It's unusual for a studio that essentially pioneered a genre to completely defy the conventions of that genre in their latest release, just a little over a decade later. FromSoftware, however, not only embraces this approach but takes it to a whole new level with Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon. While you can still find some unmistakable elements from the studio's iconic Soulsborne franchises integrated into their fresh mech-action game, the core of this release is an entirely unique creation.

The game's formidable bosses are the most striking departure from the typical Soulsborne formula in Armored Core 6: Fire Of Rubicon. In a Souls game, players typically focus on learning a boss's attack patterns to find opportunities to dodge. In Armored Core 6, they must also master the art of customizing their mech (or Armored Core) to match the specific challenges they encounter. The game offers an extensive customization system with over 100 AC components, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Among the most critical choices players face are the weapons they select. Here, we present the top-tier weapons available in the game.

1. Stun Needle Launcher

The most potent weapon in Armored Core 6 is also unique in that it is bestowed upon the player. During the climactic showdown in Chapter 3, known as the "Destroy the Ice Worm" mission, players receive the Stun Needle Launcher, an unexpected tool to vanquish an Ice Worm.

Upon completing this mission, players gain automatic access to the Stun Needle Launcher for their right shoulder. However, they have the option to immediately acquire a left-shoulder version as well. Opting for two of these weapons is the most reliable method for incapacitating or inflicting damage on bosses. This weapon boasts rapid firing, pinpoint accuracy, and swift reload times. It proves indispensable in specific encounters in the game's later chapters and is increasingly considered a necessity in PvP battles. To put it simply, the Stun Needle Launcher stands as the ultimate weapon in Armored Core 6.

2. Zimmerman

One aspect of shotguns that tends to remain consistent in video games is their suitability for close-range combat. However, Armored Core 6 bucks this trend entirely, challenging players' preconceptions. Enter the Zimmerman, a long-range shotgun that defies the conventional norms, and its effectiveness is nothing short of remarkable.

The inclusion of "range" as a feature in this shotgun's arsenal transforms it into a formidable weapon for staggering opponents. No foe can escape the devastating impact of its blasts, making it exceptionally easy to penetrate their defenses. Once these defenses are breached, the Zimmerman's damage output is equally noteworthy. The only drawback to this weapon is its relatively slow rate of fire, but a player who wields two Zimmermans and possesses a strong grasp of positioning will struggle to find a more potent handheld weapon in the entire game.

3. SONGBIRDS

When it comes to explosive weaponry, there's no superior choice to the SONGBIRDS, a shoulder-mounted double-barreled Grenade Cannon. Although it suffers from a frustratingly slow reload speed, its unadulterated destructive power more than compensates for this limitation.

The SONGBIRDS boasts the unique feature of firing both barrels simultaneously, effectively making it a two-in-one variant of the Gou-Chen. However, the blast radius of each grenade is significantly larger, along with an increased potential to stagger opponents. If a player can maneuver their Armored Core (AC) up close and unleash the SONGBIRDS directly in the enemy's face, they'll be hard-pressed to discover a more efficient method for inflicting substantial damage.

4. Gatling Gun

One of the most challenging (and frequently vexing) aspects of boss battles in Armored Core 6 is the remarkable speed at which the enemy maneuvers, making it exceptionally tricky to maintain stagger progression. When the adversary dashes out of range, players often find that by the time they close the gap for another round of fire, the boss's stagger gauge has completely regenerated. This is where the Hu-Ben Gatling Gun comes into play.

Despite its ballistic nature, the Gatling Gun does away with the need for reloading thanks to its absence of a magazine. Players can simply hold down the trigger and continue firing without interruption, with the only concern being the weapon's overheating. This consistent barrage of ballistic firepower has the capacity to induce staggering in bosses on its own, and if the boss is already staggered, the Gatling Gun delivers significant damage. Players who opt for dual-wielding these formidable weapons will only amplify these effects.

5.  Stun Baton

While the Stun Baton might not claim the title of the top melee weapon in Armored Core 6, it generally doesn't find much utility in most character builds or combat scenarios. However, there's one exceptional reason why it holds such a high position on this ranking: its astonishing ability to utterly dominate the game's formidable bosses.

The Stun Baton achieves this feat by granting players the power to essentially immobilize any unfortunate boss it strikes. Its attacks recover rapidly and generate a staggering amount of incapacitation potential, virtually ensuring that even the most resilient bosses will stagger. As demonstrated by YouTuber Oyff, this weapon can reduce Armored Core 6's most challenging boss encounters to mere jokes.

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FromSoftware stands as a globally acclaimed and highly regarded game company. With a history spanning 37 years, the company has produced a total of 37 games. It all began with the debut series, King’s Field trilogy, released between 1994 and 1996.

Shortly after, in 1997, the creation of Armored Core gave rise to a fresh series that dominated the company's popularity until the breakthrough success of Demon’s Souls in 2009. This was succeeded by the Dark Souls series in 2011. Their accomplishments paved the way for other similar titles, including Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the massively successful Elden Ring.

Given the immense popularity of the new genre, Armored Core was placed on the sidelines. Apart from Armored Core V and Armored Core: Verdict Day, launched in 2012 and 2013 respectively, no further titles have been released since then.

However, the tide is turning with the introduction of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, which will be available on various platforms.

If you're a dedicated enthusiast of Dark Souls and you're intrigued by the prospect of exploring the Armored Core realm, yet find yourself uncertain about what lies ahead, let's delve into a comprehensive overview. This will cover everything essential for your understanding, encompassing both the resemblances and distinctions between the two.

What do Armored Core and Dark Souls have in common?

Armored Core and Dark Souls may not share numerous commonalities, but there are certain attributes within Armored Core that would resonate with Dark Souls enthusiasts. These include a demanding gameplay experience, a richly developed lore, and the art of constructing intricate worlds.

In Armored Core, a rigorous and challenging combat system prevails, differing from the Dark Souls series in terms of subtleties and rhythm, yet centered on strategy, expertise, and unwavering determination. Familiar tactics like recognizing foe behaviors and pinpointing vulnerabilities remain essential, alongside the meticulous management of resources such as energy.

The world of Armored Core also unveils a profound and complex narrative as you navigate through its captivating landscape, mirroring a hallmark of the Dark Souls series. While it places slightly more emphasis on storytelling than Dark Souls, the profundity and expansiveness of the lore are akin.

What is different about Armored Core compared to Dark Souls?

Armored Core and Dark Souls exhibit fundamental distinctions across various aspects. The genre and gameplay diverge significantly, as do the backdrop and storyline. Let's explore the reasons behind these disparities.

Genre and Gameplay

Armored Core represents a mecha-oriented third-person shooter game where players operate extensively modifiable mechs named Armored Cores. It follows a linear, mission-centric plotline and places substantial emphasis on personalization.

In contrast, Dark Souls is a fantasy-themed action RPG centered around close combat. Players control humanoid characters as they navigate a labyrinthine, interconnected realm.

The key distinction to note is that Armored Core deviates significantly from the soulslike genre. It lacks the fundamental elements that characterize the Dark Souls series and other similar titles, such as bonfire checkpoints, restorative flasks, soul accumulation and recovery mechanisms, and the absence of a networked world design featuring unlockable shortcuts.

Setting and Narrative

Past installments of Armored Core took place in a distant era wherein a catastrophic event compelled a majority of Earth's population to inhabit subterranean habitats, while two major corporations vied for dominance over both the populace and the planet.

In comparison, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon adopts a somewhat distinct narrative. It unfolds in a forthcoming era where humanity has successfully colonized various regions of outer space, including a celestial body named Rubicon 3, which boasts an abundant supply of a rare and highly coveted substance referred to as Coral.

Even from this concise description, it becomes apparent that the setting diverges dramatically from the somber, interwoven medieval realm plagued by the curse of undeath and the recurring cycle of igniting the flame in the Dark Souls series.

Armored Core 6 might be FromSoftware’s best PC port yet

Elden Ring stands as FromSoftware's most acclaimed game up to now, and a significant factor contributing to this achievement is its functional state—once again showcasing the developers' proficiency, a feat replicated in their latest release. The translation of games onto PCs can be unpredictable, yet the reception for Armored Core 6's adaptation couldn't be more favorable, as early players of the revived franchise have reported.

Remarkably, the PC version of Armored Core 6 has garnered praise, even when running on hardware as limited as the Steam Deck. FightinCowboy, a prominent YouTuber, who had the privilege to preview and record the game's PvP mode, conveyed that this port surpasses the optimization standards of Elden Ring.

Given recent experiences with less-than-optimal PC ports like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and The Last of Us, it's understandable that many fans had reservations about how Armored Core 6 would perform on PC. However, the latest feedback seems to quell any apprehensions.

Moreover, if you're a gamer who envisions enjoying the mech-combat gameplay from the comfort of your bed, this aspiration seems viable with the Steam Deck. According to FightinCowboy, using the Valve handheld device maintained a commendable frame rate of 50FPS even on high graphics settings.

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During the Summer Game Fest, FromSoftware, the developer of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, provided a brief gameplay presentation with a focus on their goals for the sequel. One of their key objectives is to give players a profound sense of accomplishment by overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. FromSoftware is renowned for creating punishingly difficult games that their dedicated fanbase craves, and Armored Core 6 is no exception.

Having had the chance to play through the prologue chapter of the game at a recent event, it's evident that Armored Core 6 remains true to the studio's signature difficulty while also offering an enjoyable experience. Despite being part of FromSoftware's non-Souls series, the game offers a considerable challenge.

The preview event allowed us to delve into the prologue chapter of Armored Core 6. For those unfamiliar with the Armored Core (AC) franchise but fans of FromSoftware's other games, there was some uncertainty about what to expect. With FromSoftware's surge in popularity, especially following the success of Elden Ring, some wondered if Armored Core would adopt Souls-like elements. However, the game maintains its identity as a mech-based franchise, although there are some design elements and mechanics reminiscent of Souls, like the "Repair Kit" functioning as a healing mechanism. Nonetheless, Armored Core 6 distinguishes itself with a host of new features.

Setting aside any comparisons to Souls, it's important to note that Armored Core 6 is not an open-world game. Players will spend a significant amount of time in menus, where they can purchase new components for their mechs, customize the loadout and appearance, and select missions (sorties) to embark on. These sorties can range from simple tasks, like eliminating specific enemy mechs, tanks, and artillery in a wide open space, to more intricate story missions culminating in epic boss battles.

In Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, combat follows a fundamental structure that adapts to the mission's stakes and the player's build. Each AC (Armored Core) can carry up to four weapons, distributed across the hands and shoulders. Various weapons, such as machine guns, prioritize speed over damage, while shoulder-mounted rockets and laser rifles deliver more potent hits but at a slower rate. Notably, the game features a laser sword that adds an impressive touch to the gameplay.

Combat in the game is built on the foundation of weapons, but constructing a successful build involves considering numerous other factors. The weight of the AC is affected by the strength of the weapons and the resilience of armor pieces on the head, chest, legs, and arms. While increased weight results in a slower mech with reduced dodging ability, energy capacity serves as a finite resource that powers the AC's functions. Opting for powerful weapons might limit the energy available, requiring players to make trade-offs, such as sacrificing some armor protection.

Energy also plays a crucial role in determining the mech's agility, affecting how frequently it can boost or dodge. Heavier mechs consume more energy due to their components, leading to decreased maneuverability. However, they compensate by having a higher health pool, enabling them to withstand more damage. The game accommodates various mech designs, ranging from nimble Gundams to robust robo-tanks, providing players with the freedom to envision and create their preferred style of mech.

Before commencing a sortie in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, players have a multitude of factors to consider, making it overwhelming. The game offers extensive visual customization, adding significant depth to the experience. Once players engage in combat, they'll be immersed in a breathtaking dance of bullets, lasers, and missiles. Piloting the AC unit allows for exhilarating freedom of movement, characteristic of a mech shooter. To avoid damage from enemy projectiles, players must adeptly dodge in various directions.

However, dodging alone won't suffice, as players must also retaliate with their own attacks amidst the evasive maneuvers. Dealing with basic enemies is somewhat manageable yet mechanically engaging, as each weapon slot is linked to a distinct button, and staying airborne requires separate button presses or holds. As the game pits players against stronger enemy types, the challenges escalate.

The true excitement of Armored Core 6 arises when players confront formidable foes. Facing a barrage of projectiles akin to bullet hell games and simultaneously returning fire becomes a test of skill for any player. Achieving decisive kills is incredibly satisfying, especially with the stagger mechanic akin to Sekiro's posture break. If players fill a stagger bar quickly, enemies become susceptible to massive damage. However, players' AC units also possess a stagger bar, leaving them vulnerable if not cautious enough.

Similar to other FromSoftware games, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon incorporates a risk/reward dynamic, where prioritizing offense can expose the AC to vulnerabilities, but seizing opportunities is crucial. The game offers challenging combat scenarios, and players should anticipate frequent defeats as they confront its tougher aspects. The boss fights, in particular, spare no leniency and demand strategic thinking throughout the encounters.

Nevertheless, overcoming these boss battles brings undeniable satisfaction, with the game even featuring slow-motion moments upon landing the final blow, allowing players to revel in their triumph. Thankfully, the game provides a forgiving checkpoint system and the ability to adjust builds before tackling bosses, encouraging experimentation due to the unique design of each boss.

One boss, for instance, requires attacking from specific angles since it is shielded in the front. Initially, an NPC mech assists in diverting the boss's attention, making it easier to inflict damage. However, as the fight progresses and the player is left alone, finding the right openings becomes challenging. Experimenting with various weapon configurations and agility profiles is necessary to discover the most effective approach. Each boss encounter offers diverse experiences, and players may find their preferred strategy for a particular fight.

As a newcomer to the Armored Core series, the connection to other FromSoftware games wasn't immediately apparent. Despite the recognizable difficulty and emphasis on timing, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon stands out with its depth and allure, comparable to the Souls games. The game's extensive build options provide long-lasting appeal, while the epic and reflex-demanding boss fights add to its allure. The inclusion of intriguing lore hints adds another layer of interest. Ultimately, the game's moment-to-moment gameplay makes it an enjoyable and thrilling experience, reminiscent of other FromSoftware titles.

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