Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Review Thread
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Platforms:
- PC (Aug 24, 2023)
- PlayStation 5 (Aug 25, 2023)
- Xbox Series X/S (Aug 25, 2023)
- Xbox One (Aug 25, 2023)
Trailers:
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON — Gameplay Trailer
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON — Reveal Trailer
Developer: FromSoftware Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 86 average - 94% recommended - 36 reviews
Critic Reviews
Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 97 / 100
FromSoftware did it again. Despite no following the soulslike formula and returning to an old franchise, la studio behind Elden Ring manages to deliver a epic, modern and very well design mecha game the definitely, is a GOTY contender.
Attack of the Fanboy - J.R. Waugh - 4 / 5
Years and several Soulslike games later, FromSoftware revisits another of its iconic franchises and mostly soars with awesome visuals and combat. While difficulty is always going to be a factor in these games, the sudden challenge spikes will alienate those who lack the patience for finding the right build.
COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 95 / 100
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Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 9 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is an absolutely successful return of a series that nearly got forgotten over the years. Even when you can lose track as newcomer over all the different fractions and mercenaries, or get lost with the camera in combination with a lot of explosive effects, making it hard to keep track of what is going on, the studio delivers one of its best experiences so far. If you are looking for a new kind of challenge or want to explore the world of Armored Core for the first time, you will definitely have killer fun with this new FromSoftware title.
Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a next-generation action game of mechs, industry, and technology within a rich story. It will be renowned for its advanced approach to strategic combat, integrated assembly system, and immersive soundscape, offering an unparalleled experience for fans of the genre. Amidst its narrative intricacies, pacing, and camera control challenges, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon stands as a symphony of metal and fire, inviting players to pilot their destiny in a futuristic universe unlike any other.
Eurogamer - Caelyn Ellis - 5 / 5
FromSoftware delivers a superlative action game that builds on its Soulslike pedigree while staying lean and laser-focused.
GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 80%
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GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 8 / 10
Armored Core VI sees From Software return to and refine its roots with a game of thrilling mech combat built on aggression, agility, and customization.
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Gamefa - mohammad hossein karimi - Persian - 9 / 10
If you're one of those people who prioritize breathtaking action, combat, and love to trial and error with ample builds, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a must-play, especially because of the simplified UI that will be a pleasant surprise for newcomers to the series. That being said, Armored Core VI doesn't fully utilize its potential when it comes to narrative and storytelling. Also, in its second half, there are very few overpowered builds. But at the end of the day, flashy encounters, smooth and seamless controls, and epic art design make Armored Core VI a unique experience.
Gamepressure - Krzysiek Kalwasiński - 9 / 10
FromSoftware has once again delivered and fulfilled my silent dreams. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a brilliant game – and that's that. It's very addictive, extremely attractive, and – simply – worth recommending. Get into the cockpit and fight for freedom
GamesBeat - Mike Minotti - 4.5 / 5
No, it’s no Dark Souls with mechs, but Armored Core VI carves out its own identity.
GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 5 / 5
Armored Core 6 is an unsympathetic and cold-blooded game. It's a cup of bitter, black coffee – and thankfully, that suits my palate perfectly. It's full of moments that make you feel very powerful – in both effortless and hard-fought ways – and moments that make you very, very small. In the face of it all, you're pushed to overcome the impossible. And you'll come out on the other end wearing an exhausted, wry smile.
GamingBolt - Shunal Doke - 9 / 10
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a wonderful return to form for a franchise that has been dormant for a very long time. Its unique mission structure that encourages experimentation, coupled with an insane level of customization is one of the game's major highlights, and while its story takes time to get started, no two missions ever really feel the same thanks to varied objectives and excellent encounter design.
GamingTrend - Ron Burke - 90 / 100
White-knuckle brilliant Soulslike action, coupled with a movement style not seen in this genre for an entire generation, resurrects a blast from the past in a whole new way. If you are a fan of the genre, this game is pure punishing fun with all that implies. If not, it's unlikely to convert you. In either case, Armored Core VI: Fires of the Rubicon is a brilliant title that breaks the mold on the genre in a whole new way.
God is a Geek - Chris White - 9 / 10
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is visually stunning, and the omni-directional combat and build assembly is tons of fun.
IGN Italy - Alessandra Borgonovo - Italian - 8.2 / 10
Fires of Rubicon is Armored Core as it should always have been: the new game delivers a great combat system and mobility, but unfortunately, it's hampered by a few shortcomings no longer excusable to a world-class studio such as From Software.
IGN Spain - Guillermo Proupín - Spanish - 9 / 10
Armored Core VI is a game that delivers what it promises: it is fun, difficult and satisfying throughout. With some conceptual errors in its design it proposes a futuristic dystopian world that is far from the dark fantasy works that have made FromSoftware get to where it is, but with a clear objective: Fires of Rubicon will be the Dark Souls of its saga, not because of its resemblance to this one but because it has the same ambition. With a unique gameplay in its genre and an extraordinary setting, it has everything it needs to become a mass phenomenon.
INVEN - Kwangseok Park - Korean - 8.8 / 10
A groundbreaking catalyst for popularizing mecha action. While various considerations have been added to allow even beginners who haven't experienced the series to easily get started, it's important not to forget that it's still rooted in the 'Armored Core' essence.
PC Gamer - Wes Fenlon - 87 / 100
The coolest mechs in gaming history form the core ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° ) of an intense, focused action game.
PSX Brasil - Portuguese - 80 / 100
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PlayStation Universe - Adam Byrne - 8.5 / 10
Fires of Rubicon offers a new frontier for the Armored Core series, demonstrating developer FromSoftware's ability to weave its recent success and confidence back into familiar territory, while at the same time demonstrating that you can indeed teach an old hound new tricks.
PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 7.5 / 10
At the end of the evaluation, Armored Core VI may stand as the best at what it does in its particular arena, but that’s largely due to a lack of stiff competition. From could have assembled something truly S ranked here, but didn’t.
Press Start - James Mitchell - 9 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon manages to succesfully bring back and cultivate an experience reminiscent of the old games for newer audiences without losing sight of what made the previous games so good. While it's still relentlessly challenging and the story can be a bit drab, Fires of Rubicon is yet another success for FromSoftware with it's satisfying and fast paced combat.
Push Square - Liam Croft - 7 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon admirably weds satisfying combat with extensive mech customisation, with short missions letting you quickly experiment with new ideas and builds. However, once you've settled on an optimal loadout, it's those same quick-fire levels that begin to blunt the fun. The result is a game that can be just as enjoyable as it is frustrating. A littering of good boss fights and rock-solid performance on PS5 make it a worthwhile experience as a whole, but Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon won't go down as a classic in the same way other FromSoftware titles have for the past decade.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored
Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon's stylish main character, varied level design and effective story are balanced by a few out of place boss fights and too many similar battles. Like a mech itself, Armored Core VI is versatile and packs a real punch, but also somewhat bulky and not always perfectly balanced.
Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 9 / 10
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Siliconera - Kazuma Hashimoto - 10 / 10
Armored Core VI heralds a bright future for the return of Armored Core.
Spaziogames - Italian - 8 / 10
Despite being a "minor" game, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is the best possible return for a franchise that has certainly been historic and that remained silent and quiet for many years, but that has still a lot to say.
TechRaptor - Samuel Guglielmo - 8.5 / 10
Some occasional gameplay and story mishaps, and complicated controls, don't hold back Armored Core VI from being both an absolute blast to play and an extremely welcome return from this long-dormant franchise.
VG247 - Josh Broadwell - 3 / 5
Armored Core 6 is the essence of a soft reboot. It has the unenviable task of drawing newcomers to a niche, sometimes overly challenging series without changing too much of what made fans like it to begin with. The result is a mixed experience that, while it has some shining moments of brilliance, feels a bit loose and never plays to its strengths.
We Got This Covered - David Morgan - 4.5 / 5
Armored Core VI is like getting to put together your own giant Lego robot and sending it out to die before realizing you just needed to attach a few more missile launchers. Freedom in gameplay comes in many shapes and sizes, and the customization of your very own mechs suited to each mission is a niche yet thrilling experience. A thoughtful, intricately-woven story and amazing presentation sure don't hurt, either.
WellPlayed - James Wood - 9.5 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon emerges ablaze with FromSoftware’s best impulses. Demanding and rewarding combat is bolstered by series signature customisation and player-driven storytelling to form a masterclass in design philosophy and raw fun.
Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 9 / 10
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a darn fine entry into the franchise. The buttery-smooth gameplay and incredibly cool combat make it an absolute delight to play. It's easily one of the best mecha action games, and only Gundam Breaker 3 has a more involved and enjoyable mech customization system. If you're looking for a really fun and well-crafted robot bashing experience, look no further than Armored Core VI, which is a delight to play.
XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 6.5 / 10
An odd return to what has been a mostly mediocre series. It fixes multiple issues, mainly control-wise from the past titles, without adding much else. It isn’t great to look at, and while it can be fun to play its poor balance as you progress kills any joy to be found after not too long.
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I enjoy these review threads. Very convenient to get an impression of a just-released game. Thanks for sharing.
Ofc! I always really enjoyed these back on reddit too. Opencritic makes it pretty easy to export this into a nice format for Lemmy (if you use the reddit option for copying)
I was just going to ask what the lineage was there - I also noticed the similarity to the reddit threads. Thanks for keeping the tradition alive on beehaw!
The only question I have is: how well will it work on linux?
It's confirmed steam deck compatible at launch, so it'll work fine.
That's impressive that they got ac6 to work on the Deck when it's such a fast paced game.
Super hyped for this game and appreciate these review summary threads since they make researching games so much more convenient.
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As someone who totally loves the Souls games (plus Bloodborne and Sekiro) but played Armored Core 2 on the PS2 way back in the day and thought it was just kind of OK, I'm not really sure what to think about AC6 right now. On one hand I don't really expect them to diverge from the essence of what AC is and should be (deep mecha customization and intricate combat), but on the other hand I feel like the type of game that AC2 was is something that I don't look back on super fondly.
Anyone else feel conflicted about whether to pick up AC6?
AC4 was more super robot than real robot. AC5 was real robot but half-sized. AC5 also had a global multiplayer war. So, they've experimented with the series over the years.
That said, if you haven't liked AC in any form it has taken, I can't imagine you're going to like AC6.
Interesting to read the less than stellar reviews. I might try to hold off on this one and grab it on sale later, especially with Starfield coming out soon.
These are actually pretty high for the Armored Core series. Armored Core 3 has a 74/100 aggregated on Metacritic, For Answer has a 62, and Verdict Day has a 66, just to name a few of the fan favorites.
I'm not really concerned about the aggregate score. I'm sure it'll be a solid game. I'm just interested in the presumed flaws. Like any product, reading the details of the negative reviews is often far more revealing than the gushing reviews.
I'm excited for Starfield but buying a Bethesda game on release week is probably a bad idea. Let them get a few patches out first.
Assuming Armored Core is as polished as many of these reviews suggest, it might be a great game to tide me over until then.
I have Gamepass so I'm not paying for Starfield. :-D (I know I sound like a broken record, but Gamepass is easily my favorite subscription service that I pay for these days, when it comes to entertainment value per dollar.)
But yeah, getting AC6 first and waiting on Starfield instead is not a bad option if you don't have Gamepass. Starfield will only get better over time with patches and mod support. AC6 will probably not change significantly over time.
I was waiting for the reviews before buying (as I know I'll be playing Starfield next week), expecting them to be ~80% at which point I'd wait for a sale, but it looks like it's a damn fine game.
Will likely wait for some twitch streams for final confirmation, but will likely pick it up this weekend now.
I didn't even realize it was close to release. Now I'm torn because I'm in the middle of BG3 and I know I'll be playing Starfield after that.
It sounds like there is multiplayer, but I can't seem to find any sources on whether or not it supports crossplay... Can anyone confirm or deny this??
One review (easy allies) made it sound like the online function was non-operational during the review period. You'll probably have to wait until the game drops or a day before to hear any takes on how the online works.
IGN review said they tried it briefly and it worked fine, but no info about crossplay.