it's more armored core. same controls, same ac customization, same premise for blowing shit up. it's just as thrilling as its predecessor with the greatest addition being arena mode. a fun side mode to gain loads of cash and glory. while it does remove the constant fear of financial obliteration that the original game holds, it's still such a fun side mode to feel like the youre top dog. another benefit this game has over the original is ACTUAL storytelling. fromsoft is known for their esoteric storytelling via the environment, npc interactions, and item descriptions. the first armored core really only does its storytelling through mission debriefings and was lacking in getting the player to feel that they have a bigger role in the plot until the very end. not necessarily bad writing, just kinda missing the mark that they subsequently perfected with later games (but had somehow already done better with the first king's field??). this game lets you know the stakes and your significance in the plot from the beginning. but that's all it does better. its characters, mysteries, and overall writing arent as captivating or compelling as the first game. there's some cool ass yet janky in-game cutscenes, though. a neat expansion. moving on to master of arena now.