FromSoftware's Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon continues the studio's tradition of intricate storytelling and multiple endings, demanding strategic choices and multiple playthroughs to uncover the full narrative. While these endings offer diverse conclusions, they are far from simple "happy" resolutions, reflecting the complex and often bleak reality of Rubicon 3. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each ending, the necessary steps to achieve them, and insights into the gameplay mechanics that shape your journey.
Understanding the Ending Structure
Armored Core 6 features three distinct endings:
- Fires of Raven (The "Bad" Ending): A path of defiance and destruction, prioritizing individual agency over broader consequences.
- Liberator of Rubicon (The "Good" Ending): A path focused on liberating Rubicon from corporate control and seeking a more equitable future.
- Alea Iacta Est (The "True" Ending): A complex and enigmatic ending that explores the potential of Coral and the merging of human and machine consciousness.
Achieving these endings requires multiple playthroughs, specifically New Game+ and New Game++. Each playthrough introduces new decision points and mission variations, altering the narrative flow and culminating in different final encounters.
Key Mechanics: Decision Points and New Game Cycles
- Decision Points: Throughout the game, you'll encounter missions marked with a "Decision" icon. These pivotal choices determine the subsequent missions and ultimately shape your ending.
- New Game Cycles:
- New Game+ introduces altered mission mechanics and additional in-mission choices.
- New Game++ unlocks the Alea Iacta Est ending, featuring a significant amount of new mission content and critical decision points.
- Thankfully, all purchased and found AC parts are carried over through each new game cycle, and the difficulty of previously completed missions does not increase.
Fires of Raven: A Path of Uncompromising Force
This ending, often considered the "easiest" to reach on your initial playthrough, focuses on a direct confrontation with corporate forces.
- Key Decision: In Chapter 5, select "Intercept the Corporate Forces." Prior choices have minimal impact on this ending's availability.
- Mission Sequence:
- "Intercept the Corporate Forces": This mission involves defeating the remaining Vesper squad, including a challenging encounter with V.I Freud. Employ high burst-DPS weapons and maintain mobility to overcome Freud's aggressive tactics.
- "Breach the Kármán Line": A large scale battle against PCA warships, and a tragic fight against V.IV Rusty.
- "Shut Down the Closure Satellites": A final confrontation against your other companion.
- Narrative Implications: This path emphasizes raw power and decisive action, leading to a conclusion marked by destruction and the suppression of Rubicon's potential.
Liberator of Rubicon: A Struggle for Independence
This ending focuses on liberating Rubicon from corporate control, though it comes at a significant cost.
- Key Decision: In Chapter 5, select "Eliminate 'Cinder' Carla."
- Mission Sequence:
- "Eliminate 'Cinder' Carla": A challenging battle against Carla and Chatty Stick, requiring strategic target prioritization and effective use of burst-DPS weaponry.
- "Destroy the Drive Block": This mission involves combating another Smart Cleaner, and a heavily enhanced ARQUEBUS BALTEUS, piloted by V.II Snail.
- "Bring Down the Xylem": A final, emotionally charged battle against your brainwashed Handler Walter, preventing a catastrophic Coral explosion.
- Narrative Implications: This path emphasizes resistance and the pursuit of freedom, but highlights the sacrifices required to achieve it.
Choosing Your First Playthrough: Fires of Raven vs. Liberator of Rubicon
- While both paths offer unique gameplay experiences, the Fires of Raven ending is generally considered less challenging for a first playthrough. Thefinal boss fight is arguably easier, and the "Breach the Kármán Line"mission provides a more traditional setpiece experience.
- Choosing Fires of Raven for your first playthrough allows you to accumulate more gear and experience, making the Liberator of Rubicon run moremanageable.
Alea Iacta Est: Unveiling the Coral's Potential
This "true" ending, accessible only in New Game++, delves into the mysteries of Coral and the potential for a new form of existence.
- Prerequisites: You must have completed both the Fires of Raven and Liberator of Rubicon endings on the same save file.
- Key Decisions:
- In Chapter 1, "Attack the Dam Complex," choose to attack your Redgun allies.
- Choose "Escort the Weaponized Mining Ship" over "Destroy the Weaponized Mining Ship."
- From this point on, consistently choose missions that appear to be workingagainst the corporations, or siding with Allmind. Any new missions thatappear are most likely nescessary.
- Mission Sequence:
- Chapter 3: "Prevent Corporate Salvage of New Tech," "Eliminate the Enforcement Squads," and "Coral Export Denial."
- Chapter 4: "Eliminate V.III."
- Chapter 5: "MIA," "Regain Control of the Xylem," and "Coral Release."
- "MIA" replaces "Escape" and initiates the Alea Iacta Est path.
- "Regain Control of the Xylem" requires destroying control stations to enable Allmind's takeover.
- "Coral Release" culminates in a challenging two-phase battle against Allmind.
- Narrative Implications: This ending explores the potential for Coral to transcend physicallimitations, leading to a profound transformation of 621, Ayre, and theRubiconian consciousness. The phrase "Alea Iacta Est" (The die is cast)reflects the irreversible nature of this transformation.
Conclusion
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon's multiple endings offer a rich and complexnarrative experience, rewarding players for exploring different pathsand uncovering the deeper mysteries of Rubicon 3. Each ending provides a unique perspective on the game's themes, from the struggle forindependence to the potential for a radical transformation ofconsciousness. By understanding the key decision points and missionsequences, players can fully immerse themselves in the intricate worldof Armored Core 6 and experience all its possible conclusions.
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