At Summer Game Fest, developer FromSoftware gave a short gameplay presentation for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon that highlighted some of the studio’s goals with the sequel. Chief among them was delivering a sense of accomplishment by having the player overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Punishing difficulty is an aspect of FromSoftware’s games that the studio has become known for and that its fans crave. After playing a few hours of Armored Core 6 at a recent event, it’s safe to say that, despite being from the other, non-Souls side of From’s library, the game is plenty hard but also lots of fun.

The preview event offered Game ZXC an opportunity to play through the prologue chapter of Armored Core 6. Having never played an AC game but as someone who has grown to love every new game the developer has released, there was an uncertainty as to what type of experience would be on offer. Obviously, Armored Core is known as a mech franchise, but in the 10 years since the last game, FromSoftware has exploded in popularity, most recently with the monumental success of Elden Ring. Would Armored Core feel more like a Souls game with mechs? Would there be familiar elements mixed with recognizable mainstays of the franchise? The answer for this newcomer is that there are some design sensibilities on display and a few mechanics, like the Repair Kit functioning as a “heal,” that one could recognize from Souls but a lot more is different.

Tossing any Souls comparisons to the side, Armored Core 6 is not an open-world game. Players will spend a good amount of time in menus, purchasing new components for their mech, customizing the loadout and the look of their mech, and selecting missions (sorties) to undertake. These sorties can be fairly simple affairs where the player character, codenamed Raven, explores a wide open space completing simple tasks while taking out specific enemy mechs, tanks, and artillery, or they can be more crafted story missions that usually culminate in an epic boss fight.

Regardless of the stakes of the mission, combat in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon follows a basic template that expands based on the task at hand and a player’s build. Each AC can be equipped with up to four weapons, one on each hand and one on each shoulder. Some weapons like machine guns fire faster but do minimal damage, while others, like shoulder-mounted rockets and laser rifles hit harder but less often. And yes there is a laser sword and it is awesome.

Weapons are part of the foundation of combat but there are so many other elements that go into a build. Stronger weapons add weight to the chassis of the AC unit, as do more resilient armor pieces on the head, chest, legs, and arms. But while more weight only means a slower mech that can’t dodge as often, the mech's energy pool is a finite resource that can only power so many things. So, if a build favors really strong weapons it is unlikely that the player will have enough energy to fill all four slots, or if they do then it means using lighter armor pieces and being more vulnerable.

Energy is also an essential component for agility – determining how often the mech can boost or dodge. Heavier mechs require more energy for their components and thus don’t offer as much in the way of maneuverability, but they do offer a higher health pool and can stand in there and take a shot or two. People will conjure up different visions of what a mech is in their mind – from a nimble Gundam to a literal robo-tank – and Armored Core 6 seemingly makes all those possible.

There is so much to consider before even starting a sortie that it can be overwhelming, and that's without talking about the extensive visual customization, but that gives Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon a ton of depth. Once players do jump into combat, however, they will find a deadly dance of bullets, lasers, and missiles that is sublime. Zipping along the ground and through the air in the AC unit offers the exhilarating freedom of movement that one would expect from a mech shooter. As mechs, artillery, and other mech-like enemies send their own projectiles toward the player, it is up to them to use dodge side-to-side and up-and-down to avoid taking any damage.

Of course, dodging enemy fire is just one part of the equation and will only get players so far. They need to respond with their own attacks while in between the dipping, the dodging, and the ducking. Against basic enemies, the challenge is minimal but still mechanically engaging since each weapon slot is mapped to a different button and staying airborne requires its own button press/hold. However, once Armored Core 6 puts the player against a stronger enemy type, things become more challenging.

While the thrill of taking on basic enemies is undeniable, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is at its best when players are up against a formidable foe or foes. Having to dodge projectiles as if it’s a bullet hell game – all the while returning fire when possible – will test any player, but it is supremely satisfying to get those killing blows. There’s also a stagger mechanic that’s similar to the posture break in Sekiro whereby enemies can be rendered susceptible to big damage if players fill a bar quick enough. Conversely, though, the player’s AC has the same stagger bar and it too can be left helpless if the user isn’t careful.

As with any FromSoftware game, there is a risk/reward element where leaning too far in the direction of offense can leave the AC vulnerable, but taking advantage of those openings is key. The game gives players no quarter in some of its harder combat scenarios and players should expect to be looking at their own burning heap of metal often. In talking to other attendees of the preview event it seemed pretty clear that Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is not pulling any punches with its boss fights. There is no inevitability of success; players will need to be strategic throughout the fight to take out an opponent.

But as FromSoftware has hoped, there is something unmistakably satisfying about eking out a win against a boss. The game even does a little slow motion as the killing blow lands, making sure players have a chance to pump their first in the air. However, getting to that point of relief is no easy feat, and thankfully, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon offers a forgiving checkpoint system and even the ability to swap out builds before jumping into a boss fight for one more round. In our experience, experimentation is essential because of how uniquely each boss is designed.

One boss, for example, has a shield in its front and can only be damaged from behind or directly above. At first, the fight includes an NPC mech to help occupy the boss’s attention and allow for easy damage, but midway through the fight, the player is left alone and finding those openings seems impossible. We experimented with a lot of different weapon configurations and agility profiles, and many felt like exercises in futility. Other builds could get the job done but didn’t feel as efficient or left Raven vulnerable too often. It was only once we found the right combo that it felt like this was the perfect build for the fight and no other option would do. Of course, that’s not the case and some players will already be locked in on a build that works perfectly for the fight and never know it was even a challenge. That's one of those qualities that's inherent to FromSoftware's games: diversity of experience.

As a total newcomer to the Armored Core franchise, it was unclear how much an affinity for FromSoftware’s other games would translate to Fires of Rubicon. Outside an understanding that FS makes games that are hard where timing is key, there wasn’t a lot that felt “the same.” That being said, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon has so many elements that make it just as deep and compelling as any of the Souls games. The diversity of builds is going to give this game longevity. The boss fights are epic showdowns that will test gamers’ reflexes (and sanity). And there are hints towards lore that seem interesting. But really it’s the moment-to-moment gameplay that helps all the other elements of a FromSoftware game sing and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is just a blast to play.

Armored Core 6: Fire of Rubicon releases August 25, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.