Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon review — Make mine mech

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Like I imagine will be the case for a lot of people, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is my first real experience with the series. It’s not that I have anything against giant mechs. I just never crossed path with the franchise before.

But in the decade since the release of the last Armored Core, FromSoftware has become one of the most prolific gaming studios in the world. This is thanks to the developer’s work in action RPGs like Dark Souls, Sekiro and Elden Ring.

FromSoftware’s recent success has driven more eyes, mine included, to Armored Core VI, which releases on August 25 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. But if you’re hoping for Dark Souls with mechs, you may end up disappointed. Keep an open mind, however, and you may wonder — like me — why you never gave this series a shot before.

Armored Core VI is an action game that has you customizing and piloting your own mech. Completing missions earns you credits, credits help you buy more parts and new parts help you complete more missions. That’s the basic gameplay loop here.

The customization is a big part of the draw here. You can buy an assortment of different mech body parts, systems and weapons. You have a good amount of freedom to make something that fits a specific playstyle. You can create a light, fast mech that focuses on melee weapons, or you can build a large, tank-like mech equipped with heavy weapons.

You will come across some rules and limitations. Certain mech parts, like tank-like treads,