December 8, 2022: It hadn't even been a year since the release of the highly anticipated Elden Ring when From Software announced the next chapter in the Armored Core series. The announcement came on the same day that Elden Ring rightfully earned the title of Game of the Year 2022, awards in 4 more categories, as well as an equal number of nominations.

From Software may have become widely known in the gaming community for its “Soulsborne” games (as the gothic tales of the Dark Souls and Bloodborne series are called), but the game that truly put it on the map was the first Armored Core, which was first released way back in 1997. Since then, 4 more titles have been released, with the last of them being available to fans of the series in 2012.

11 years later, let's see what awaits us in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon!

Chaos on Rubicon 3

Armored Core VI takes place after the events of Armored Core V: Verdict Day, with the discovery of a substance called Coral, which could be used as an energy source and was considered the key to humanity's technological advancement. However, a catastrophic event that scorched the planet and the star system to which it belonged gave the impression that all existing Coral had been completely consumed.

Fifty years later, however, signs of Coral are detected again on the planet Rubicon 3. Many corporations have begun flocking to the planet to exploit and control the substance, while mercenary forces follow to take advantage of the conflict. The player is an augmented human named "C4-621," who is in the service of a notorious handler named Walter, and fights as an Armored Core pilot with the promise of earning a new life by taking on mercenary jobs. After landing illegally on Rubicon 3, C4-621 steals the license of a deceased mercenary and adopts his codename: Raven.

Gameplay

Armored Core VI, like its predecessors, is a third-person shooter in which the player controls large combat robots called Armored Cores. By completing missions, the protagonist can unlock and purchase upgrades for their Armored Core, which help them take on missions anew, earning additional income and prestige.

The arena mode returns in Fires of Rubicon, where players can duel with other armored cores. The sixth game in the series also introduces a range of interesting combat mechanics. One of these is the Assault Boost, a mechanism that allows the player to switch their combat style from long range to melee with the press of a button, offering greater flexibility in how each player can approach a battle. This, combined with the “Stagger” mechanic — which should already be familiar to fans of Dark Souls — creates a combat system that is sure to test your endurance and keep your interest for hours.