Summary
Despite a variety of IPs whose themes and settings seemingly have little in common, most FromSoftware titles share a distinct DNA that can be felt in all its titles, including the upcomingArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. This return to the studio’s longest-running franchise is refreshing for fans weary of the Soulslike formula that propelled FromSoftware to popularity. Even though the company wishes to minimizecomparisons betweenArmored Core 6andElden Ringto let the former stand on its own, there are places where that FromSoftware DNA does come out.
One of the more evident areas is how it handles using names. Effective naming is important in many FromSoftware games, since the studio famously utilizes an opaque form of storytelling where players need to seek the pieces themselves to paint a clear picture. This means anything important to one of its games needs a name that communicates a broad idea of what it could be while leaving enough open to make players question the specifics.Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconhas already shown that it will likely follow this method as both of these elements are present with Coral, a strange energy source at the center of the game’s narrative.
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The Importance Behind Coral’s Name in Armored Core 6
There’s somewhat of an irony in Coral’s name withinArmored Core 6because coral is a form of life that can be used to measure a marine ecosystem’s health. There’s a heavy correlation between coral and the oceans, as they are not only marine life forms themselves, but they double as reliable homes and resources for local fish.
Coral is also used as a resource inArmored Core 6, but its connections are with firerather than water. It might have initially been seen as something to bring communities life, but most of the language surrounding it concerns its potential for destruction. Fires have spread throughout the planet of Rubicon 3 and the surrounding star system thanks to humanity exploiting it without considering the ramifications for mishandling it. The catastrophe was so bad that it formed what the game calls a Burning Star System, and even with destruction on this level, humanity seemingly hasn’t learned its lesson, since corporations returned to the planet as soon as Coral emerged again.
Considering this description, Coral’s role inArmored Core 6is similar to the themes of fire in other FromSoftware games. The thematic similarities shine with the term “Feed the fire” which sounds like the protagonist kindling theFirst Flame inDark Souls.
The name Coral is a strange choice for this substance instead of something that better evokes fire. FromSoftware may have any number of reasons for this, but it likely will have to do with comparisons that can be drawn between what it was first seen as and how coral functions on Earth.
Although it is referred to as a substance, it could resemble a living entity, even if the type of life it is goes beyond human comprehension. Depending on how much of an explanation Coral receives amidst all thefast-paced mech combat inArmored Core 6, this connection can be strengthened. It already is an alien substance as it hails from a planet far from Earth, and the game can play into this fact.
Armored Corehas always been about immoral corporationsexploiting what they can and further ruining worlds on the verge of death. Coral’s name alludes to organisms whose habitat deeply contrasts with the fictional substance, so it might be a nod towards the game dealing with humanity’s needless struggle over something it doesn’t understand, and that is very in line with the stories many FromSoftware games have.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconcomes out August 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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