Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Critic Reviews

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.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is an utterly unforgettable experience with satisfyingly crunchy combat, a fascinating narrative with surprising twists, and deep customization for mech-heads. If this is the future of Armored Core, then the future is bright indeed.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a challenging game and a must for all those who love FromSoftware's works. Incredible battles, a high degree of customization and brilliant bosses are some of its high points that place it among the best releases of the year.

Armored Core 6 Fires of Rubicon is a masterful return to form for the series that incorporates the modern design philosophies of From Software. It’s a dystopian world with a brutally gorgeous aesthetic and refined gameplay elevated by exceptional boss battles. Any fan of the series new or old will find something to love.

After conquering the world, FromSoftware returns to its roots in a passion project manages to elevate Armored Core's original concepts through its newfound technical mastery without ever diluting the game's classic formula.

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.

Armored Core VI is not just fan service. It's an incredible synthesis of a respected franchise and lessons learned over ten years of game design. For longtime players of Armored Core, the new game moves the series forward in a remarkably successful way. While it's an entirely different experience, gamers coming from Dark Souls will still recognize FromSoftware's core philosophy of challenge, persistence and reward. Armored Core VI is fast-paced, brutally difficult in places and extremely satisfying to play.

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon has everything you could want in a mech game. The tight, responsive controls leave nothing to be desired. Every battlefield is a work of art. … This is the Armored Core you've been waiting more than a decade for, and it is absolutely worth it.

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.

FromSoftware returns with the Armored Core franchise and the sixth installment excels in almost every way. The customization is very deep, the game plays wonderfully, graphically it is a joy to look at, and so on. The game is very comprehensive which is worth multiple playthroughs and because it is all so well-crafted, this is by far the best Armored Core installment to date.

FromSoftware delivers yet another fantastic action adventure full of mechs, unforgettable bosses and masterfully designed missions.

I was a bit skeptical that From Software would find a way to make Armored Core relevant again after a lengthy hiatus, but they figured it out.

Armored Core VI is not your typical action game. It’s a game about building robots, going into battle and verifying the effects of your engineering efforts. The enormous possibilities of modifying your mech, the undying joy of combat, and the hefty challenges you need to overcome greatly outweigh the little flaws on this diamond.

Armored Core 6 is FromSoftware like we've never seen it, back on its mech beat with renewed vigor after 10 years away. It's an exhilarating game that lives up to the promise of action that only mechs can deliver, and it's a refreshingly short and easily replayed experience that still manages heaps of depth.

All in all, Armored Core 6 is an exceptional return for the series after such a long hiatus - keeping the core of the game true to its mechanical origins while integrating much of what has thrust FromSoftware into such overwhelming critical acclaim.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon might be a return to form for FromSoftware, but the series is brand new for players who only recently discovered them within the Souls-like genre. Armored Core VI has everything to stand on its own within the developer's current lineup of titles and the other entries of this series. It excels in fast-paced mecha action by providing an experience only Armored Core can deliver. Similar to the intricate ACs you'll surely create, this game is refined to its core offering highly challenging action with plenty of options to fit your playstyle. Armored Core VI is a must-play mecha action game, no matter your knowledge of the series.

If you're a glutton for punishment, yet unsure about your interest in a mech game, give Fires of Rubicon a shot. You may find, as I did, that the core philosophy of Miyazaki and FromSoftware is precisely what wins you over — that difficulty (and frequent deaths) deepen the stakes and the joy you'll feel when you finally prevail. Also, it's a blast to zip around in robot armor with shoulder cannons and laser guns.

Armored Core 6 is one of the best mech games I've experienced in years, and it's one I expect to play through at least two more times. The story of Rubicon, and how your decisions as a mercenary shape it, is my favorite story in gaming this year, up to and including all the big releases that have come out so far.

I’ve played a lot of good mech games, but few have ever given me the sheer depth of customization in both cosmetics and functionality that we have here. It’s like a dream come true.

Probably the best giant robot game ever made and an excellent companion piece to the likes of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, that matches both games in terms of spectacle and customisation.