Long before they birthed the Soulsborne genre with Demon Souls and broke all records with Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s flagship franchise was a third-person action mech series called Armored Core. Between the release of the first game in 1997 and 2013, FromSoftware released over a dozen games in the Armored Core franchise, a series far more niche than their future games would be. Now, 10 years after their last Armored Core game, FromSoftware has returned to their mech-filled world with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.
Armored Core VI sees players take up the role of an unnamed mercenary piloting armored cores on Rubicon 3 as a conflict is fought over a resource called Coral by various corporations.
The Koalaty Critics all had a good time with Armored Core VI, raving about the intense boss battles which rival the fights in recent FromSoftware titles. Many of the critics below have a storied history with the franchise and found it not only to be the most accessible entry so far and a great entry point but the best entry in the franchise and of the genre. While several enjoyed the world-building and subtle storytelling, others didn’t enjoy the narrative or how it was told.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is available now on Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.
Here’s what Australian critics are saying about the game.
KOALATY CRITICS – AUSTRALIAN CRITICS
Anigame – 9.5/10 (Joel Gralton)
While Armored Core 6 does a lot to make it approachable to new players, it’s certainly challenging. But as with previous FromSoftware games it does still feel very fair. You can analyse the enemy, get obliterated, go back in with a changed load out and learn the enemy abilities and patterns and eventually come out on top. Which is exactly what it’s been designed to have you do.
Checkpoint Gaming – 8.5/10 (Omi Koulas)
The world-building in Fires of Rubicon is impressive. The introduction of Coral as a central resource that causes the conflict, drives the story forward and unveils mysteries. This substance is significant to the factions for numerous reasons, all trying to wield it for personal profit or purpose. As the key plot device, it becomes apparent that the desire for Coral transcends simple material gain and the story becomes even more engaging.
GamesHub – 5/5 (Edmond Tran)
On the battlefield, many of the missions are short and straightforward, but they also serve the purpose of allowing you to uncover your own revelations about the world and its politics, if you have the perception to find and see things that hint at what’s really going on. A handful of more obvious narrative setpieces exist to create some big peaks during the climax, with both fist-pumping victories and chilling reveals. But like the battles, you get a larger sense of gratification after a little bit of work.
Player2 – A (Jason Hawkins )
You really get the feeling of being an independent mercenary during the game. Missions are done for whomever is paying, and your enemies and even companions will have a lot to say about your constantly shifting allegiances. Where ‘souls’ games focus on environmental storytelling, AC6 uses the banter between people to give you an idea of what’s at stake and that they’re only begrudgingly working with you.
PowerUp Gaming – 7.5/10 (Adam Mathew)
Essentially, what I’m trying to tell you is that Armored Core VI delivers on the action side of things. What a pity then, that the same care hasn’t been lavished upon its functional yet utilitarian visuals (which are all explosions and special effects, set against drab, scrappy-looking cityscapes whose details don’t stand up to passing scrutiny). And, obviously, it’s the same problem with a campaign that’s shorter than Astro Boy.
Press Start – 9/10 (James Berich)
The marquee standout in Fires of Rubicon is easily its boss battles. There are a wide variety of enemies that you’ll have to deal with, but the boss encounters are some of the most adrenaline-fraught confrontations I’ve had in games. These bosses will test your mettle, and while I never found myself stuck on a boss for as long as I was with (pre-patch) Malenia, some of these encounters really had me questioning my life choices.
Stevivor – 8.5/10 (Hamish Lindsay)
AC 6 is a game of two distinctly different halves. On one hand we have the big brain stuff – the hours you can spend tweaking and changing out your AC parts, all while racking your brain to work out just how to build the mech you want without exceeding your EN and Weight restrictions. The other half is a frighteningly frenetic, intense action game that will have you on the edge of your seat for 5 full minutes of a boss fight.
WellPlayed – 9.5/10 (James Wood)
Writ large, Fires of Rubicon achieves a masterful harmony between its mechanical implementation and thematic storytelling ambitions. This is well-trod ground for FromSoftware at this point but the specific framework (and limitations) of the Armored Core series have allowed a sharper focus than ever before.
