Before Japanese studio FromSoftware‘s name was forever attached to the Souls series and the genre it spawned, they were best known for a series based around mecha combat – a series that hasn’t seen action for almost a decade. And Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon beautifully returns the series’ brand of machine combat to the gaming landscape.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is, in most ways, a re-boot for the series. Fires of Rubicon features new characters and locations, but it’s all set in the existing universe. The game also shows a flare of what modern FromSoftware have become best known for since Armored Core last had its day.
This infusion of what people love from their most esteemed series within a known universe shows that FromSoftware are clever cookies. The game is the perfect stepping on point for newcomers tempted to the series by the From name. Meanwhile, long-term fans will have a fair understanding of what is happening and be able to ease themselves back in.
Coral Genesis
The tale of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a grand affair. However, the game drip feeds it to you across five chapters through in-game chat, a few cut scenes and mission briefings. All concerned favour you to uncover the tale – Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon very much unfolds around you.
The game’s tale and how it’s told are a bit jarring. Especially when you get a tale dump right in the middle of a full blown battle. There’s a lot to cover and the coy tale-telling that works so well in From’s opus series doesn’t work quite as well here.
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Humanity has reached for the stars. A substance called Coral was discovered on a frontier planet called Rubicon 3. Coral can be used as both an energy source and a data conduit.
As happens, this use of this miracle substance goes wrong and caused a cataclysmic event. The Fires of Ibis engulfed the planet and the surrounding star system in flames and left behind a lethal contaminant.
Lore Generator
You play as mercenary known only as C4-621 who is trying to find a valid mercenary license so they can freely move around the planet This license would also allow you take on jobs for the game’s different corporations who run the show.
The setup see you taking part in a battle for a fair bit of coin. It’s also opens the door to the real tale where FromSoftware bring back the series core beat of anti-corporations.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is very fast and smooth. It’s also easy to pick up before it escalates the challange and spectacle. You’ll blast around ruined battlefields facing off against bigger and bigger enemies. With every kill you land and job you complete, you’ll bank coin.
Core Coin
You can then spend that coin on new and deadly bits of kit for your frame, as you can have up to four different weapons of destruction attached to it; from weapons to defence options.
Each of these is mapped to a trigger; so combat is silky smooth as you never have to move your hands off the sticks or triggers. Which means that in a fight things can escalate and become frantic very quickly, seeing the best way to defend yourself is a well-timed dodge.
A huge part of the game is its customisation. You will likely spend as long tinkering your rig for each mission, as you will in the heat of battle. You can easily gear up as a nimble attacker or a heavyweight tank to match the battle ahead. And it’s this ease of tinkering that invites you to make the best machine possible for the job every time.
Armored Core Build
However, it’s not as easy as strapping any old bits to your rig. You’ll have to crunch the numbers on the power and weight, as every choice has an impact on overall performance.
Plus, once you finish the game you’ll unlock new game plus mode. Like their Souls NG+ modes, you get to tackle it all again with extra or altered content, all your unlocked toys and a hike in difficulty.
The arena pits you against pro AI pilots for a big pay day. Or you can play in 1v1 or 3v3 multiplayer battles online. This is where you really find your place in the mecha pecking order.
You can also upload your custom Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon decals and designs. Then share them with the community. This is a really nice touch for the many that will spend hours crafting digital works of art.
Fire and Sand
Visually, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is highly detailed though quite muted. Admittedly, what’s left of cities and dust filled deserts are had to spruce up. The explosion and smoke effects on show, as well as its handling of scale do a lot to make game sparkle. You’ll often see some hulking machine in the distance, only to find that you’re going to be facing it next so it’s not just empty spectacle.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is an extremely strong return to what was a forgotten series. It’s packed with action inside a deep and intriguing tale that serves as a fine jumping-on point. It doesn’t just feel like FromSoftware are trying something different, but more the start of something much more.