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The way western gamers look at From Software’s work has changed a lot over the past few years. The Japanese have been publishing games since 1994. However, the studio’s two long-standing franchises – King’s Field and Armored Core – catered primarily to a niche of hardcore gamers who wanted to be challenged while also being able to overlook certain shortcomings.

The high degree of difficulty and the shortcomings also fit Demon’s Souls from 2009, but Hidetaka Miyazaki’s heartfelt project also brought that certain something with it to draw the western market’s attention to From Software for the first time. With Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro and finally Elden Ring, the developers even managed to keep increasing the quality of the Soulsborne games and thus appeal to more and more players until they were faced with the The open-world epic of 2022 finally made its breakthrough into the mainstream succeeded.

Full control, phat action, crisp fights

However, From Software’s next project doesn’t go by the name of Elden Ring 2, continuing the Souls series or founding a new Soulsborne IP. Instead, the developers are presenting us with part of the Armored Core series for the first time in ten years. A few days ago, as part of the Summer Game Fest, we were able to attend a presentation of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon (buy now €69.99), where lead producer Yasunori Ogura introduced us to the fast-paced mech action.

One thing is clear: With Fires of Rubicon, the developers want to give the Mech franchise introduced in 1997 a reboot. One of the core features of the series has always been the ability to customize your mechs, which not only changes the look of the combat devices, but also the way you play them. For the sixth part, the designers are also focusing on other areas.

You should always have the feeling of full control in the fights through direct processing of your inputs. In addition, the developers want to present you with extensive, three-dimensional combat areas with enormous verticality, in which the mobility of the mechs comes into its own. In the missions you should also expect challenging, original fights in which you have to find the optimal balance between attack and defense.

You have to fight hard for every victory. Failure is part of the concept. After a death, adjust the equipment and thus the style of play, that can bring victory in the end. In this way, every mastered challenge should feel special. At least that sounds pretty familiar considering the Soulsborne games, doesn’t it?

Armored Core 6: The sample mission shown in the presentation leads Lead Producer Yasunori Ogura to a factory facility called Grid 086. Source: Bandai Namco

Attack on Grid 086 factory

The example mission shown in the presentation leads Lead Producer Yasunori Ogura to a factory facility called Grid 086. This serves as a base for the RaD, a group of arms dealers, and is on the agenda quite early in the single player campaign. The facility consists of imposing exterior areas and narrow interior spaces, through which Ogura can show us the flexibility of the mechs.

Since the outdoor facility consists of girders and bridges that are located at dizzy heights, the developer repeatedly uses the mech’s boost to temporarily fly through the air and thus reach distant platforms. Thanks to this enormous mobility, you have very different ways to reach your goal: An access point through which you can infiltrate the facility.

Armored Core 6: Thanks to Boost, you can move quickly through the extensive areas. Source: Bandai Namco A group of Sentinel drones are quickly crushed by the mech’s explosive attacks and homing missiles. The last enemy gains a free flight off the platform with the anytime melee attack. With the already mentioned boost, the distance to the targeted victim can be quickly bridged. All of this seems to be controlled in a wonderfully direct and action-packed manner.

Warning, an ambush!

The gate that leads the mech into the facility can be opened via a hacking function. However, the process activates an ambush where the developer has to deal with a much tougher opponent. The only thing that helps here is staying calm, studying your opponent’s movement patterns, dodging attacks and hitting back at the right moment. Another insight from the fight: With a repair kit you can repair your mech at any time. The mech in the demo had three charges.

Armored Core 6: Due to the boost and the verticality of the levels, you will often attack from the air. Source: Bandai Namco At supply stations, repair kits, health (AP) and ammunition can be refilled during a mission. After defeating the guard, the mech ends up in a facility where you can no longer dodge enemy attacks as well. It’s a good thing the mech also has a shield ability, which it can use to deflect enemy projectiles. Also useful: Regular scans allow you to spot enemies through walls.

The double Lottchen – From-Software-Style

In the next leg of the mission, Yasunori Ogura’s mech encounters a combat robot that would easily pass for a boss. Here the developers first demonstrate what happens when you die: You don’t have to start the mission from the beginning, you can start from a checkpoint in the middle of the mission. Equipment can also be adjusted after death. The customization options are enormous. There are twelve slots in total, including the headboard, core, arms, legs, booster, generator, extension and the four weapons.

Armored Core 6: As in the Soulsborn games, many tough boss fights await you in AC6. Source: Bandai Namco

In the second attempt, the lead producer then shows us another combat mechanic: impact hits can compromise the control system of a mech and stun the mech – for this you have to fill the so-called impact bar with attacks. All hits count as direct hits on stunned enemies and deal massive damage. This is a big advantage, especially against strong opponents. Some weapons are great for filling up the impact bar, other weapons are better at dealing raw damage.

After defeating this bully, we end up in the last room of the presentation, where the real boss of the level is waiting for the developer: A huge tank, with two metal arms, which consist of numerous heat sticks, and a cauldron full of lava on its back. This fight demonstrates two things again at the end: 1) The Obermotze have weak points that you should focus on targeting. 2) As in the Soulsborne games, the boss fights are also one of the highlights of the game in AC6.

Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6: Prepare your mech for the next mission. Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6: The game in the demo could not match the graphic splendor on the screenshots. Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6: Yep, you can turn your mech into a tank too. Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6 should also offer online PvP multiplayer. Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6: Before each fight and after each death you can equip your mech individually. Source: Bandai Namco Armored Core 6: Your mech’s mobility suffers in such narrow areas.

Our first impression of Armored Core 6

We doubt whether From Software can land another hit like Elden Ring with the new part of the “Armored Core” series. The setting is not suitable for the masses enough for that. Still, we lost a bit of our “fear” of the hardcore experience through the presentation. Sure, the action is fast-paced, the challenges are certainly tough.

Armored Core 6: Even if two mechs get ready for the upcoming fight, there’s no co-op mode. Source: Bandai Namco But if the mech really were to be controlled as accessible, direct and mobile as the scenes shown promise, then we would really like to give the series a chance and throw ourselves into battle in such a giant battle.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will be released on August 25, 2023 on PC (Steam), Playstation 4 and 5 Xbox Series and Xbox One. In addition to the story mode for single players, there should also be PvP online multiplayer. From Software is behind the development of the game. Bandai Namco is the publisher here in the west.