In the resounding return of the Armored Core series, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon emerges as a triumphant masterpiece, embodying an epochal resuscitation of the mecha genre. Dispelling any notions of it being a derivative Soulslike endeavor, this prodigious iteration veraciously forges its own distinctive path.
From the commencement of its announcement, the release of this first new AC installment in a decade spurred multifaceted reactions: anticipation, trepidation, and sanguine aspirations. Nevertheless, it is essential to dispel any expectation that it would be a replication of its critically acclaimed From Software kin. The architectural complexity of interconnected levels, the bonfire equivalents that punctuate the Souls series, and the tenacious revival of adversaries upon respite—these are entirely absent from the landscape of AC6.
In its architecture, AC6 maintains a reverence for tradition. The narrative, albeit offering some bifurcations (three in my initial traversal, to be precise), remains predominantly rooted in a linear mission framework, disseminated over five meticulously composed chapters. Although instances arise where multiple missions beckon, it is imperative to conquer each challenge before surging forward. This prescribes a decision matrix, determining the sequence in which missions are to be undertaken. Exclusive of the segregated player-versus-player multiplayer domains, which eluded assessment within the temporal confines of this review, a single-player arena mode, as well as the opportunity to revisit missions already accomplished, are the sole distractions from the campaign’s gravity.
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Concomitant with the brevity of missions—a significant proportion of them confined within a sub-decade temporal span, even for the most judicious operator—are the benevolent enclaves designated as checkpoints, strategically stationed anterior to pivotal confrontations. Conspicuous are instances where the imperative to iterate over challenging passages is a rarity.
Compared to the convoluted, multi-stratified labyrinth of narrative threads and complex systems emblematic of From Software’s catalog, a degree of parsimony is discerned within AC6’s composition. Although my aspirations harbored inklings for a synthesis akin to the likes of Mass Effect/Dragon Age or Fallout/Elder Scrolls, it is the manifest truth that AC6’s unmistakable character is untouched by such proclivities. Yet, my predisposition to lament an absence of Soulslike infusion within AC6 betrays a paucity of sagacity. It transpires that AC6’s impervious design mandates no resonance with Soulslike elements; it stands unabated as the apogee of mechanized gaming.
Inaugurating the foray into mechanized control, the experience of piloting these colossal mechs is one of sheer exhilaration. The titular ACs are far from the ponderous juggernauts emblematic of Battletech; rather, they channel the essence of Mobile Suit Gundam, orchestrating incendiary barrages of laser volleys whilst nimbly evading an avalanche of missile fusillades. While traversal on foot (and on occasion, tracks) does find favor, the predominant mode of mobility is the boost, empowered by an array of thrusters that propel the AC at breakneck velocities across the expanse of the map, evoking evasive maneuvers, dashes, and ariose bounds.
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It is within the mechanized choreography that a discernible nod to From Software’s discerning combat tenets becomes conspicuous. Though dormant within the cockpit, the studio’s characteristic martial prudence has been transported to AC6, with an augmentation attributed to high-thrust propellants and quadrilateral armaments replacing the erstwhile trusty sword. Noteworthy is the absenteeism of the need to assimilate the fabled Armored Core grip—an allusion to prior series installments’ intricate control schemes that metamorphosed into a meme within Japanese gaming culture. Configuration of the four shoulder buttons presides over four weapon enclosures, while the face buttons sanction momentum augmentation, agile evasion, and mid-air propulsion. Lamentably, an inadvertent left stick click can all too easily engender the activation of the frontal surge boost—an incongruity that may be attributed to my unwieldy manual dexterity.
Inceptive skirmishes are apt to manifest a predilection for vertiginous boosts, accompanied by a deluge of evasive maneuvers, a proclivity liable to accelerate the dissipation of the energy reservoir and render one vulnerable to ripostes. Gradual acclimation promulgates mastery, resulting in the lucid discernment of the opportune junctures for stratified sidestepping to counteract photon beams, with judicious energy conservation culminating in the extension of aerial mobility. Evasions that once bore the imprints of desperation transmute into balletic expressions, with the AC lithely zigzagging through missile volleys and executing elegant leaps above artillery placements to dispense rearward devastation.
Compelling attention are the four reservoirs allocated to weaponry, partitioned into arm and shoulder enclaves, with handheld ordnance such as rifles, shotguns, and SMGs juxtaposed against shoulder-mounted missile and laser armaments. Noteworthy is the capacity of left-side appendages to accommodate both close-quarter weapons and energy-absorbing barricades on the arm and shoulder, respectively. The tapestry of armaments is resplendent from the outset, acquiring a crescendo of breadth and intricacy as the narrative progresses. A trifling yet tantalizing notion emerges—an invocation of Peter Serafinowicz to inquire if the preferred caliber of the laser cannon is the standard or diffusive iteration. This impulse, were it to materialize, would indeed be a felicitous addition—perhaps by means of DLC. Moreover, in homage to the cinematic oeuvres championed by Keanu Reeves, the possibility presents itself to arm the AC with formidable pistols, an unexpectedly efficacious pursuit.
Diversification does not restrict itself to armaments; the very constitution of the mech is subject to customization. Comprising head, torso, arm, and leg sections, along with three internal components, the mech emerges as a canvass inviting experimentation without descending into the labyrinthine nether of minutiae. The fulcrum pivots on the equipoise between celerity and survivability, from whence divergence heralds adaptation to idiosyncratic playing preferences, be it hastened missile acquisition or augmented close-quarters assaults. Paramount among these facets is the selection of legs, endowed in four distinct permutations. Bipeds, emblematic of equilibrium, stand juxtaposed to reverse joint counterparts, with heightened leap capabilities devoid of energy despoliation. Quadrupeds, albeit weightier, boast heightened load-bearing prowess and aerial efficiency by adopting a hover stance. Bestowed with stability akin to their wheeled and tracked counterparts, they traverse the terrain armed with robust resilience and the ability to execute evocative drifts. A veritable tour de force unfurls—a panoply wherein agility in mid-air concedes to steadfast stability, while annihilation is executed while deftly navigating the locus.
The nexus between architecture and combat materializes as an exquisite conundrum, where each engagement metamorphoses into a riddle solvable through the instantiation of the quintessential construct. Gradual osmosis ensues, each encounter transfiguring the fabric of familiarity with weaponry and constructs tailored to individual predilections. This process is conceived with artful design, maintaining an allure through the perpetual craving for incremental augmentation. Yes, the pile bunker accords a lethal coup de grâce; alas, it imperils efficacy at a distance. It is perennially the case—a yearning for yet another weapon, or a modicum of celerity.
For those rendered queasy by this prospect, rest assured, AC6’s eminence as one of the most accessible action titles of the contemporary age remains incontrovertible. The overture unfurls within the purview of an instructional mission, seamlessly acquainting the player with rudiments devoid of pedantic sublimation. Subsequently, the mantle of mastery is vested upon the aspirant, intermittently punctuated by didactic missions dedicated to the honing of specific aptitudes. This equilibrium—neither pedagogically ponderous nor precipitously brisk—forges an optimal cadence, unveiling novel facets without obfuscating the imminence of true gameplay.
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Paradoxically, though, it does demand a measure of valor. As one who humbly appraises my gaming prowess as averagely proficient, grappling with a succession of bosses summoned hours of determination. Amongst the annals, two categories arise—the utmost echelons of stringent and quintessential benchmarks. Attaining an S-rank obliges swift execution sans retrials, minimal outlay of munitions, and negligible damage. Remarkably, the attribution of rank materializes only within the relived junctures, permitting the indulgence of a leisurely campaign traversal bereft of evaluative compunction. This said a lament surfaces—one that revisits an oft-tread debate—the dearth of alternated difficulty levels and the scarce availability of accessibility facets. With AC6 a solitary adventure entrenched in mission-driven mechanics, the elision of a rudimentary mode for novices seems remiss.
Regrettably, AC6’s narrative vestiges emerge as its weakest juncture. The chronicle, whilst serviceable within the gamut of science fiction realms, materializes exclusively through dialogic exchanges and expository instances. Characters remain ensconced within their mechanized avatars, except for personal emblems that manifest sans mission context. Amidst environments teeming with sprawling military and scientific installations, a trace of sterility surfaces, undermining the resonance of the opposition between the Rubicon Liberation Front and corporate behemoths. A disconnect permeates, for it is arduous to rally emotively around the fates of personas ensnared within the cacophony of mechanized conflagration.
However, the narrative’s aspersion is by no means a fatal blemish. While AC6’s storyline evinces an absence of panoramic drama, a repository of melodramatic moments is still forthcoming. Amidst the turmoil of the battlefield, the poignancy of embroilments unfolds—dividing former comrades, juxtaposing haughty antagonists, and spotlighting dashing saviors—the quintessence of mecha grandeur.
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In summation, AC6, although arguably faltering in narrative grandiloquence, perseveres as an unabridged opus. A persistent grin graced my visage throughout a seamless odyssey spanning roughly thirty hours. With commendable acumen, AC6 masterfully strikes the balance between accessibility and intricacy, constituting the paragon for mechanized gaming. Its lexicon of approachability punctuated by combat sophistication makes Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon a resounding paradigm, poised to redefine the potential of mecha-themed marvels.
