Mech games aren’t all that popular outside of Japan, but the announcement of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon immediately caught the attention of gamers. And even among those who have not played the previous parts (and there are quite a few of them) and games about robots in general. After all, the well-known studio FromSoftware is responsible for the development, which gave us such projects as Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro, albeit without the participation of Hidetaka Miyazaki. These games are known for their difficulty, atmosphere, and depth. Many were just wondering what their favorite team had prepared. That is what we will try to find out in this review.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon has gained quite a lot of popularity since its release. Even those who have never been interested in furs decided to try the game, attracted by the name of the FromSoftware studio. This is not surprising, because the development team managed to earn the trust of the players. However, for some, this played a cruel joke, because in the end they did not get what they expected at all. Someone calmly admitted that he was not a fan of such games and issued a refund, while someone erupted in angry reviews, considering the novelty a complete failure. Indeed, AC6 is a very specific project that is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, before buying a game, you should think carefully about what you are going for.
To be honest, my first impressions were also purely negative. After I went through the first couple of missions, I already had a strong feeling that I was playing another MechWarrior 5 with all its shortcomings. The beginning of AC6 is very boring, since it offers a set of short and unrelated missions that end in literally 3-5 minutes. Fortunately, after some time the situation changes for the better, so the main thing is not to abandon the passage by then. Longer and more difficult missions appear in which you have to complete completely different tasks. Although short ones do not disappear anywhere, they become more diverse and interesting.
One of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments in AC6 is the boss fights (and mini-bosses) that occur from time to time. This is not surprising, because the game was made by the developers of “souls”, who know a lot about creating memorable and difficult opponents. Each of them has its own pattern of behavior, as well as strengths and weaknesses that need to be studied and used to your advantage.
Often the main difficulty lies in finding a way to defeat the enemy. If you do this, you can kill him almost on the first try. If not, then you will have to suffer for a long time and try different tactics. Moreover, it may be that the solution was right in front of my nose – I could not defeat one of the first bosses until I realized that he had a vulnerable point on his back, through which he received increased damage. There are also opponents, for the destruction of which it is recommended (but not necessary) to pick up a certain build. Fortunately, the game gives you the opportunity to experiment with different options, because you can easily sell any part, return 100% of its cost, and buy another.
Another advantage of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is customization. She is incredibly rich here and significantly affects the gameplay. Each detail has its own characteristics, which change not only the numbers, but also the behavior of your combat vehicle. In addition, you need to keep an eye on the weight and energy indicators that limit the creation of imbalanced builds. There are even details that completely change the gameplay. For example, you can install four legs instead of two, which will allow you to float in the air, or even turn your robot into a real tank. And this is not to mention the huge number of different types of weapons.
In general, you can take four weapons with you at the same time: two in your hands and two on your shoulders. Each of them is tied to certain parts of the body (for example, you cannot put a sword on your shoulder, which is logical). The choice of weapons is also an important part of customization, because it depends on how exactly you will deal with enemies.
The appearance of the mecha can also be customized in detail to give individuality. You have the ability to change the color of every detail of your fur, choosing from a variety of options. For those who do not want to do this, there are pre-installed palettes available to choose from that are suitable for different designs. You can also add an emblem to your robot, which you received for completing certain tasks, or create your own drawing using a special editor.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon also has a well-developed in-game economy. For completing missions, you get a currency that you can spend on your combat robot. Since the number of tasks is limited, you won’t be able to get everything at once, so you will have to manage your money wisely. However, the economy here is at the same time very benign, because, as mentioned earlier, you can return all the money spent by selling the purchased item. However, having several different builds at your disposal is beneficial, since in case of death you can immediately change weapons or parts of the robot and boot from the checkpoint.
You did not think that I would only praise the game? Cons Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, and for someone they can be significant. Apart from the boring beginning mentioned above, I can point out two main drawbacks. The first is the plot, or rather the lack of it. Although the game has a main line that the story follows, and even has three endings, it is not at all interesting to follow. The protagonist is a mercenary who simply performs tasks issued by various opposing factions. You can argue that “the game is not about the story” and you might be right. However, this does not justify the fact that she makes you listen to boring and meaningless monologues before and after each mission.
The second drawback is not so serious, but still important and lies in the musical accompaniment. There is either no music at all, or it is not remembered at all. While the ambient and effects sounds are generally well done, I think the game could have been more immersive if it had a better and more varied soundtrack.
In general, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon leaves mostly positive emotions. The game boasts interesting tasks, varied and challenging bosses, an exciting combat system, and incredibly detailed customization. However, lovers of the plot is better to pass by. There aren’t too many good mech games coming out lately, and if you like this theme, then it’s definitely worth checking out.
