Here are 5 things that Armored Core 6 has borrowed from other FromSoftware games:

FromSoftware has a game catalog that could overshadow almost any other developer. From their earliest efforts to the critically acclaimed Souls-like games that made them a well-known name, there is a specific style of gameplay, world-building, and game design that is expected from a FromSoft title.

Although the Armored Core series has long been part of FromSoft's history - and indeed, has significantly influenced the design of Souls-like games - there is no doubt that Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon has incorporated some key elements from the developer's more recent titles. Here are a few things that Armored Core 6 borrows from other FromSoftware games.

5 The Stagger System

The lead director of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the combat director for Armored Core 6, and it shows. The pace and flow of combat, while remaining true to the AC's story, are somewhat inspired by the way fights unfold in Sekiro, and nothing exemplifies this more than the stagger system.

In Armored Core 6, your enemies have a separate bar above their health that increases when you deal significant damage. When the bar is full, the enemies stagger, causing them to momentarily pause and become even more vulnerable to damage.

In previous AC games like AC 5, your mech could stagger from particularly hard hits, but this pronounced use of stagger as a central combat mechanic bears a strong resemblance to Sekiro.

4 The Weapon Cooldowns

While the weapon system of Armored Core 6 may not be entirely new to the series, it still has some interesting inspirations. You can equip four weapons for your AC, one in each hand and one on each shoulder of your AC.

Most of your weapons will have a bar indicating how full your magazine is. Once you have emptied a magazine and depleted the bar to zero, you will have to wait for it to refill in order to use that weapon again. Some weapons function differently, such as laser weapons that overheat instead of depleting a magazine.

Fans may be surprised to learn that this system of managing weapon cooldowns actually originated in FromSoft's first game, King's Field. In King's Field, your character had a bar dedicated to their weapon and a separate bar dedicated to magic. These bars would deplete as you performed attacks, and once they were empty, you had to wait for them to refill.

3 The Dramatic Flair

Longtime Armored Core fans know that the series has always been as grim, dark, and bleak as any other FromSoftware title. Stories of post-apocalyptic planets ravaged by war and populated by gigantic machines are deeply rooted in the history of these games, but one cannot deny that AC 6 has taken it up a notch.

FromSoftware games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3 have a specific rhythm in the portrayal of events, characters, and creatures. The restrained use of music, the slow pace, and the expansive shots of massive destruction (such as the waves of fire sweeping across Rubicon) feel like evolutions of the tone set by Armored Core in the past, and much of it can be attributed to FromSoftware's experience in developing other titles.

2 The First Boss

Throughout the history of Armored Core games, there have been challenging boss battles. Managing your AC and evading the incredibly powerful attacks of the boss opponent are always crucial to surviving until the credits roll in an Armored Core game. However, the first boss fight in Armored Core 6 feels particularly deliberate.

Early in AC6, you will be attacked by a large AH12 HC helicopter. This is the biggest challenge yet, as the helicopter unleashes a barrage of missiles and hard-hitting bullets at you. You must master the maneuverability of your AC, learn to recognize the signs of an impending attack, and manage the cooldown of your weapons to emerge victorious.

The challenging early encounters with bosses have become a recognizable trademark of FromSoft games, with enemies like Bloodborne's Father Gascoigne and Elden Ring's Margit serving as the litmus test to determine how prepared you are for the upcoming adventure.

1 The Moonlight Greatsword

The Moonlight Greatsword has an extensive history in FromSoft titles, dating back to King's Field in 1994. After the release of the three King's Field games, FromSoft's next title was the original Armored Core, in which the sword appeared as a laser sword called LS-99-MOONLIGHT.

Since then, the Moonlight Greatsword has appeared under various names in the majority of games released by FromSoftware, and Armored Core 6 is no exception. It has been confirmed that some players have discovered the weapon, and although tracking it down will certainly not be an easy task, it is undoubtedly worth the effort.

The Moonlight Greatsword is typically one of the strongest weapons in the games where it has appeared, so its return in Armored Core 6 is definitely welcome.