As someone interested in ACIV, would you say that it's a good place to start out the series? I've seen a ton of AC rankings but just now I thought of the question and if it's there any other game fans of the series recomend to start on

The most balanced starting point remains Armored Core 3. It still uses the pre-dual analog controls, but is generally easier than preceding games and gives you plenty of room to experiment with viable builds. Nor is the story progression as anodyne or convoluted as some entries. After 3, it's an easy jump into Silent Line, another one of the best ACs.

Alternatively, try playing from the very start using these analog control patches. This method works best for emulator users, allowing you to have relatively similar controls from '97 to AC VI. I really like the original game even with how it originally controls, but these QoL enhancements are a big deal for anyone who can't stand tank-y controls.

1 is imo a good place to start just to see how much of the conceptual groundwork was laid from the start, and because it's the only game where its economy works for what it's going for (the arena severely breaks it in like every game after).

otherwise 3 is the recommendation that everyone will give. it's a good retelling of 1's story that continues into several expansions (silent line, nexus, last raven) and is where they got the feel of the mechs down, at least 4 me.

4 is kind of whatever outside of it feeling the most human in the series, but u should play it for For Answer since there's important connections btwn the two even if the characters and world r largely different. and also because like, if you're going to play the series at all it should b for that one

@PasokonDeacon @clownswords Thank you both so much for your input! I'll probably try out the first, but even if it doesn't convince me, I'll play AC3 for sure! (Also I made a typo, in my original comment I meant to say VI, not AC 4, sorry, my bad there xD)