My historical past with Armored Core began with the very first recreation on PlayStation. I used to be enamored by the duvet the attractive large mech on it; and saved it shut whereas I skilled an entire slate of robot-based oddities like G-Nome, and Heavy Gear. From then on, I sought out each subsequent entry, till I lastly put it collectively that From Software program – who had additionally supplied me with hours of leisure with the King’s Area sequence – was liable for all of it. By the point Demon’s Souls got here out the studio was a worldwide family title, however they had been killing it earlier than Souls modified the business.

With a pedigree like that, you’ll be able to see why so many individuals maintain Armored Core in such excessive regard; so I’m comfortable to report that Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon retains that legacy going.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X/S)
Developer: From Software program
Writer: Bandai Namco
Launched: August 25, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

Simply so that you simply’re present, let’s take a deep dive into the Fires of Rubicon lore: Coral is a substance that results in unprecedented technological developments. Till it doesn’t, and there’s an enormous hearth that destroys every thing. Following that, there’s a restoration interval populated with corps and mercs (that’s you!), which is the place you are available in.

You’re caught up! No actually, you’re caught up.

That’s just about all of the background you want on Armored Core 6, because the crux of the expertise lies with incomes cash, and shopping for/mixing/matching elements to kind your custom-curated machine of destruction. The narrative goes in circles typically (particularly with a few of the listless pre-mission banter), however it’s sufficient to propel you ahead into extra mech-based fight and preserve you guessing. However actually, the world of Rubicon 3 is a captivating character in its personal proper. The entire biomes you’ll journey via (whether or not it’s a product of artifice or pure magnificence) are fascinating to witness, to the purpose the place I’d positively be curious about seeing extra of this particular universe sooner or later.

Mission selection usually errs on the aspect of killing, however there are just a few forked paths (in-mission) to observe once in a while, and the environments are diverse sufficient to assist funnel you into fixed motion. Whereas some sandboxes are a little bit too corralled for my tastes, the phantasm of freedom is sufficient, due to how dang good every thing seems to be. On the flip aspect, the sport’s invisible boundaries do assist stop mission places from turning into pointlessly large and barren.

It actually helps that Armored Core 6 is completely beautiful. From Software program’s artwork division has been placing in work worthy of artwork books for many years, however they actually outdid themselves right here. One of many very first missions regarded like one thing I haven’t seen in any recreation this 12 months, and helped cement the truth that that is an unforgiving universe that may crush you on a second’s discover, even in case you are piloting an enormous killing machine that appears prefer it got here straight out of an anime.

What I like most about Armored Core 6 is how every thing looks like a puzzle: from mech building within the hangar to moment-to-moment fight within the thick of it, if you’re managing your enhance meter each so barely to make sure you have sufficient to dodge an enormous blast coming your method. The short aerial enhance system ties every thing collectively. By urgent a button (Sq. on PlayStation), you’ll be able to sacrifice a fast bar of enhance to immediately dodge. This may be chained in quite a few methods (together with weaving it collectively via a lift sprint, even within the air), however all of this finesse is ruled by a lift meter.

It actually is sort of a ballet, and also you’re accountable for each the exact actions and the overarching music. If you happen to like tanky builds, you’ll be able to craft an enormous literal tank tread mech that sacrifices maneuverability for endurance. Glass cannon builds are a cinch to create, as are speedsters who zip round and manually dodge every thing the sport can throw at them. When you’re accomplished tinkering, you should really put your creation to the check and determine the ins and outs of that specific construct.

Boss battles are the place every thing actually shines. The range on provide is frankly overwhelming, from tiny little Kitfox-like creations that zoom about, to foes who can make use of lively camo, to gigantic monstrosities that may deal a ton of injury in a single shot. I discovered myself consistently on my toes, having to study and relearn how I thought my mech labored and push it to the restrict. That’s precisely the form of feeling you need in a recreation like this, the place you get to see the fruits of your labor up shut and private.

If you happen to’re nervous that Armored Core 6 will probably be insurmountable since you’ve by no means performed an AC recreation earlier than (or any mech video games, for that matter), don’t be. There are a selection of ranges that From Software program has pulled to make sure that you gained’t be fully locked out, together with a full checkpoint system. When you can go for an S-Rank and finesse missions all you need, dying proper earlier than a boss, in almost each occasion, will will let you restart from a closeby checkpoint.

Going a step additional, you’ll be able to even reconfigure your construct from the storage on this checkpoint menu, which looks like a reasonably large lifeline for a From Software program venture. For folk who’ve restricted time to play video games, this will probably be a Godsend, however it’s additionally good that you simply’re capable of repeat missions for money or have a go on the area (fast CPU battles). There’s a PVP system (co-op is just not current in any respect in any kind), however I wasn’t capable of check it.

From Software program additionally accounted for this with the timed unlock of particular mechanics. You gained’t be capable to absolutely customise your mech from the beginning. Somewhat, you’ll want to complete just a few primary missions earlier than you should buy elements, customise them, and spec into particular builds (like kinetic or energy-based injury). You’ll additionally unlock fully-constructed blueprints of mechs that you should utilize for testing, with out worry of “screwing up a construct” or overspending.

I used to be a bit skeptical that From Software program would discover a solution to make Armored Core related once more after a prolonged hiatus, however they figured it out. The spark of the sequence continues to be very a lot alive with out giving up its soul and making it one thing else completely, and a brand new technology will be capable to respect why these video games had been so honored. Simply be able to tinker a bit, and take some Ls.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher, and deals with the single player portion of the game.]}