From games have tried to branch out into a different genre and didn't quite pull it off. If a racing car game dev made an RPG and it was just a game where you raced cars would you also say it doesn't matter? Makes no sense.

It shows they're not quite as versatile as their fanboys make them out to be.

[–] Mikelius 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What do you mean by branch out? They set out to do an action game like they did 10 years ago where the story is entirely secondary to the gameplay and mechanics. If anything having a super cutscene heavy character development drama would be branching out from what the series is all about.

[–] DingoBilly 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Well that's the point right? It's been 10 years. A lot has changed in games and people expect more. That's reflected in why the game has reviewed ok, but for a FromSoftware game it's kinda done pretty poorly. This isn't going to win any game of the year awards and they're demonstrating that they can't just take any game and make it great.

[–] Mikelius 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As respectfully as I can say this, so what? I don’t care about it trying to be a mass appeal GOTY art piece that pushes boundaries. I want an AC game with the stupid silly robots blowing shit up. Anything that tales me out building said robots or blowing said shit up is a negative for me. If anything having more bloat with cutscenes and dialogue and exposition detracts from the experience.

[–] DingoBilly 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's great for you then!

My comment is just a reply to the original comment that someone said it was laughable that reviewers complained about the lack of story which I think is just oblivious/attempts to excuse the developer for making a certain type of game. Again, the industry has evolved to expect certain things so when it's not there it's a valid complaint and reason why this game doesn't live up to expectations.

But it's completely valid for people to just want an action game or movie without a story so if that floats your boat then great.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Didn't live up to your unrealistic expectations. It's an action game with multiplayer based around mechs.

For this type of game the industry evolved to shoving loot crates, skins, and battle passes down our throats, not a "great story". This game has none of that. Which I'm sure most people are happy about.

The "story" in Armored Core exists to give you a reason to play their mech action game. Mech action being the focal point. It gives you a reason to play the game, get used to the controls, and then maybe play some multiplayer.

[–] DingoBilly 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not just my expectations, it has a metacritic score of 87. That's good, but it's only in the top 50 games this year.

Again, I don't really care, I don't actually plan on playing it. Just saying why it's completely justifiable that reviewers downgrade the score because it's not doing anything new/has no story.

Just fyi - but I'd rate games with microtransactions as below this. I just have learnt to enjoy action games with story. Otherwise it's just another action game. If you play a hundred action games then they start all being the same unless you start doing more. Mech combat is not that exciting or new for me.

But great that you and others enjoy it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Elden Ring is their best attempt at story telling imo. I could follow most of the NPC storylines without much effort in the first playthrough. It wasn't really obtuse like their previous titles. There is a bit of hope they can improve.