Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon review – FromSoftware's mech series returns
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon marks the return of the long-running mech series after a 10-year absence with an exhilarating action game, but it doesn't quite hit the highs of other FromSoftware titles.
Before the likes of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, FromSoftware's bread and butter was the Armored Core series, with 15 titles being released from 1997's Armored Core until 2013's Armored Core: Verdict Day. Now after a 10-year hiatus, Armored Core has returned with the sixth numbered entry Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
Considering the surge in popularity FromSoftware has had since the last entry, it's bound to be a first introduction to the Armored Core series for many, which makes it even more important for the game to live up to the company's high standards.
Armored Core 6 places you in the shoes of an independent mercenary called '621' who adopts the callsign Raven from a crashed Armored Core unit. Alongside your Handler, Walter you take on a variety of missions from various corporations and factions and take part in the ongoing war on Rubicon as groups seek to seize control of the planet's natural resource – Coral. The storytelling is far more direct than the Souls series, and while there's a litany of info and a deep world to dig into, you won't need to watch a 4-hour video essay to understand it.
Mech-ing the most of your time
Considering FromSoftware has almost exclusively made Soulslike games over the past 10 years, many were expecting Armored Core to take that direction, but no, this is as Armored Core as it has ever been. As a newcomer to the series, the closest thing I can approximate the gameplay loop of Armored Core 6 to is Bandai Namco's Ace Combat series.
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Before each mission you can build your mech to your liking, mixing and matching parts from various corporations to create the ultimate Armored Core. This means you'll want to pay attention to the mission briefing and plan accordingly. Personally, I loved using the pistol and chainsaw as my weapons of choice, with reverse joint legs to assist me with jumping and dodging but taking this build on some missions meant swift and decisive failure on my part. Other missions had me turning into a huge tank, rolling around with two Gatling guns and missile launchers strapped to my back.
That being said, this is also the easiest FromSoftware game I've played as some builds are just super overpowered. The aforementioned dual Gatling guns become extremely strong once you unlock stronger leg parts, giving you the power to be more agile with two massive guns strapped to you. It's not a dealbreaker by any means, but there were a few times when I struggled with a boss only to demolish them with a quick loadout change (which is also on me I suppose).
In terms of performance, the game ran smoothly on my PC (GTX 3060ti, Ryzen 7), which is to be expected given the minimum specs, but I was most impressed by its performance on the Steam Deck. I split my 20-hour playthrough pretty much equally across both and barely noticed any issues in the Steam Deck version.
The game doesn't outstay its welcome, coming in at roughly 15-20 hours, but also offers some extra content for those looking to tackle New Game Plus multiple times. Overall, I'd recommend Armored Core 6 to those looking for an exhilarating fast-paced action game that is supplemented by an engaging metagame of designing the perfect build to adapt to each mission.
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