In many ways, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon<\/strong><\/em> is a reintroduction to a series, more than a reboot of it. In the 11 years since Armored Core V<\/em>, developer FromSoftware has moved from a niche proposition to one of the focal points of gaming culture, and its latest game feels like an attempt to proudly steer its newer fans towards one of the series that started its journey. As such, if you\u2019re already a fans of From\u2019s high-complexity mech combat games, much of what it has to offer will feel familiar \u2013 albeit much, much shinier than before.<\/p>\n The focus is still on taking your personally customized war machine through enemy-packed arenas, dominating a mixture of smaller, robotic enemies, bosses, and equally kitted-out mechs, collecting the funds and materials you need to graft on new weaponry, limbs, and internals to become more efficient as you go on.<\/p>\n But the first thing I notice in a hands-off look at gameplay isn\u2019t the industrial-chic mech being launched from a high speed elevator \u2013 hard as it is to miss \u2013 but the world around it. The real change, at least for me, is a sense of scale. It may not have a truly open world in the vein of Elden Ring<\/em>, but AC6<\/em> doesn\u2019t lack for that game\u2019s sense of wonder.<\/p>\n The mission I see has the player attempting to infiltrate the base of an enemy faction called RaD, who have taken over a vast industrial facility called Grid 086. It\u2019s a marvel to look at, an enormous factory built over tens of storeys, without an invisible wall apparent to stop you exploring. It doesn\u2019t appear to be a one-off \u2013 a montage of other levels shows me scorched deserts, ice caves, and entire cities. The focus here seems to be on turning standalone levels into truly enormous spaces to dole out mechanical justice within.<\/p>\n This should have a knock-on effect on gameplay too \u2013 where Armored Core missions of the past were more focused on getting you from objective to objective, there\u2019s an element of choice involved here. Grid 086 doesn\u2019t have a single entrance; instead, you\u2019re given a choice of how to proceed. You could head to the front gate and take on its swarming, robotic guards, but you could equally use your thrusters to reach a much higher hidden entrance. These are the examples we\u2019re given, but I\u2019m positive there are more means of ingress to find.<\/p>\n That addition of choice broadens the level of strategy as a whole. The core of, well, Armored Core has always been in building a mech that meets your specifications \u2013 nimble, melee focused pursuers, walking artillery batteries, missile launcher-encrusted monsters, and more. That ability to approach levels in your own way only deepens the potential for choice, and allows for your particular brand of mech to shine.<\/p>\n But customization cuts both ways. Where From\u2019s Souls games are often built on a relentless search for perfection, challenging you to build a character and then get better at using their specific strengths over the course of a whole game, Armored Core VI <\/em>looks to ask for a little more flexibility. We see a stronger enemy make light work of the player guiding our demo, taking down their shorter range sword-and-rifle combo with a variety of quick melee attacks. Instead of simply reloading the checkpoint and heading back into the fray, our demoist instead heads to the Assembly menu and puts together a whole new machine. Among other changes, they swap out the legs for a more efficient dash attack, and replace a shoulder-mounted missile launcher with a full-on cannon, designed to more efficiently stagger enemies.<\/p>\n Heading back in, they cripple the once-victorious enemy by preventing it from moving as much as possible, and avoiding those dangerous, close-range attacks with dashes when they can\u2019t immobilize it. It\u2019s a little bit of design philosophy made tangible \u2013 in Armored Core VI<\/em>, it\u2019s not a case of \u201ctry, try again\u201d, it\u2019s more like a chemistry experiment, asking you to keep tinkering with the ingredients until you find the right mixture to take down your opponent.<\/p>\n I\u2019m left very hopeful for what we have to come from Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon<\/em> \u2013 as a fan of the series, this is already feeling like a deft mix of the Armored Core fundamentals I\u2019ve been missing, and new ideas to flesh them out for modern machines.<\/p>\n Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon<\/strong> will be released for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on August 25.<\/em><\/p>\n \t\t\t Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\u2606<\/span>\u2606<\/span>\u2606<\/span>\u2606<\/span>\u2606<\/span> \n\t\t\t\u2605<\/span>\u2605<\/span>\u2605<\/span>\u2605<\/span>\u2605<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\t$69.99<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\t\tPre-order now to receive the following bonus content:
\t\t\t Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.<\/p>\n![\"Armored](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/ARMORED_CORE_VI_01_4K-782cd9fed15cbfeace6f.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Armored](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/ARMORED_CORE_VI_09_4K-81a3fc86e6380e66a61a.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Armored](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/ARMORED_CORE_VI_07_4K-785025f33f1ca90da204.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Armored](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/ARMORED_CORE_VI_10_4K-afcd3c0625f9f853e657.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Xbox](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/assets.onestore.ms\/cdnfiles\/sfw-service-web-onestore-onerf-2017-11-8-12\/store\/common\/images\/xbllogo_black.png?ssl=1\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\nARMORED CORE\u2122 VI FIRES OF RUBICON\u2122 \u2013 Deluxe Edition<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t28<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\nMELANDER C3 G13 Special Customization \u201cTENDERFOOT\u201d
\n\u2022 MELANDER C3 parts set (early unlock)*
\n\u2022 Emblem (early unlock)*
\n\u2022 Exclusive AC Decal
\n* Early Unlock: The parts set and the emblem can also be obtained by progressing through the game.
\n
\nThe Deluxe Edition includes:
\n\u2022 Full game
\n\u2022 Exclusive Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
\nAllows players to view concept art and listen to in-game music.
\n
\nCombining FromSoftware\u2019s longstanding expertise in mech games with their signature action gameplay, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON brings a brand-new action experience to the series.
\n
\nDynamic, Omni-directional Battles
\nPlayers will pilot their mech in fast-paced, omni-directional battles, taking advantage of massive stages and their mech\u2019s mobility on land and in the air to ensure victory.
\n
\nCustomized Parts for Individual Battle Styles
\nCustomize Armored Core parts to suit a large variety of playstyles. Selecting different parts not only changes the mech\u2019s attacks, but also directly affects its movement and battle style, so each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy.
\n
\nThrilling Boss Battles
\nDeploy a wide variety of offensive and defensive tactics at close and long range to take down powerful enemy bosses.\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\nARMORED CORE\u2122 VI FIRES OF RUBICON\u2122<\/h2>\n