Armored Core VI Review

Armored Core is a series that has quite a long history, with the very first game being released on the original Playstation. However, it really never got into the mainstream and maintained a cult following, despite showcasing the developer skills for FromSoftware. The series was known for its heavy customization of its mechs, while offering a more arcade style of gameplay. The last Armored Core game, Verdict Day, was released in 2013, so it’s been a total of 10 years since a game was in the limelight, especially with FromSoftware focusing on their increasingly popular Souls-like games. Finally, in 2023, a new Armored Core game has been released, but does it continue its legacy, or is it just scrap metal?

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a game that is not going to be like the more recent games in the FromSoftware library. If you come into this expecting a Souls-like experience, you’re going to be severely disappointed. Yes, it should be said to get it out of the way right now, as FromSoft’s success with their Souls games might have set some unrealistic expectations with Armored Core VI, especially since it’s been a good while since a game in the series had been released. This is its own game and it’s a bit unfair to compare it to the company’s more popular works. However, if you look past that, you will find a challenging game, with fun gameplay and some amazing customization options.

The story opens up by providing a little bit of background on the game’s universe. The human civilization has established interstellar travel and discovered a substance known as Coral, which was said to dramatically advance humanity’s technological and communication capabilities. However, this substance eventually led to a catastrophe, called the Fires of Ibis. Still set on harnessing this Coral, they find it has resurfaced again, leading plenty of corporations to Rubicon 3, the game’s setting. The story isn’t really going to blow your socks off, as it’s mostly there to set up a stage for the real meat of the game, the gameplay. You play an independent mercenary that doesn’t talk or anything, with everything revolving around other groups and your handler.

View Full-size

The mech designs and lighting are actually pretty well done.

Since you are likely going to be focused on not dying, since the game isn’t easy at all, you might not lend an ear to the music, which isn’t too bad. The soundtrack to this game can get intense in some spots, especially during some of the boss fights, but the other sounds might likely drown those out, so you’re not going to really notice things. Speaking of the sound design, the sound effects are superbly done and are definitely one of the highlights of the game. The explosions, weapons, and even the thrusters all sound amazing, so your ears are definitely in for a treat there.

The auditory senses were treated very well, and as for the visuals, the game is definitely a pretty game, especially once you see it in action. It runs beautifully and there’s never really any slowdown at all, especially with how heavy the combat can get at times. However, while the game runs extremely well (on the PS5, at least, since that’s the version being reviewed here), there are some downsides to the actual in-game graphics. The mechs and other models, especially the bosses, are fantastic, but the backgrounds and environments are definitely lackluster. The game could have really used some more variety in that department, especially since you will be seeing a lot of the same color tones throughout your time through the game. That’s not to say that the game doesn’t look amazing, as it is gorgeous, but the environments could have used a little more splash of color here and there.

When you first boot up the game and get past the tutorial mission, you will find that the game is basically a mission selector. Instead of there being a hub, where you can explore or interact with people, you just select the next mission from a list. You don’t go around and fully explore a giant open world, although some of the levels during the missions are quite big. You will sometimes find some parts, but for the most part, there’s really no incentive to actually explore. This lack of incentive to explore makes the mission structure both a good thing and a bad thing, though.

Some of the missions in the game won’t take up a lot of your time, meaning you won’t need to invest an hour or so to complete them (more on that in a little bit). However, those looking for a meatier experience, in terms of exploration and all that jazz, might need to look elsewhere. Armored Core VI is at its best when it decides to focus on its strengths, which is the combat and the customization. When you start playing this game, don’t expect it to be a simple and easy game. Armored Core VI is definitely a tough game, especially when you start encountering the bosses.

View Full-size

The bosses in the game are definitely one of the major highlights.

In fact, the bosses are the definite highlights of the game, even though some of them are so simple in design. The first boss is nothing more than a helicopter, but for those less experienced with FromSoftware’s propensity towards the difficult side of things, even the first boss can prove to be an uphill battle. It doesn’t hold back and it’s possible you might be spending an hour, or more, just on that helicopter. While the first boss may appear simple, some of the later bosses will get a lot more grandiose, and it definitely shows that FromSoft’s boss designs truly shine in this game.

Once you manage to make it past that first boss and start doing missions, you will start earning various parts and unlock the customization aspect of the game. Yes, this is one of the brightest parts, no pun intended, of Armored Core VI. Your mech will have a variety of parts that they can interchange, from the two weapons on its arm, to shoulder weapons, and even others that might not seem like they matter. Even for the arm weapons themselves, you will have a variety of choices, like energy blades, handguns, shotguns, laser rifles, and much more. While you’re doing this, you will have to make sure that you don’t go over the limitations set forth by your mech’s design, so there’s a little bit of strategy involved in building the mechs, too.

That extensive customization will also include more than just exchanging the various parts for your mech. You are able to include various decals to decorate your mech, so you can also add your personal touch to them. The biggest thing, though, is the ability to create your own decals from scratch, allowing you to go even crazier with the decals, if you wanted. It’s also possible to share them online with others, although the system to do this isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Still, the customization has always been one of the better things about the series, and that still continues with this game. The decals and paint job not only can be applied to the mech itself, but also the weapons. Someone that likes that kind of stuff can easily spend hours just on that alone.

Outside of the customization and once you’re into the actual game, it controls pretty smoothly. For those new to these types of games, you’ll definitely have to grow accustomed to the controls. The default controls will use all of your shoulder buttons for weapons, which is something that a lot of first-person shooter fans might be accustomed to, as well as those fans of FromSoft’s games. One bigger problem with the default scheme can sometimes make it way too easy to hit the Quick Boost (QB) button, which is assigned to L3. Since the action can get quite frantic, hitting this button forces your mech to perform a bigger dash that uses your Energy (think stamina for boosting) up fairly quickly. The rest of the default controls work fine, with Square assigned to a quick dash/dodge, X to start hovering into the air, and Circle to start moving a little faster than normal (enables your boosters).

View Full-size

You can do a lot to customize your mech in Armored Core VI.

If there’s any big problem with the controls, it’s the fact that the lock-on mechanic isn’t really all that good. You will especially notice this problem during the boss fights, since that is when things can really get hectic. Some bosses are moving so quickly and you’ll have to find them again, even if you have previously locked onto them. That’s because the lock-on isn’t really what it says, as it’s more of a focus thing, with the game just keeping the camera focused on that enemy, until they quickly move out of your line of sight. Since some of the bosses and more proficient enemies will be moving around a lot, you will need to lock onto them multiple times, which can lead to some frustration, especially against the more difficult bosses.

That can be another complaint that some people have with Armored Core VI, as there are definitely some big difficulty spikes. You might do a mission that is pretty simple, with nothing out of the ordinary, as you cut down some ordinary mechs. This might continue for a few more missions, with maybe a little ramp-up in difficulty, then you will come to a major boss. The bosses in this game are no joke and can go from one to ten in a matter of seconds. If you perish, then you have the option to restart from the checkpoint, as well as change your equipment. Of course, if you wish to purchase more parts for your mech, then you’ll have to quit the mission and redo it, but the entire point of the game is adjusting your loadout and testing to see if it works or not. That’s pretty much the entire premise of this game, as if you are getting stomped by a boss/mission, then you will want to change your mech around and see if that works.

Overall, Armored Core VI is a good game that is going to be difficult, especially once you come against the bosses. The first playthrough will probably run you around 20-25 hours and there is incentive to do more playthroughs, if you wanted. Outside of the main campaign, there are Arena battles (virtual simulation), as well as PvP multiplayer. The only problem with the latter is that it’s not unlocked until a good ways into the game, so some people might never actually see it. You also have the option to replay your story missions to try and get a better grade, with S Rank being the highest, although this is definitely not something that needs to be done at all, outside of a single trophy.

If you’re looking for a challenge in the sea of new releases, then Armored Core VI will be right up your alley. The highlights are the gameplay, the customization, and the bosses. The shorter missions definitely help in establishing this game as a quick play, especially with some games overstaying their welcome in that department. For those playing it on the PS5, too, you’re looking at a smooth time.