Armored Core VI: A Game-Changer or Just a Soulsborne in Space?

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon looms on the horizon. But does the title also bring new features to the table, or is it just riding the wave of excitement because it comes from the Dark Souls developers? Let’s shed some light on it.

AC6: Fires of Rubicon is a thrilling reboot of the mech warfare series infused with FromSoftware’s hallmark design principles. But, apart from the sci-fi setting, does it also deliver new approaches to gameplay?

Armored Core VI finally continues the mech saga

In Fires of Rubicon, you step into the pilot’s seat of a mech and experience intense combat that’s finely tuned to respond swiftly to all your moves. The expansive, dynamic maps are a playground of perpetual progression, offering challenging battles that demand your ingenious survival strategies. An exciting blend of mecha-based combat seamlessly integrated with FromSoftwares’s gameplay finesse.

The fights are lightning-fast and ferocious, underscored by a tactical layer and enhanced by extensive customization options. The diverse array of mecha loadouts opens the door to multiple play styles, each catering to different approaches in tackling Fires of Rubicon’s missions.

AC6 offers less open-world but not less exploration

Armored Core 6 turns away from the open-world design you know from Elden Ring and relies on a linear-level structure that never feels restricted and allows for deep exploration.
There are multiple ways to traverse depending on your mecha’s equipment. Use air boosters and light weapons for graceful aerial maneuvers, or arm yourself with heavy artillery to break through hurdles.

Master the heights and widths in Armored Core VI

The verticality of Rubicon 3’s environments adds a new dimension to combat, where upward, diagonal, and lateral movements are just as important as horizontal ones. As you plunge into the rusted foundries and industrial wastelands, the massive contrast between sweeping panoramas and narrow, claustrophobic corridors will test your mech’s maneuverability.

Equip your mech according to the challenges you face

You have extensive customizing options and can equip your mecha with up to four weapons and shields, each affecting your approach to combat. Close-range and long-range weapons, such as laser daggers and rocket launchers, show the strategic variety available.

You have dozens of customization options in Armored Core VI

Leg augmentations impact traversal, offering choices between stability and agility, while back-mounted power generators balance raw strength with weight considerations. Balancing firepower, defense, and mobility becomes a constant juggling act, ensuring that your mech load-outs evolve alongside the challenges you face.

In the heat of battle, the intricacies of your mech’s setup determine success. Long-range scanners reveal enemy placements, granting you the advantage of calculated strikes from a distance. Whether you prefer relentless long-range bombardments or the intimate thrill of melee combat, your choices shape the battlefield.

Even more challenging boss fights await you in AC6

The soul of Fires of Rubicon is in its detailed attention to boss battles. With titanic adversaries like molten-metal-spewing tanks, your dodging skills will be put to the ultimate test. As you progress, the question arises: Will you adopt an all-rounder approach or dynamically adjust your mech mid-mission? The allure of discovering the loadout that complements you while conquering Rubicon 3’s diverse challenges will be irresistible.

Is Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon a Soulsborne in space?

Indeed, Armored Core 6 shares design elements with FromSoftware’s iconic titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but it’s no mere imitator. Producer Yasunori Ogura clarifies that while there’s a common DNA, Armored Core VI is a unique evolution. It’s a symphony of firm yet fair combat, a melding of modernization with the foundation of Dark Fantasy RPGs.

Many associate FromSoftware directly with Dark Souls games and may also wonder why the developers are suddenly releasing a sci-fi game with mechs.

Did you know?

Before FromSoftware became famous for the Dark Souls series, the company was known for the Armored Core games. However, the last title is over a decade old.

AC6 remains true to its line but benefits from the previous titles

Since Demon’s Souls, all of FromSoft’s following major titles have stuck to similar gameplay mechanics. Games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and the most recently released Elden Ring all had familiar elements.

However, in the case of Armored Core VI, the developers focused on the original series’s core concepts again. While drawing some inspiration from the Soulsborne games, this essentially signifies that Armored Core 6 will retain the essence. This game primarily emphasizes aspects like mech assembly and extensive customization.

The excitement for AC6 is skyrocketing, and we believe it’s entirely justified. This isn’t just a standard contender; it’s the prospect of FromSoftware breathing new life into a beloved series using their unparalleled expertise.

The game will be released on August 25 for PS4/PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Purchase it for PC via Steam or get a special discount via Kinguin (affiliate link).

Do you like tough challenges?

Thanks to the Darksouls games, several Souls-likes from other developers have been released. Get an overview of the best Souls-Like Games. Or, intense boss battles await you in the Best Metroidvania Games or Best Roguelike Games.

Also, with Remnant 2, you can dive into a brand new coop souls-like shooter with your friends.

What do you think of FromSoftware’s new AC6? We’re looking forward to your comment.

Do you like our content? Help us improve: