Best Armored Core for beginners?

[solnK!]

Im a huge mecha fan, Zone of the Enders and Bulk Slash are one of my favorite games ever.
However, the AC series is one of the most famous IP´s when talking about mecha games, I´ve only played the first one with the true analogs hack and I did like it but not enough.
So, Im hungry for a new experience with AC and wanted to know wich is the best for a beginner like me.

 

[LostReverie]

I would say that 6 is the best entry point for beginners due to it having checkpoints, mid-mission assembly, and the ability to grind for cash if you're ever in a bad bind

 

[CG4R12I4N]

4 and 4A (For Answer) are the best gateway for beginners actually and the easiest to learn the necessary controls+tricks, provided you can play/emulate PS3. However it do play more fast paced run & gun than the rest of the games, which might develop some bad habits if you're still not used to various AC build customizing.

If you want the game that could translate your skills into the other games, 3 is better and probably your best bet.

 

[Segarov]

The different AC generations actually differ too much to give an answer to that.
While the PS2 titles are mostly an evolution of the formular established with AC1 and its expansions(and even then they can differ hugely in execution because of new system additions or rebalances,From really loved messing around with the Heat-Systems and Energy balance),the PS3 has two generations in 4/FA and 5/VD that might as well belong to completely different franchises.
Same goes for 6.
For the PS2 titles AC3/SL are considered pretty decent starting points(both in narrative and gameplay).
PS3 has a split between FA(which has the baggage of being a direct sequel to 4 so you will absolutely miss out on story bits)and a handful of people who like VD.
6 is the newest but still veers very far from the classic AC feel.

Point being,even if you dont vibe with one generation,the next might be different.

Anyway whatever you do,dont start with Last Raven.

 

[MajesticSiN]

Just play the newest one.

 

[MrChester]

Armored Core 2: Another Age (with dual stick support).

Mission 1 is not beginner friendly. Every follow-up mission is not beginner friendly... and yet I still think this is a great place to start because it just lets you explore the armored core systems at your own pace. I went for an extreme speed, super lightweight build recently and boy, I sure learnt a lot about how much of a bad idea that can be...

But it depends on what exactly you're after:

I want to get in on the Armored Core hype: play 6
I want an Armored Core experience: play 4 Answers
I want to get into Armored Core: play 2 Another Age

Also, playing an earlier one first just feels nicer because you can feel the ACs getting slicker as the series progresses.

EDIT: Honestly, if you actually just wanted to skim the series, those 3 games would be my suggestions as well

 

[Matricks]

I just 6 on my msi claw, its the easy one because controls and animationa are responsive and fast.
Where else the older games on older systems the crappy controls and choppy gfx makes its harder for beginners/pros.

Armedcore for Answer on ps3 was hell with the big battlestation, its was like snapshots gameplay.

 

[qw90700]

I only played PS2 ones and I started from this one:

https://retrogametalk.com/repository/ps2-iso/silent-line-armored-core-true-analogs-hack/

It was pretty much a normal game without any difficulty whatsoever for me especially compared to most video games in existence. And then I noticed in each newer PS2 game the series became for "those who are experts of the previous game". And then in Last Raven shit got too for "expert of the experts and luckiest motherfucker on the planet" shit so at least you may know you gotta avoid Last Raven at all cost lol. After playing Last Raven playing Dark Souls from 1st to last I felt like I'm playing easier Silent Line game in Dark Souls skin all again lol.