google failed me and told me Last Raven was the last armored core - so my bad on that misinformation - the last AC was 2013. Shout out to Berries_L for correcting me!

I just realized Rough and Decent’s acronym is RaD, which is the facility where this song plays for the first time.

You should definitely check out Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) and The Man Who Burned it All / The Man Who Passed The Torch together with the Balteus theme (Contact With You). These are all different takes on the Fires of Rubicon leitmotif with completely different emotions behind them.

My favorite track is called "Contact With You" which first appears in the Balteus fight. The music fits the fight very well, but the title was always confusing to me, and made me think a lot whenever I'd listen to it. Then you get to a point in the game where they re-awaken the motif, and you realize who's theme it actually is.

When compared to the older AC games, 6 ost is a lot more atmospheric. It fit to the narrative of the story very well.

Shockingly, Rusty is the most motivational character in the game. Whenever I hit a roadblock, I hear him say “You ready to climb The Wall?” And I get back up

I really like the "texture" of this new ost, also mechanical synth that sounds similar to muffled screams is really cool, especially when contrasted with normal vocals. I kinda miss the weird but very memorable music with Engrish vocals though.

The fact the you went back to the game after uninstalling and managed to "get over the wall" you were facing as you said brought a smile to my face. This is what these games are all about. You keep trying and trying, all day long you think of what you could do differently to change the situation, and when you manage to go pass through, it feels amazing.

The #1 rule of Armored Core is not getting attached to a loadout, your AC is a means to an end. Everytime you hit a wall, feel free to try different builds, and see what works out

The actual battle involved with Cries of Coral and the stakes set up for the scene, how your opponent is presenting themselves and letting you clearly know the consequences of your choices. It is a haunting introduction to an insanely hard fight that left me wanting to restart and fix my mistakes. Looking on it now, it almost seems like they went for that exact reaction because new game+ sets the player up for retribution.

Armored Core doesn't just deliver ambiance, it also delivers character impressions in song, as a lot of conflicts reduce to a duel with specific individuals, and the song is just a vignette into the intersection between lives, in combat.

You should look at Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) and how it re-incorporates the ultra dark motif from Fires of Rubicon in an incredibly uplifting way. The subdued vocals from the first track suddenly take center stage, almost like that voice of consciousness is stepping forward to reclaim its humanity in the face of greed, horror, and war.

Fromsoftware never fails to deliver true bangers, especially in the music department!

I'll agree with all the Rusted Pride mentions here, but 'The Man Who Passed the Torch' and 'Rough and Decent (Bad Joke)' are underrated as all hell. Especially given their contexts, that I shall refuse to divulge on principle. *We don't talk about what we did to liberate Rubicon.*

I'm in love with the main melody of Fires of Rubicon, especially when the vocals come in, gives me the chills.

I've really found that this game's soundtrack is great background noise while I work. It has this element of prodding you forward, which helps with motivation.

starting up operation wall climber and getting to see it and hear it for the first time with you was incredible. you boost over the mountain and you see that giant wall for the first time with all the snipers along its face as the expressive sawtooth and that pulsing bass kicks in, its an overwhelmingly menacing and exciting feeling. its a daunting challenge for the player but it has this air of confidence to it that we're gonna absolute destroy everybody in there and conquer this wall. definitely looking forward to see you revisit this game man, we gotta see the story of the megatron build continue

Its kinda crazy how each track brings me back into the game. I didn't really notice the music while playing, but clearly my brain acknowledged it.

I emphatically recommend you analyze "Coral Guardian". It plays during a two-phase boss and you can clearly distinguish both phases on the track. But the main reason I suggest it is because it has more of those vocals which, this time, are used to evoke a sense of dread and terror. It sends shivers down my spine every time I listen to it

Armored core 6 reminded me why I am a diehard fan of darksynth. Idk if you’ve heard of daemon x machina but it’s a Mecha game on the switch inspired by Armored Core. Came out a while ago, and I just got into it right before rubicon released. It’s definitely a fun bite-sized presentation of the Mecha game concept. Kept me occupied till rubicon came out and the helicopter boss thrashed my ass lol

Balteus's Boss theme, "Contact With You" is easily my favorite song in the game. Despite it playing for that fight, it's very much the theme of your newfound companion, Ayre, the name referencing the "Contact" you've made with her. It's a very good theme that I very much enjoy.

I love mechs so much in shows and games Gundam and AC. I love how inside them you can hear how people truly are. With power rivaling entire armies you can't help but be yourself. But on the other hand their stoic glare of neon lights remind you that regardless of if the person piloting is the nicest person in the world, these are war machines. Wherever you go, death and destruction shall follow.

You should listen to "contact with you" in AC6 Ac6 soundtrack is more like last raven, a lot of it is very atmospheric

This was an awesome explanation. As someone who likes dark synth and ambient tracks its SUPER refreshing to have these tracks explained. I found myself saying a few times "yeah I felt that too" good job!! Also I will say that this entire OST is a giant "MOOD" it is not meant to be traditional at all, it's meant to embody what it's like to BE one of these weird mech/people hybrid things.

When it comes to walls in Armored Core, sometimes it's better to rethink your AC's design philosophy. Sometimes a small change can open up entirely different play styles or combat options.

I don't know why Balteus's theme gives me a sense of nostalgia and sadness.

One of my favorites is Coral Guardian. Fittingly for the boss, the choir hits that perfect vibe of angelic and alien.

Armored Core 6's sound design and OST's are easily the best I've experienced this year and maybe longer. For a game about smashing big robots up it never fails to impress me how much emotion is evoked by it.

Funny enough, most of the bosses in AC6 are easier if you just stay close to it. If you're too scared or intimidated to charge forward, you will absolutely lose. This game doesn't just reward skill, it also heavily rewards bravery. Also, never be married to your build, you should be constantly re-fitting your AC depending on the specific challenges ahead. The game lets you save your different loadouts for quick access for this reason.

My own interpretation for the Fires of Rubicon ost is that the first part is this mechanical from corporations leached lifeless planet that is on the brink of death but there is more then what meets the eye something underneath the surface which will awaken again and thus in the second part it gives a sense of hope determination, dedication and the vocals indicate for me that humanity will preveil and moves forward no matter what happens even if everything is in ruin it will strife for a better future for a reason to exist

Thank you so much for giving the game an honest shot. The first AC was the first game I ever picked out for myself, way back when I was 8 and playing on my dad's Playstation; The game means the world to me and suiting back up for AC6 has been incredible. I know a lot of folks are gonna bounce off, and that's okay it's not for everyone, but to all the new Ravens: Welcome. Oh and RE: Rough and Decent, jazz and mecha go way back. Probably the most famous example I can think of being Gundam Thunderbolt's OVA using it to great effect

I think it's CRIMINAL we're not talking about Steel Haze - Rusted Pride! It's a great peace because not only it's an evolution of an earlier theme song for a certain buddy character, but also shows the resolve that I think a "true" raven exudes. For me, it's the theme song of Raven of AC6.

This game really shows the versitility Fromsoft has, not just in the gameplay aspect. But the music as well being a gritty synth noise that compliements the dystopian mech based world just as well as the epic symphonic pieces that we know from souls games. I dont know if id listen to many of the tracks on my own as I do with other FromSoft OSTs but they compliment the game perfectly.

I mean, they also made another mech banger back in the day called Chromehounds. Shit was awesome.

In Unbreakable, that initial sound isn't strings; it's an air horn like a tornado warning or air raid horn. It's also done in dissonance which is a nice touch.

Rough and Decent is my favorite track. It's so great to jam out to this during a mission. You can usually hear it when you do missions for Carla, or when you fight Carla in the Arena.

That first song sounds so.much when you enter Heaven in Doom.Eternal.. 100% chills

Fires of Rubicon is such a harrowing and depressing song when you put the sound design of the context of the Armored Core Universe. The synth sums up the setting pretty well. Heavy, fast, unforgiving and brutal, like a war fought by an aging and dying humankind that isn't even human anymore due to the surgeries required for ACs and who will never make ammends for its destruction and what it has done to both the system and to Rubicon itself in its never ending quest for Corporate profits and individual selfish desires of everyone involved. Fromsoft always has some of the best music composers out of any game studio in the industry, Idk what it is but it's like they just have a talent for people who will find that magic touch for their games. It's crazy how consistently they pull off amazing sets like this.

You absolutely need to check out the track "resolve" from the ost

Great video! Was just listening to the music last night and the ambiance and mixing of the coral songs is just amazing and ibis cell theme is chilling

The longer you listen to sounds of this game the stronger is feeling that you almost understand what coral tries to say to you. It’s not a message it’s like it’s sending you an emotion

You basically nailed it when describing "Cries of Coral". That's one of the final boss fights and it's a very bittersweet moment of reflection as you commit to your prior decisions. Great video!

I was hoping you'd make a video on AC6, and you delivered. Thank you for that. Incredible soundtrack for an incredible game. I think you're onto something with the consciousness inside the metal box hypothesis

my personal favorite is definitely Steel Haze (Rusted Pride).

Definitely have to do Balteus theme "Contact with You"

Tbh Rough and Descent in context represents both Cinder Carla's nature, finding joy amongst inevitable suffering, making light despite the dark, and the background metallic beat partly resembles a beat similar to anvil smashing, if you imagine some robots slamming a tool upon metal to break and reshape. Joy amongst the scrapyard, make anything more than nothing. Take the dark of the scorched past and reform it to brighten the present. And in her own words: "What use is a killing machine that can't get a good laugh?"

There was a specific set and cadence of tones in cries of coral that immediately made me jump up straight in my chair. It sounded dangerously close to the aural warning system present on some US legacy air platforms. I'm betting they put that in on purpose.

Some of the music makes me think of the soundtrack from the Netflix movie BLAME! which is based on Tsutomi Nihei's manga BLAME! He was an architect before he became a mangaka. Anyway, some of what I've heard so far playing Fires of Rubicon feels like looking at the City of BLAME! On the topic of off kilter melodies, look up Blue Brazer, one of the songs from Armored Core 3. It's got a bass line that is all over the place.

AC fan here, LOVE how you exactly guessed the emotions that each song played through, excellent vid, you should definitely listen to some AC3 Silent Line songs if you get the chance :)

An interesting thing to note is that Balteus's theme borrows a lot from the older AC games, I particularly noticed familiarty with AC3 songs.

Every single song gives me chills every play thru over n over...

contact with you (which is the balteus fight) is honestly one of the best, its so idk just Good! bopping even

It's surprising how much they use piano in these track, because in game I never notice them being there. I'm actually surprised when Rough and Decent play due to how prevalent the piano is.

you should REALLY listen to Contact With You and Steel Haze (Rusted Pride), very very good tracks

You gotta give Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) a listen, it's played in two of the three endings during the climax of the story, and it HITS. It's unbelievably moving (IMO) because it relates to a fellow pilot who's AC is called Steel Haze. And the tune plays when you either fight to kill him, or fight by his side. In both playthroughs though it is very grand and keeps your emotions on edge. It is so hype hearing the music swell. Fly high, Buddy, beyond the scorched skies skies of Rubicon..😭😭😭

Enjoyed the video and liked hiw spot on you were with tracks you havent even heard in game. That said the sandwich talk made me hungry...

I immediately went out of my way to look up the OST for the game, right as I finished the Wall section too, and hearing you praise it is wonderful. Such a visceral force behind the music. You really feel like YOU are the threat.

Omg i hope youre able to finish this game! Its soo good. Chapter 4 onward is great and the alternative ending you can get on NG+ are deeply satisfying

The OST in AC6 is so perfect that I hardly notice it’s there. It’s incredible really.

The piano in cries of coral give me for answer vibes and the vocals give me armored core 3 vibes. I do hope someday you get the chance to complete the game to understand the character that I believe this music represents and how this piece of music portrays their emotion and intent based on events that have happened in the game up to that point.

I think Unbreakable is doing a wonderful job at contextualizing what's happening at the very moment it is playing. It perfectly represents what we're doing, horrible things for horrible compagnies, and it keeps us aware that what we are destroying are mechs piloted by actual humans. It also makes us feel powerful, but not necessarily for the better, all the while forcing us to ignore the atrocities we are committing for the sake of the mission. Basically this OST shows what we are and and in what situation, an unbreakable steel monster on a bloody and metallic rampage, using the fact that we're only accomplishing our mission as an excuse to numb ourselves from the the guilt.

It's hard to ignore the inspirations taken from Vangelis' work on Blade Runner when listening to a lot of the dark-synth heavy themes in AC6, with that context you can really understand how Kota Hoshino et al. was able to capture a specific dark sci-fi atmosphere and to an extent that signature dark fantasy feel we have often associated with From Software's games recently. If you wanted a specific example on that Vangelis inspiration, I recommend giving the ending tracks "The Man Who Passed The Torch" and "The Man Who Burned It All" a listen, for Passed The Torch you can listen at 1:48 the Fires of Rubicon leitmotif with clearer synths and softer background beats are shockingly similar to Blade Runner's Main Title music at around 1:28 , like note-for-note similar. for Burned It All, the overall sound of the first-half is similar to the End Titles track of Blade Runner from the more lighter-feeling synths it uses. If you understand the ending to Blade Runner and the implications towards its character, you'll find the ending featuring this track to be very reflective of Blade Runner's own message and I personally find it to be a love letter to synths of that era.

Would love to see you react to Rusty's theme which takes Fires of Rubicon and completely warps it into something completely different.

You need a dedicated video for rusted pride, steel haze's theme is more in line with the old AC themes 4 answer and Verdict day specially.

ouuu I really liked this format!

Currently going for 100% completion of the game and got a couple of parts and S ranks to go. It definitely makes me feel like im playing the older games where I want everything lol. Part of me misses the music style of those games as well, but this soundtrack definitely fits the context of the game with the decaying husk of rubicon and the cold metal of essentially your body. Unbreakable is definitely a top track for me. That electronic screeching definitely feels like these machines youre fighting are alive, and a lot of the enemies do have an organic feel to them. I do hope you find the spark to press on and experience the game with the rest of us :)

i freakin love the ost, it's always there during gameplay and keep you in the mood; Then my favorite are the ones playing in each of the different ending. Unbreakable is just second to them to me :) Good luck finishing the game, don't be ashamed to look for help online, it gets easier in NG+ and NG++ as you've unlocked most of the stuff, and i recommend doing ng+ and ng++ to get the full picture and all three ending :)

Your interpretation of Cries of coral is really close to what it actually is i'd even say spot on

id LOVE to hear your reaction to "contact with you"

I really dig the soundtrack in this one. Especially the main theme when you boot up the game for the first time. Reminds me of the OG Terminator soundtrack with the synths.

I'd love to hear you discuss some more tracks like Fight or Flight, High Pressure, and especially Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) if you do a follow up video for this game

I listen to it at work the soundtrack is definitely a masterpiece that needs awards

Please listen to the final boss themes of this game, Specifically "The Man who Passed The Torch" ost. It is probably my favorite in the game for the somber tones alone.

i want to see more of AC videos from you so bad

14:30 damn.. I already listened the OST dozens of times, but I was just listening to this part with more attentions and it brought tears to my eyes 🥹

If you listen closely, rough and decent has some similarity to lay down the law in ACVD or 5 i cant remember, not the jazzy quality, but what you have in the background

Would you consider checking out Remnant 2's OST? Especially "The Huntress", "The Labirynth Sentinel" and "The Imposter Kings" As for AC6, definetely check out how "Steel Haze" evolves into "Steel Haze (Rusted Pride)"

Love this OST. There is a cohort of AC fans that weren't impressed. So glad to see you bringing excitement to these tracks. They carry narrative weight.

I love music from Armored Core. Overture from AC4 is a favorite Late to this vid. Hope gameplay is going well. Design for mission is part of AC, but more important is design to your playstyle. Sometimes adjusting key layout can help too.

God i really want to see your reaction to Rusted Pride, it's definitely the Daredevil of this game if I may say so myself

I know you're probably getting a lot of suggestions for Balteus's theme "Contact with you." If you end up doing that, I highly recommend doing it alongside the song "Infall" - one of the final battle tracks. They share a lot of elements while being totally different in scope and feel.

I gotta recommend listening to Steel Haze Rusted Pride. that's prolly my favorite song on the OST

Rusted pride also has vocals. I suggest taking a listen to it

That one part of Rough and Decent, where the piano is front and center, playing very fast notes, very much reminds me of that one song from FFXIV. I think it plays in the great Gubal library, but I'm not fully sure. It might also be from that research institute in the optional Shadowbringers dungeon.

You’ve definitely gotta listen to Steel Haze too it’s incredible!

I'm loving Steel Haze (Rusted Pride). I hear I immediately think I gotta up my dodge skills because things are about to pop off.

I haven't listened to the ost separately, except a couple of the tracks, but I did not realize that Rough and Decent was the PvP soundtrack.

Hey, could you listen to something from Signalis, "3000 Cycles I've Waited" is genuinely gut wrenching to me, and maybe "Cigarette Wife" because it's just awesome, "Safe Room", or my favorite "Die Tonteninsel Emptiness" they're all short like 1 to 3 minutes but this game means so much to me and I'd love to hear you're thoughts on it's music. Edit: correction, its "3000 Cycles I missed you"

Having played through AC6 twice so far and gotten the first two endings, it's really cool getting to hear your analysis on some of these tracks and tying in how it relates to the context and the themes inherent in them while you're playing the game. I don't want to spoil, but I'd definitely recommend giving it a shot and finishing the game if you can for the full experience of the tracks! **Edit** I actually also want to recommend giving "Echoes of Coral" a listen. It's the more introspective counterpart to "Cries of Coral"

Marco I hope you cover “Contact with you” soon! I wanna hear your thoughts on Balteus fight theme.

i think "contact with you" sums up the series in an amazing way!

Hey Marco! Been a fan of your content for a while now, ever since your devil may cry video showed me there was a backing choir in a song I'd listened to for years without even realizing. I don't know if you're up for a recommendation but I figure what the heck, if it means showing you some good music. The game Shin Megami Tensei V has a pretty good soundtrack, however the main theme that also plays during the end credits has an incredibly good voice (though no lyrics I think). Even if there's no video on it, you should definitely give it a listen!

my fav track might be Coral Guardian, a boss theme from the end of chapter 4. The fight is immensely difficult as it's against an AC from the "Ibis-series", which, in lore, are an almost mythical set of technologically advanced mechs. The track itself really plays into this idea that what you're up against is significantly more powerful than youself by, instead of being this big thumping fight track like the boss themes in this game, it goes for a creepier, waning and whining sound, as if to say "flee, for there is no winning _this_ fight"

Forged in Ash we stand as one! Coral, Abide with Rubicon! Die Mercenary!

i just watched a video where the creator said the music took a backseat in this game and is actually underwhelming, and i’m glad that this isn’t a common sentiment, not to mention that this is such a great analysis. here are a few things i noticed: 1/ unbreakable might actually be the player/main character’s theme. it plays in some mini boss encounters, most of which are sudden ambushes like sulla and rokumonsen, and at the start of the wallclimber mission. it’s like the track is helping you transition into the zone and keep calm and collected by having a slow, smooth tempo contrasting with the fast paced action. 2/ i think you should check out rusted pride. it’s the one of the few that puts the vocals at the forefront, and the only theme to be an up version of not only one other theme (steel haze), but probably two? the menu theme to me sounds like a scaled back version of rusted pride/steel haze, where only a few notes are played. i’m curious to hear your analysis on this because, 3/ the way you analyze cries of coral sounds like you actually played that part or have watched the gameplay? because you’re pretty much describing the context of that boss fight, which is very cool. i think it’s definitely interesting and impressive if ac6’s soundtrack managed to convey that. other themes that might be worth a look for a “part 2” video are coral guardian, contact with you, resolve, or the man who passed the torch. great title too. the soundtrack is definitely bold and violent, and sad too

The entire track is nuts. You should try to finish the game, some of the moments these tracks are on are epic!

Yeah, you really aren’t far off on your analysis of “Cries of Coral”. Its a heartbreaking moment. The term “If only you knew how bad things really are” comes to mind. Its worth pushing forward with the game, truly. Best advice I can give is never stick to a single build, and be aggressive. Really aggressive. Shotguns are good.

That 3d song plays when your in the mech assembly

I love Cries of the Coral but I feel like the song is better with the boss's voice lines because they happen at the phase 2 transition and it's right when the end piano melody begins playing and it just makes the feeling the song gives you in that moment so much more impactful. I could listen to that on repeat forever 😂

Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) is one of the few songs in the soundtrack that nor only has vocals, albeit more laidback, but also has traditional instruments