacular endgame fights, and ultimately which of the three endings you‘ll see. I‘ll provide essential analysis for new pilots from my years mastering FromSoftware‘s explosive mech action. Let‘s raise some hell across these star-strewn skies!
How Decision Mechanics Work
While past Armored Core games featured some minor story deviations and alternate missions, AC6 incorporates far more impactful branching decision points. Certain jobs present players with critical choices that forever change the trajectory of partners gained, rivals made, parts acquired, and endings reached.
Decisions manifest in two key ways:
1. Mid-Mission Prompts – Upon reaching a pivotal moment during select missions, you will receive an on-screen decision prompt detailing options from involved factions and characters along with merits/consequences of each. You must pick one path moving forward – there‘s no reversing course later on.
2. Either-Or Mission Selection – When reviewing some available jobs from opposing groups, you‘ll be forced to exclusivly pick one mission over the other to accept. Whichever you select becomes locked in, while the refused job remains permanently shut off.
So choose very carefully – there‘s no do-overs with AC6‘s branching storyline! Keep an eye out for the golden weighing scales icon on mission select screens to know decisive choices must be made.
Now let‘s explore how these decisions can completely reshape your journey through the game‘s events, partnerships, parts acquired, final battles fought, and ending reached.
Story Impact of Decisions
Accepting certain mission branches over others alters alignment with Rubicon‘s various factions, potentially making new allies or fierce enemies. Relationships, rivalries and narrative threads evolves accordingly.
For example, repeated cooperation with the scrappy tech-focused Dust Devils rebel group earns their complete loyalty and unlocks special prototype parts from their inventories. However, this sours relations with the opposing Blue Star corporate security consortium, locking you out of their elite police craft upgrades.
Or destroying too many non-violent civilian mining ships to complete a mission could make once friendly navies distrust you moving forward. But pirate gangs may applaud your mercilessness instead, offering you access to their black market connections.
Ultimately, these decision chains set players up for completely different climatic final battles and endings. Will you crush rebellious upstarts for corporatations in exchange for exotic experimental upgrades? Back cops trying to curb chaos despite public outcry? Or fight solely for the people, becoming a legendary icon of hope?
Armored Core 6 really captures the interwoven narrative branches well with these tense picks. Choose wisely – your fate hangs on these moments!
Specialized Parts From Decisions
Certain missions unlock powerful new prototype and limited-run parts reflecting corporate sponsors, military branches, or rebel technicians tied to those events.
For example, completing the daring Henderson Labs heist for infamous hacker collective Skulls of Steel nets you exclusive rights to their experimental XX-567 arms weaponry and XX-999 support systems developed in-house.
Meanwhile aiding Interstellar Police in quelling violence grants special access to cutting-edge IB-Series gear used by its Internal Affairs division to hunt crooked officers.
Here‘s a breakdown of key special parts tied to specific decision mission branches:
| Part Name | Type | Source Mission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH-J-124/RC Jailbreak | Head | Escape (Ch. 5) | +35% Quick Boost recharge rate; +25% lock-on resistance vs missiles |
| EL-PH-00 Alba | Head | Breach the Karman Line | +15% laser blade damage; +30% sensor range |
| IB-C03W3: NGI 006 | Coral Missile Launcher | Regain Control of the Xylem (NG++) | Fires low velocity napalm missiles that burn targets over time |
And 12 more entries…
Note certain extremely advanced parts only appear in New Game+ or NG++ runs once certain requirements are met. You‘ll need multiple playthroughs to collect all the rare gear tied to specific branching decisions!
Final Battles Depend on Ending
All of the choices and sacrifices you‘ve made culminates in facing down one of three distinct super-powered opponents guarding different endings:
Liberator of Rubicon (Freedom Fighters):
The mighty four-legged Type-Sevas quad mech codenamed Goliath serving as flagship of the megacorporate Congressional Guard. This behemoth features nearly impenetrable frontal armor and massed artillery cannons decimating landscapes – a true heavyweight champion.
But by intelligently utilizing cover then targeting Goliath‘s vulnerable hind generator exhaust ports with hit-and-run energy blade dash attacks, one can claim victory against the corporate machine!
Fires of Raven (Law & Order):
Your longtime rival – the arrogantly masterful bounty hunter simply called Raven – piloting his supremely agile Ace of Spades custom mech. This dark midnight-blue craft wields a vicious high velocity sniper rifle and searing crimson laser blade to swiftly outmaneuver opponents.
Only by hammering the evasive Raven with smart splash damage barrages then eventually main cannon corner shots through buildings once he‘s sustaining damage can you emerge triumphant from thisdeadly duel. No other pilot alive dares challenge you now – you‘ve conquered the best!
Alea Lacta Est (Independence):
The seemingly unstoppable quadrupedal Judgement mech commandeered by crazed genius Dr. Hoffman and his flawless combat AI across hazardous automated factories. This experimental war machine adapts tactics on the fly while bombarding you with wide-area particle dispersal blasts.
Surviving Judgement‘s onslaught long enough to enable an emergency override shutdown sequence with proper code words cracks Hoffman‘s curated hopes. You alone now possess the most advanced weapon in existence to forge your own path forward. None can oppose your vision any longer!
Each final confrontation tests pilots in completely different ways, keeping Armored Core 6‘s endings intesnse even on repeated runs. I love seeing how my customized mech build holds up against these ultimate adversaries!
Ending Breakdown & Analysis
Let‘s explore the outcomes, impacts, and my recommendations among AC6‘s complex decision branches culminating in three distinct endings:
1. Liberator of Rubicon (Ally Rebels)
You choose to battle on behalf of various rebel factions like tech-focused Dust Devils against the oppressive Corporate Congressional military-industrial complex dominating colonies across the stars. Relationship branches align you with scrappy freedom fighters opposing this authoritarian rule.
By demolishing corporate leaders, seizing their assets, and enabling fair elections, the common people gain renewed hope. Though initially chaotic, this path births new representative governance protecting citizens‘ rights. You‘re hailed as the champion who enabled their liberty – the legendary Liberator of Rubicon!
My Take: This ending delivers the classic heroic James Cameron-esque tale of defeating sinister megacorps via daring guerilla tactics I enjoy. Plus unlocking jailbreak-themed parts for dire situations proves very useful in future runs. I‘d recommend all first-timers experience this storyline.
2. Fires of Raven (Back Military Order)
Conversely, players can instead collaborate extensively with internal colonial peacekeeping forces and investigator Hilda Evans to quash violent extremists like anarchic robotics expert Raven jeopardizing civilian stability across settlements. Your bond with police grows strong while distrust of lawless agitators hardens.
Through finally besting the recalcitrant Raven via an intense one-on-one duel then seeing remaining rebel cells surrender, hard-fought order is restored to the battered Rubicon colonies. You become the steadfast guardian who brought justice and security to the system.
My Take: I really enjoyed the personal rivalry built with Raven across this path before facing his razor-focused Ace of Spades mech. Unlocking his custom shiny parts was a coveted prize too! But I felt ambivalent upholding corporate interests solely for promise of profit and tech.
3. Alea Lacta Est (Blaze Own Trail)
Unlocked only in repeat New Game+ runs, this hidden ending sees your pilot reject the corporations, anarchists, and police‘s unilateral control to blaze an independent destiny. Players perform missions for both sides when beneficial while avoiding total allegiance.
Your only loyalty becomes advancing your ownCODES mercenary company‘s interests within Rubicon by any means necessary. Through defeating the seemingly unstoppable Judgement quad mech, none now dare oppose your dominant reign across the rebuilt colonies. Chance itself bends to your iron will!
My Take: Embracing the iconic mercenary path of previous Armored Core heroes in Alea Lacta Est proved highly enjoyable – I loved serving no master. But besting Judgement took absolutely optimized gear and tactics. I‘d recommend veterans pursue this climax to fully master AC6‘s combat systems!
Final Recommendations
To recap my suggested decision paths for first-timers vs series experts:
New Pilots – Follow the Liberator of Rubicon rebel-supporting missions for a straightfoward heroic tale, useful jailbreak parts, and a balanced final boss fight against the imposing Corporate Goliath mech.
Veterans – Blaze your own trail via the Alea Lacta Est path by backing different groups when it suits your needs alone. Conquer the deadly Judgement in New Game+ to cement your undisputed sovereignty through overwhelming force!
No matter what choices you make, Armored Core 6‘s branching decisions keep subsequent playthroughs exciting by radically changing available parts, missions, and boss fights. Now get out there and shape your destiny however you see fit!
But tread carefully – once a die is cast or shot fired, there‘s no turning back on your selected fate. Fortune favors the bold who master both blade and bullet across these lawless stars!
