Developer: From Software
Publisher: From Software, Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PC
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon – Review
It’s been over a decade since Armored Core V was released, and it seemed as if the series was somewhat done for, with From Software focusing on other titles. So, it came as a surprise when Fires of Rubicon was announced, which would be the sixth installment of the series. Now, with the game being out for a few weeks, we decided to dive back into the cockpit of an impressive mech to see how the series has evolved compared to the previous title, which was available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. As a whole, we were very impressed.
Story
Armored Core VI revolves around a coveted material, Coral, that can only be found on Rubicon 3, a faraway planet. This material was once the cause of heavy technological advancements, but a disaster occurred, making it seem as if the material was lost forever. You’ll be playing as an augmented mech pilot C4-621, who later gets the callsign Raven. It’s your job to investigate what goes on on the surface of Rubicon 3, as well as confirm the rumors of Coral being mined again. The story progresses through dialogues in-between missions and radio chatter during missions. As a whole, the story is quite decent, but it does take a while before it starts going. Interesting as the narrative may be, we suspect that many players will basically pick this one up for its overall satisfying gameplay loop.
Graphics
Armored Core VI is a very pretty game. Even though some environments may look a bit sterile and monotonous, the mech designs are absolutely stellar and the particle effects of your weapons are so satisfying. It was very enjoyable blowing up enemy units, and even the few destructible items in the environments were quite entertaining to destroy. You can customize your mech quite a bit, and even with different rig constructions, the overall builds looked quite realistic. On top of that, you can mess around with a lot of color schemes and even weathering effects. All in all, this game truly nails the mech-game aesthetic.
Sound
The sound design is also of top-notch quality. The soundtrack is great, as well as the voice acting that’s present throughout the missions and in between assignments. The true highlight when it comes to the overall sound design is the quality of the sound effects. All the weapons pack a proper oomph when blasting your way through enemies, but also the general SFX of the mechs themselves provide great feedback. As a whole, the sound effects truly help with the overall immersion.
Gameplay
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a fast-paced mech-oriented action title. Many will know From Software’s Soulsborne titles, and even in the newest Armored Core, we see a few elements that will please the fans of said titles. You’ll play through fairly short missions with a lot of enemy mech opposition, as well as a fair few boss fights sprinkled in between. Other than that, there’s also an Arena mode, as well as an extensive Training mode, and a Multiplayer mode. The latter is only PVP. The offset for every mode is quite simple, as you’ll simply have to take out the opposition with your own trusty mech.
As you’re playing with a massive robotic armament it’s important that it handles intuitively. This is where Armored Core VI truly feels like an absolute delight when it comes to piloting a huge mech. You’ll be able to easily engage in combat while also having enough capabilities to react to enemy attacks, making the combat segments like a futuristic tug-of-war. You’ll have a massive array of weapons at your disposal, and you are able to equip weapons to both arms, as well as your mech’s shoulders. This creates an interesting synergy, where you may opt to have some missiles and machine guns, while also keeping room for a shield you can activate and a melee weapon to bypass enemy shields.
Customization of your impressive piece of armor goes even further, as you can swap out all individual parts, to perhaps make your build more nimble or heavier to soak more damage. Every change does affect performance, as a lighter build will make it so you cannot equip too many heavy weapons, but a heavier build may forfeit some speed and boosting capabilities. We enjoyed messing around with our rig, and you can clearly notice the difference when you, for example, swap out the legs for caterpillar tracks. The controls are clearly designed with a lot of care, as you can easily cater your robot to your playstyle. We did notice the targeting system can be a bit finicky at times, but for the most part, this also feels quite precise and easy to work with.
Not uncommon for games developed by From Software, there are some clear difficulty spikes to be found in the game. You are clearly expected to properly master the game’s controls, think about your mech build, and even figure out the patterns of a few bosses. The latter is important if you actually wish to defeat a fair few of them, as the game can be somewhat brutal when it comes to difficulty increases. You may find yourself breezing through the regular enemies to only come to a sudden halt trying to beat a certain boss character. The game never feels unfair, however, and this motivates you to press onwards.
We did regret that the Multiplayer mode in the game didn’t involve actual co-op gameplay. Armored Core VI’s campaign would be rather interesting to tackle with a friend or even a random player online. The PVP mode is fairly entertaining to see how well you perform against other players, but it feels more like a gimmick than an actual significant component of the game. The game also offers more content in a New Game Plus mode, which adds a few new missions you can play through.
Conclusion
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is probably the best mech game out there. While this 6th installment does have a few difficulty spikes players will need to overcome, the title is also very accessible to newcomers and fans of older entries in the series. Fires of Rubicon has all the necessary components for a great mech game, such as the option to make your own impressive rig, action-packed gameplay, responsive controls, and of course interesting enemies that cross your path. If you’re looking for a Gundam-esque experience with amazing weapons at your disposal, we suggest picking this one up.
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