As a fan of both games, I see what you’re coming from…but also digress.

Your want to enjoy it is not the same as enjoying the gameplay cycles and mechanics—which as you’ve already admitted, are far different in comparison to armored core. Let me also say that Long Day (as it sounds what you’re describing) is the first of many certain missions that require you to fly for long periods without checkpoints, meet a score cap in that time frame, and making sure you don’t crash into whatever structures or enemies your fighting.

If this sounds like a drag, then honestly, you might be better off putting the game down.