The Armored Core Personal Crisis of 2023-24
I mainlined a sixteen-game series as fast as humanly possible as a cry for help that NOBODY ANSWERED so here's the record of my sins. Switch to User's Rating sorting if you want a coherent tier list view. That's a needlessly confusing way to do this, but I thought it would be in the spirit of the series.
Needless to say, my opinions were etched in stone by God at the dawn of time and are always inviolably correct.
Needless to say, my opinions were etched in stone by God at the dawn of time and are always inviolably correct.
16 Games
S Tier
I have to admit I'm the kind of loser who gets bummed out when a niche series I like changes enough to go relatively mainstream and everyone calls the only one they've played The Best One, which is part of why I drilled into this rabbit hole.
Having seen how different and beautiful a beast oldgen Armored Core was, I can definitely sympathize with any older-school fans who feel that way here, but I'm still giddy in love with 6. There were some compromises, but it genuinely does excel at the different gameplay loop it's going for, and I don't think almost anyone could argue the point that it has the best story in the series. My forever girl.
I have to admit I'm the kind of loser who gets bummed out when a niche series I like changes enough to go relatively mainstream and everyone calls the only one they've played The Best One, which is part of why I drilled into this rabbit hole.
Having seen how different and beautiful a beast oldgen Armored Core was, I can definitely sympathize with any older-school fans who feel that way here, but I'm still giddy in love with 6. There were some compromises, but it genuinely does excel at the different gameplay loop it's going for, and I don't think almost anyone could argue the point that it has the best story in the series. My forever girl.
B Tier
This was a weird place to start going backwards. I didn't like it much during or immediately after my first playthrough, but it didn't take long to grow on me in a... kind of Dark Souls 2 Dumb, Wonky Charm way.
This was a weird place to start going backwards. I didn't like it much during or immediately after my first playthrough, but it didn't take long to grow on me in a... kind of Dark Souls 2 Dumb, Wonky Charm way.
S Tier
no brain: I assume all AC pilots are male, including the pilot of White Glint
small brain: the arena says the pilot of White Glint is a girl!
normal brain: the pilot of White Glint is Anatolia's Mercenary, the protagonist of Armored Core 4, who is confirmed male. For Answer had a rather poor localization and the team were evidently confused by his operator Fiona speaking for him, because he still functions as a silent prota--
galaxy brain: ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐๐CONGRATS ON YOUR TRANSITION QUEEN๐๐๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐
no brain: I assume all AC pilots are male, including the pilot of White Glint
small brain: the arena says the pilot of White Glint is a girl!
normal brain: the pilot of White Glint is Anatolia's Mercenary, the protagonist of Armored Core 4, who is confirmed male. For Answer had a rather poor localization and the team were evidently confused by his operator Fiona speaking for him, because he still functions as a silent prota--
galaxy brain: ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐๐CONGRATS ON YOUR TRANSITION QUEEN๐๐๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐
B Tier
This is the only Pre-Dual Analog game I played with original controls. It was manageable, and I can just about see why some people feel there are big advantages to it, but I'm not terribly interested in going back.
Also, I'm gonna hide the truth in here: technically the only game I cheated in order to finish. I got to the infamous extended (extremely extended) platforming segment of the last mission, gave it a few honest tries, looked inside myself and asked what I believed my time was worth, and turned on infinite energy until I got back to actual gameplay.
And I was right.
This is the only Pre-Dual Analog game I played with original controls. It was manageable, and I can just about see why some people feel there are big advantages to it, but I'm not terribly interested in going back.
Also, I'm gonna hide the truth in here: technically the only game I cheated in order to finish. I got to the infamous extended (extremely extended) platforming segment of the last mission, gave it a few honest tries, looked inside myself and asked what I believed my time was worth, and turned on infinite energy until I got back to actual gameplay.
And I was right.
D Tier
I decided to go 1-2-3 before deciding which non-numbered sequels to play. I kind of wish I hadn't. This game might have sucked a little less if I'd known about the Master of Arena connection.
But like, just a little.
I decided to go 1-2-3 before deciding which non-numbered sequels to play. I kind of wish I hadn't. This game might have sucked a little less if I'd known about the Master of Arena connection.
But like, just a little.
S Tier
Like For Answer, which I didn't mention up there because I was busy shitposting, this one just periodically made me clap my little hands like a happy seal about how good it was.
That's basically my criteria for this tier.
Like For Answer, which I didn't mention up there because I was busy shitposting, this one just periodically made me clap my little hands like a happy seal about how good it was.
That's basically my criteria for this tier.
C Tier
If you're trying to decide which of these games to play or skip yourself, this is in about the most neutral possible position. Truly, it is some Additional Armored Core 1.
If you're trying to decide which of these games to play or skip yourself, this is in about the most neutral possible position. Truly, it is some Additional Armored Core 1.
A Tier
You get into the series with 6, and you're dimly aware of Nine Ball being a boss from the early games, and you don't really understand the weird kind of half-ironic hype. Then you play AC1, and you learn who Nine Ball is, and it's like. You still don't really get it. The fight was fine, you guess.
Then you play Master of Arena and immediately get a new contender for your favorite boss battle of all time.
You get into the series with 6, and you're dimly aware of Nine Ball being a boss from the early games, and you don't really understand the weird kind of half-ironic hype. Then you play AC1, and you learn who Nine Ball is, and it's like. You still don't really get it. The fight was fine, you guess.
Then you play Master of Arena and immediately get a new contender for your favorite boss battle of all time.
A Tier
I might fuck around and compare this to Dark Souls 3. Packed with truly excellent Content, and yet it might feel subtly less inspired, just a touch too iterative. Great game, doesn't quite make the impression 3 does.
I might fuck around and compare this to Dark Souls 3. Packed with truly excellent Content, and yet it might feel subtly less inspired, just a touch too iterative. Great game, doesn't quite make the impression 3 does.
F Tier
Sometimes I think the worst thing you can do to a game you clearly don't like is try really hard to like it. I did not mean to become the President of Gen 5 Hating, but here we are.
Sometimes I think the worst thing you can do to a game you clearly don't like is try really hard to like it. I did not mean to become the President of Gen 5 Hating, but here we are.
A Tier
I love this game but, okay, I can admit: there should probably just be a fucking thing on the stat screens that tells you how much Cooling you need for the various booster heat cutoffs. I really wonder how many of the people who hate this game just played through it constantly on fire instead of trial and erroring their builds like self-respecting autistic people.
I love this game but, okay, I can admit: there should probably just be a fucking thing on the stat screens that tells you how much Cooling you need for the various booster heat cutoffs. I really wonder how many of the people who hate this game just played through it constantly on fire instead of trial and erroring their builds like self-respecting autistic people.
C Tier
Nine Ball=Seraph rematch. 10/10 perfect game
Nine Ball=Seraph rematch. 10/10 perfect game
C Tier
Formula Front Nuzlocke: play only on AI-controlled mode. Every time you lose a match, that AC dies and you can't use any of its equipped parts for the rest of the game.
Because fuck you, that's why.
Formula Front Nuzlocke: play only on AI-controlled mode. Every time you lose a match, that AC dies and you can't use any of its equipped parts for the rest of the game.
Because fuck you, that's why.
D Tier
As president, I have to abide by a certain system of checks and balances. I cannot legally deny that N-WIGX is lit.
I really would love to play a version of Verdict Day that looks and plays like basically any game other than Armored Core V. Heavy is the crown. Of president. I'm still doing the bit
As president, I have to abide by a certain system of checks and balances. I cannot legally deny that N-WIGX is lit.
I really would love to play a version of Verdict Day that looks and plays like basically any game other than Armored Core V. Heavy is the crown. Of president. I'm still doing the bit
F Tier
I need to replay some of the other oldgen games and see if they're... I dunno, easier. I don't know how to feel about the prospect that I actually got a lot better at the fundamentals through the genuinely miserable experience of playing Nine Breaker. Dirty is a strong word, probably. But it's certainly a feeling.
I need to replay some of the other oldgen games and see if they're... I dunno, easier. I don't know how to feel about the prospect that I actually got a lot better at the fundamentals through the genuinely miserable experience of playing Nine Breaker. Dirty is a strong word, probably. But it's certainly a feeling.
S Tier
If I were going by hard numerical rankings instead of tiers. I don't know, man. I think the #1 spot would go to the judges. Unbelievably peak game.
Do Not Play It First. I swear to god I've seen people ask which older game to start with and people are like "Last Raven!" and then when a responsible adult tackles them to the ground about what a stupid idea that is they try to turn it into a debate about whether the game is good. Obviously the game is fucking phenomenal, but it is a graduation ceremony, not an orientation. Please.
If I were going by hard numerical rankings instead of tiers. I don't know, man. I think the #1 spot would go to the judges. Unbelievably peak game.
Do Not Play It First. I swear to god I've seen people ask which older game to start with and people are like "Last Raven!" and then when a responsible adult tackles them to the ground about what a stupid idea that is they try to turn it into a debate about whether the game is good. Obviously the game is fucking phenomenal, but it is a graduation ceremony, not an orientation. Please.