Fans of futuristic vehicular combat titles have lots to look forward to, with both Synduality: Echo of Ada and ArmoredCore 6: Fires of Rubicon on the horizon. While most players might be more familiar with Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon thanks to its powerhouse developer FromSoftware, they still shouldn't sleep on Synduality: Echo of Ada. The two titles might have many differences, but gamers could enjoy Game Studio Inc.'s third-person action RPG just as they would Armored Core 6's release thanks to its similar vibe but unique elements.
FromSoftware has a number of beloved franchises under its belt, most notably its Soulsborne series like Dark Souls, as well as the recent award-winning Elden Ring. So gamers might have been a little surprised when it was leaked in 2022 that the studio's next big release after Elden Ring was going to be another installment in the Armored Core series – a franchise that hadn't had a mainline entry since Armored Core: Verdict Day in 2013. Armored Core 6 is set to launch this year, ten years after the last installment, but it's far from the only game of its kind. Those interested in it should also keep an eye on Synduality: Echoes of Ada.
Synduality: Echo Of Ada's Features
Synduality is an upcoming mixed-media experience that will include the launch of both an action RPG title and an anime television series, the latter of which will premiere in July 2023​​​​​​. For now, the game only has a vague 2023 release window. Taking place far in the future, Synduality: Echo of Ada centers on the humans that have been left behind after a devastating poisonous rain called “The Tears of the New Moon” obliterated the majority of the planet's population and led to the creation of dangerous and deformed creatures that stalk the surface. With the help of artificial intelligence called Magus, gamers take on the role of Drifters, humans who hunt for AO crystals and avoid the xenomorphic beasts known as Enders.
The dystopian world of Synduality: Echo of Ada tasks humans with working alongside their AI partners, strengthening their bond as they encounter different dangers and explore resource-depleted environments with armed vehicles known as Cradle Coffins. These vehicles can be completely personalized, with gamers able to switch up the weapon loadouts to suit their playstyle or adjust the cosmetics of the machines to match their chosen aesthetic. With a multiplayer mode that lets players team up with or tear down other Drifters online, Synduality: Echo of Ada looks like a fun anime-inspired entry.
How Synduality: Echo Of Ada Compares To Armored Core
Similar to Synduality: Echo of Ada, Armored Core 6 is a mech-based vehicular combat game. The Armored Cores themselves can also be customized and fine-tuned to fit a player's needs, with upgrades available and different weapon slots on each mech to encourage the use of a variety of different armaments. Just as gamers will be hunting for the rare AO crystals to help secure humanity's future in its new safe haven of Amasia, in Armored Core 6 humanity has rediscovered an energy source that must be controlled to help create new technological advancements to aid the human race.
Synduality: Echo of Ada may rely on building a bond between the player and their AI Magus more than Armored Core 6's focus on traditional mech combat, and the aesthetic of the former is definitely more akin to a Final Fantasy game than Armored Core's more brutalist art style, but there are still similarities. Both games have the same science fiction building blocks when it comes to their in-game worlds and narratives, and Synduality: Echo of Ada could easily appeal to Armored Core 6 fans too.
Synduality: Echo of Ada in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.