Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 353 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 273 out of 353
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 353
  3. Negative: 46 out of 353

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  1. Alvionne
    Sep 1, 2023
    6
    For some reason I can't leave my full review, I get a 403 error.

    Short version, AC6 doesn't feel like an AC game. Too much souls influence and lack of traditional AC feel/mechanics (controls, lock on system, combat, etc). The game itself isn't bad. Levels are large and interesting minus invisible walls and boss "fog gates". AC customization is good, especially paint. However it    For some reason I can't leave my full review, I get a 403 error.

    Short version, AC6 doesn't feel like an AC game. Too much souls influence and lack of traditional AC feel/mechanics (controls, lock on system, combat, etc).

    The game itself isn't bad. Levels are large and interesting minus invisible walls and boss "fog gates". AC customization is good, especially paint. However it doesn't provide the same experience the old games do. Hopefully in the future AC will go back to its roots.    … Expand
  2. MadclownJack
    Sep 2, 2023
    7
    It's nice and everything, looks aptly made, but it annoys me for many reasons. Not gonna lie, and i can't tell why, but It feels a bit constricting. Missions are straightforward, story is well, there, i think...It's got a FS flair, if nothing else.

    The designs can be fun, but otherwise not really innovative in any particular way. Enemies are okay for generic mechs. Bosses can be fun, if    It's nice and everything, looks aptly made, but it annoys me for many reasons. Not gonna lie, and i can't tell why, but It feels a bit constricting. Missions are straightforward, story is well, there, i think...It's got a FS flair, if nothing else.

    The designs can be fun, but otherwise not really innovative in any particular way. Enemies are okay for generic mechs. Bosses can be fun, if a bit annoying with the constant explosions to the point that i can't follow what happens on screen.

    i really am horribly bored by this game and i really feel that i shouldn't be. It's looks like an awful grind towards more weapons and whatnot, all the while micromanaging the stuffing out of your mech, just to be able to go through some of the missions a bit easier.

    FS up to their usual nonsense, not only refusing to lend a hand, but actively slapping you if you try to go against their apparently preferred method of finishing certain fights. I've been told that it gets better the further you go along, but honestly I can't see a reason to keep playing. I'm thinking that the hype isn't really justified.

    Not to be misunderstood, i strongly believe it's a good game, but also an acquired taste and i guess it's not for me. I'm more partial to their Souls series.    … Expand
  3. Wrynn
    Sep 7, 2023
    7
    Its all in the expectations man. I expected an Armored Core game. I got a Dark Souls game with a xbox 360 era mech skin on it. Even if I am to set that aside, the game play still isn't great. You CANNOT play the game in anyway you want. The game has bosses that pretty much can only be beaten by very specific builds, and if your not playing on that, well that's to bad. Go grind the money,Its all in the expectations man. I expected an Armored Core game. I got a Dark Souls game with a xbox 360 era mech skin on it. Even if I am to set that aside, the game play still isn't great. You CANNOT play the game in anyway you want. The game has bosses that pretty much can only be beaten by very specific builds, and if your not playing on that, well that's to bad. Go grind the money, buy the gear, and then come back. If any other game did this everyone would be up in arms, but its From Soft so all the fan boys suck it off like its the second coming of god.… Expand
  4. infraRecon
    Sep 7, 2023
    7
    I am very sorry, Metacritic is probably the worst place to put this review, I have a full review of this game that I can't post because Metacritic does not work or even attempt to deal with the sheer size and detail of my review so I'm going to be plain.

    This is a 7/10, you can see it immediately when playing the game, I like the gameplay I like the customization but the design of AC6    I am very sorry, Metacritic is probably the worst place to put this review, I have a full review of this game that I can't post because Metacritic does not work or even attempt to deal with the sheer size and detail of my review so I'm going to be plain.

    This is a 7/10, you can see it immediately when playing the game, I like the gameplay I like the customization but the design of AC6 weighs it down, It's a dated game that may satisfy people who may ignore certain elements here and there.

    This game is not up to the standards I expect, and that's fine, From Software should innovate a bit more and make their game not only feel good to play but make it look good to play in all aspects.
    I will try to put a link to my full review and first impression here:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0nUAGykvgU0ywdcoNUPHAZfskkzEe3htb3y_VPXAqc/edit?usp=sharing    … Expand
  5. TruthSeaker
    Aug 29, 2023
    5
    One of the most boring FROM games to date.
    The only good thing is mech customisation and variety if available weapons, yet if you are indifferent to robots, this won't makea big change to your enjoyment.
    Everything from the level design and almost non-existent music to how worthless regular enemies and random AC's are is hella underwhelming. Bosses are the most tedious and generic you    One of the most boring FROM games to date.
    The only good thing is mech customisation and variety if available weapons, yet if you are indifferent to robots, this won't makea big change to your enjoyment.
    Everything from the level design and almost non-existent music to how worthless regular enemies and random AC's are is hella underwhelming.
    Bosses are the most tedious and generic you can imagine. You have a proper build for the boss - it's gonna be a cakewalk. You don't - prepare to fall asleep from absolutely boring fight.
    Storytelling and characters never have been worse than in this game. NOTHING is happening besides worthless fighting beetween corporations that you know nothing about.
    Arena is piss-poor easy.
    Extremely dissapointed in general.    … Expand
  6. thajj96
    Aug 30, 2023
    5
    It is a lazy game. They just focused on good boss fights, which I am all for. But the rest of the game is garbage. Sekiro is a much better game from every perspective (boss fights included).
    The mission aspect of the game is so poorly done, they could have learned from metal gear solid 5, where you have an open world to enjoy, a mother base where the mech customization can take place ...
  7. Vathivis
    Aug 31, 2023
    5
    It's just a bossfight game, the rest of the game is just empty and boring. The graphics are also really meh.
  8. godder
    Aug 28, 2023
    6
    TLTR: Unbalanced, repetitive, outdated graphics, gameplay not fully satisfying.

    1st boss is very hard, but then I had a situation where he was like not moving and I was kind of below-behind him and it felt easier. When I figure out you have to assault and melee him he is still hard but I think its a bad decision to throw players in and give them such a hard boss at the very start.    TLTR: Unbalanced, repetitive, outdated graphics, gameplay not fully satisfying.

    1st boss is very hard, but then I had a situation where he was like not moving and I was kind of below-behind him and it felt easier. When I figure out you have to assault and melee him he is still hard but I think its a bad decision to throw players in and give them such a hard boss at the very start.

    Baltheus is very hard as well, BUT for me the solution was not really that much skill but just the build. I went to a website looked up a build, did not work for me. Went to another website. Build with all plasma weapoins plasma handgun, plasma rifle, plasma rocket launchers and then I spammed it flying above him and made a few dodges and lots of panick dodges just to get distance and I beat him.

    Graphics are pretty outdadated and boring, even maxed out the explosions look like from 2 generations back, you can clearly see the they are 2d sprites that are too slow animated they look like trash. The world feels like dystopian scenario was just picked as an excuse for having super boring and bland level design. Even when there is snow it still looks the same. FROM had such great architecture in many of their Soulsborne games. This does not keep up at all.

    This is my 1st AC game, I do not know how he others played out but this is clearly inspired by Dark Souls. But its not really delivering. There is a dodge but it is not super clear and obvious when to dodge as you have things flying at you very fast and often simply moving is enough. The bosses so far (I am chapter 3) except the two I mentioned above were pretty easy and kind of boring to fight. All I had to do its constantly fly in the air while spamming my weapons basically. Not really 100% satisfied with the gameplay. Its fun to try out new builds, but going back into levels to looks for combat logs feels artificial game time streching. I kind of enjoy it anyway more or less because it give me parts and money. I experimented quite some builds an have many parts by now. My current build feels OP dual long range shotgun with a medium weight. I fly somewhat close and spam all my weapons. I do not need this to be Dark Souls, it clearly is not, yet I would probably enjoy it more it it was, again the combat feels it lacks something and is generally not challenging at all or it depends just too much on the build. All the basic enemies in the game basically provide no challenge at all. Sometimes in bigger levels you may run out of heals because tanking some thing seems just a part of the game.

    And serious game design flaws in the menu. Why do the sorting resets every time? WHY, WHY TF do I need to sort every single section in the assembly and the shop? Seriously! And then they reset it when I restart the game. Who came up with this BS? There should be ONE sort for everything and it should save. Hopefully the fix this b4 I am done with the game.

    I am not saying its a bad game but its soo much wasted potential and I clearly can not take this FROM fanboys seriously who give this 9/10 or 10/10, I am basically a FROM fanboy myself and DS3 is my favorite game of them. And again I do not need this to be more like DS but its just lacks challenge so far. That bulldozer boss had even its weakpoint ob top right? If you just always fly its super easy to beat.

    I find it too hard to see when my weapons are reloaded with all the things exploding on the screen, again I basically just button mash all guns and concentrate on flying and positioning. I it feels there is something missing, it could be better.    … Expand
  9. Mellivora99
    Aug 25, 2023
    7
    First of all not a bad game but felt too easy for me and game constantly crashed when bought new parts from shop. Despite this issues customizing your mechs painting them both cosmetically and game play wise so fun.
  10. Jojoxav
    Aug 26, 2023
    6
    The game is very much lackluster if you comes from the order games of the series.

    It does not bring anything new or inovative to the table, it still enclose you in missions as if we had the tech limitations of the 2010s era. It does not have proper multiplayer such as 5v5 and objective based PVP. It does not have cooperation either. The gameplay is smooth but not very challenging, it    The game is very much lackluster if you comes from the order games of the series.

    It does not bring anything new or inovative to the table, it still enclose you in missions as if we had the tech limitations of the 2010s era. It does not have proper multiplayer such as 5v5 and objective based PVP. It does not have cooperation either.

    The gameplay is smooth but not very challenging, it feels like you are playing the camera behind your mech rather than being in direct control of it such as in the older games so it is clearly a step back.

    It should have had more, given the time and experience FromSoft acquired in the past years, maybe have cockpit views, more of an open map, some exploration, localized damages, etc.

    All in all, it is not a must play but might be worth a try for new players to the series, it had so much potential so lower your expectations if you are an old fan of the franchise and hope the next one will give us more than some new parts and bosses.    … Expand
  11. PapaArc
    Sep 4, 2023
    7
    Decent game a good challenge, mech suits are pretty cool but the game gets old quickly.
  12. Nimmer
    Aug 26, 2023
    6
    I'll come back and change this as needed but after 10 hours the game feels unnecessarily difficult in ways that are anti-fun and also not actually challenging once you figure out the gimmick. I don't mind a challenge, I enjoy FromSoft's other games. But I don't find the difficulty in this game engaging or fun. I get what they were going for with making encounters where certain ACs (mechs)I'll come back and change this as needed but after 10 hours the game feels unnecessarily difficult in ways that are anti-fun and also not actually challenging once you figure out the gimmick. I don't mind a challenge, I enjoy FromSoft's other games. But I don't find the difficulty in this game engaging or fun. I get what they were going for with making encounters where certain ACs (mechs) are better or worse for different situations. But all it really boils down to is basically "throw yourself at this boss with the mech you like until you realize it literally doesn't work, leave the mission, buy the parts you need, make a new AC that completely counters the boss, re-clear the entire mission, kill it in 1-3 attempts, okay now back to the AC you actually want to play and never touch the other one again, oops make a different one again because this boss requires this build".

    The bosses are so incredibly punishing for specific playstyles that I find myself having to change entire mechs frequently just to complete the encounter at a reasonable pace. And when I switch, I completely dominate the boss with the new AC design, and then never touch it again because I'm not interested in it. It feels almost like a gimmick with how much bosses either counter your AC or get completely countered by your AC. There's no real difficulty except if you want to bang your head against the monitor trying to beat an encounter with an incompatible AC and I find that to be a major shortcoming. Which is a shame as I think the gameplay generally feels fantastic, but the encounters are overbearing and unnecessarily punishing for specific ACs and then weak and pushovers to others. I feel I am matching puzzle pieces in this game, not overcoming the bosses by learning the patterns and mechanics.    … Expand
  13. chip1980
    Aug 26, 2023
    5
    Game is okay-ish at best. Graphics look like a upscaled PS3 game, they intend to be realistic, but only achieve 2009 level or so. Missions are fun, but repetitive and game starts being boring after 4 or 5 hours. I would not recommended it.
  14. Karasique
    Sep 5, 2023
    5
    Very mediocre at best. Outdated graphics (especially ugly blurry antialiasing). Unremarkable sound design and music. Sluggish storyline more like a radio play, the characters don't even have a picture or portrait. Awkward controls in battle (again many keyboard/mouse buttons cannot be assigned as in Elden Ring and their previous games), uneven difficulty curve. Overcomplicated,Very mediocre at best. Outdated graphics (especially ugly blurry antialiasing). Unremarkable sound design and music. Sluggish storyline more like a radio play, the characters don't even have a picture or portrait. Awkward controls in battle (again many keyboard/mouse buttons cannot be assigned as in Elden Ring and their previous games), uneven difficulty curve. Overcomplicated, inconvenient and uninformative hangar interface with quite shallow customization possibilities. Traditionally total absence of difficulty settings or any gameplay / accessibility settings. Just get new eyes and hands.… Expand
  15. P4cify
    Aug 31, 2023
    7
    People who like these games will definitely like it as it's what they expect. For people who came for another Fromsoft experience may find the game repetitive and far from the same level of immersion and satisfaction as their other titles.
  16. prakken
    Sep 3, 2023
    6
    this is a good project with good graphics, very realistic special effects, which is quite well optimized at the same time, but apart from the gameplay there is nothing interesting here, yes you can fly here, yes you can fight with a very extensive list of abilities, but there is no interesting story or idea in this, the setting of big, strong and technologically advanced robots is a verythis is a good project with good graphics, very realistic special effects, which is quite well optimized at the same time, but apart from the gameplay there is nothing interesting here, yes you can fly here, yes you can fight with a very extensive list of abilities, but there is no interesting story or idea in this, the setting of big, strong and technologically advanced robots is a very hackneyed thing, and everything here is very mediocre if it can be called a plot, most aspects in this game are well done, and if the main thing for you is just to shoot and fight, then you can play, especially since it was hacked on release day… Expand
  17. cylentstorm
    Sep 6, 2023
    6
    Fires of Rubicon is a bare-bones linear take on the AC formula wrapped up in a shallow, yet mildly fun action game.

    Few chances were taken in the by-the-numbers design, but its damned good to see Armored Core back in business. Too bad that the first new AC out of FROM in many years has to be so overwhelmingly mediocre. Dull visuals, weak sound design/mix, lifeless world, and too many    Fires of Rubicon is a bare-bones linear take on the AC formula wrapped up in a shallow, yet mildly fun action game.

    Few chances were taken in the by-the-numbers design, but its damned good to see Armored Core back in business. Too bad that the first new AC out of FROM in many years has to be so overwhelmingly mediocre. Dull visuals, weak sound design/mix, lifeless world, and too many tired tropes to list. The best bits (AC customization and tuning) are watered down and rendered mostly superfluous (beyond a few basic archetypes) due to the strange and unnecessary injection of "Baby's First Souls Game" mechanics, brain-dead AI, and zero exploration. It's less of an update and more of a step back in time for the series. Ugh. What a shame.    … Expand
  18. bwig5598
    Sep 8, 2023
    7
    This is a FromSoft game through and through. Really cool game, intriguing boss fights.

    Cons:
    - Short
    - Graphically poor

    Pros:
    - Build Variety
    - Boss Encounters
    - Environment vibes

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best PC Game of 2023
13
#13 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Riot Pixels
    Jan 28, 2024
    65
    Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is able to charm with artistic solutions, beautiful mechs, gloomy atmosphere of corporate wars. But there are too many of annoying factors in the game.
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  2. Game Revolution
    Jan 9, 2024
    90
    Overall, Armored Core 6 is excellent for newcomers and longtime fans alike. It serves as a great introduction to the series, and you don’t need to be familiar with past entries to have a great time. On the flip side, the gameplay and mechanics are familiar enough that you’ll feel instantly at home here if you played AC5 or Verdict Day. Given the positive response to AC6, I hope we see more of the series sooner rather than later. It deserves to be one of FromSoftware’s cornerstones as much as the studio’s Souls games do.
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  3. GameMAG
    Dec 13, 2023
    70
    Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a great robot editor that allows all mech enthusiasts to create the fighting machine of their dreams, but a very down-to-earth game with short linear missions, boring environments and weak standard enemies.
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