As a member of the area of interest mech-action style, Armored Core has been out of fee for a while. The final entry within the collection was a full 10 years in the past, and since then, developer From Software program’s different titles (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and so forth.) have made the developer a family title. Now, the studio has returned with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (ACVI), making use of many classes from its different motion video games. Armored Core VI doesn’t revolutionize the mech sport system however refines it to create one of many style’s quickest, best-looking, and most approachable entries.
ACVI establishes yet one more all-new universe for the collection, however its narrative tropes are instantly apparent to anybody who’s performed Armored Core earlier than (or dystopian sci-fi normally). The participant begins as a mercenary pilot managed by the mysterious Handler Walter. Walter introduced the mercenary to the frontier planet of Rubicon to hunt for a miraculous power useful resource generally known as Coral, which was destroyed in an apocalyptic occasion. Militarized megacorporations are additionally after the Coral, although, so the mercenary should take jobs from every to realize intel and pit the factions towards one another.
The primary gameplay loop of deploying on missions, incomes credit, and utilizing them to customise your mech is as satisfying as ever, however motion and fight are the true highlights. The usually-unwieldy button layouts of earlier video games have been changed with clean, snappy controls that allow a lot sooner gameplay. This, in flip, makes fight far more dynamic and enjoyable as you sprint and drift between hulking buildings and enemies to trigger large-scale destruction. Totally different weapons and mech elements additionally grant considerably completely different talents, creating many potential playstyles.
Some may need anticipated From Software program to vary the Armored Core system to resemble its current titles, however ACVI sticks intently to the style’s established conventions. That’s each to the profit and detriment of the sport; missions are largely quick skirmishes towards cannon-fodder enemies that offer you that sense of fabric superiority, however they’re additionally not very attention-grabbing.
In distinction, the most important bosses are the place From Software program’s pedigree actually reveals. Every of the sport’s 5 chapters comprises an virtually Souls-like superweapon that exams the bounds of your present construct and motivates you to experiment with different elements. The sheer spectacle of those fights additionally emphasizes how effectively ACVI runs and the way good it seems to be; by the requirements of the usually bland and blocky mech-action style, it is a beautiful sport.
ACVI can also be probably the most approachable entry within the collection and, certainly, one among From Software program’s most forgiving video games. The debt system of earlier entries is gone, and failing out of missions is now not doable. There’s no backtracking to combat bosses repeatedly, as checkpoints are beneficiant. The auto-lock characteristic additionally streamlines single-target battles however removes the necessity to purpose manually. All of the simplification generally is a double-edged sword, particularly for Armored Core veterans. That is one From Software program sport the place most can in all probability agree that issue modes would have been welcome.
Armored Core VI is a stable return for one among From Software program’s long-dormant franchises. It nonetheless carries lots of the mech style’s outdated contrivances, like its generic mission construction and predictable plot. Nevertheless, it modernizes mech motion meaningfully to introduce it to a brand new technology. Whereas legacy followers could have some complaints concerning the “casualization” of Armored Core, I’m finally glad the collection is again and firing on all cylinders.
