Last year, Elden Ring did wonders for FromSoftware. Formerly known as a niche developer of incredibly difficult games, the studio is now a household name for the RPG genre. Now, buoyed by the popularity of last year’s game, the studio is reaching deep into its bag of old franchises and resurrecting Armored Core, a series that hasn’t seen the light of day since the PlayStation 3. Years since touching the franchise, FromSoftware is back to form with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.

Before we touch the new mecha game, let’s go back to what made Elden Ring so popular. Unlike the punishing Dark Souls series, Elden Ring offered accessibility to players new to the studio’s difficulty spikes. The game was still hard, of course, but players, once they hit a wall, had the option of finding other things to do and levelling up. Players could have also experimented with stronger builds, rather than endlessly trying with the same kits.

More accessible than Elden Ring

Now, I’d argue that Armored Core VI is much more accessible than Elden Ring. Whereas the latter places skill and build on equal footing, Armored Core VI puts the premium on creating the perfect build. To be clear, it’s still possible to win tough fights with weaker builds through sheer skill. However, the game encourages players to experiment with different builds to appropriately tackle a specific battle. The right build can make a world of difference.

Plus, it’s risk-free. If you bought a mecha part that you don’t eventually like, the game allows you to sell it again for 100 percent of its value. Those sold items will remain in the shop forever, too. Basically, if your net worth can afford the build you’re envisioning, there’s no risk of selling off parts and losing the ability to revert back. The game even allows you to change builds whenever you die.

Unfortunately, having such a relaxed system will naturally lead to meta builds — that is, popular builds publicly considered as the “best” way to beat the game. For example, whenever I was stuck in some sections, the internet would always suggest a combination of double shotguns and double grenade cannons. While the pure damage from that build is apparent, I found myself sticking to my own preferred parts most of the time. Meta builds aren’t the only solution to game, but they are there. That said, if you’re looking for true experimentation, stay away from the internet.

Boss battle after boss battle

Another thing that makes Armored Core VI much more accessible is how linear the game is. Unlike the open-world nature of Elden Ring, Armored Core VI is brutally direct. It doesn’t even have a hub world. When you open the game, you enter a main menu stylized as a garage. Here, players can embark on missions and customize their mecha.

On the one hand, players don’t have a lot of options when they hit a wall. You’ll have no choice but to tackle the problem head-on. On the other hand, the lack of options also makes for a tighter game. It took me only around 16 hours to beat my first playthrough — a far cry from what FromSoftware is notoriously known for.

That’s not to say that the game is easy, though. While it’s a breeze compared to the developer’s harder games, some sections are downright grueling. However, what kept me playing was how fluid the combat is. Despite the emphasis on builds, there’s an innate satisfaction in figuring out the rhythm to a difficult battle: when to dodge, when to tank damage, when to unleash your biggest move. Dueling against a boss can really open opportunities for those epic moments that a mecha battle can generate.

A lot of the combat focuses on those major boss fights marking the middle or the end of a level. Unfortunately, enemy design outside of those bosses leaves something to be desired. Though the game has minor encounters outside of a boss fight, they are remarkably easy. At best, these enemies are just cannon fodder for you to test out builds. At worst, they are a health tax, chipping away at your mecha before a boss battle.

Short and sweet but not really

As I mentioned above, it only took me 16 hours to beat the first playthrough. For a full-priced game today, is a shorter playthrough time worth the money?

As with every FromSoftware game, Armored Core VI has multiple endings, necessitating multiple playthroughs to completely finish the game. The first playthrough makes this clear by offering decision missions which disappear if other missions are done. Hunting for those different endings isn’t a requirement, and a lot of players call it a day once that first playthrough ends. However, the mecha game does something that other modern FromSoftware games does not.

Instead of just giving players the opportunity to gun for other endings and decisions, Armored Core VI locks a chunk of content behind New Game Plus. The second and third playthroughs feature new missions and altered ones from the first playthrough. Players will fight harder bosses and trickier decisions.

One can certainly argue that locking content behind multiple playthroughs is a cheap way to extend the game. However, there is some satisfaction in bringing stronger mechas into fights that formerly gave us trouble. Plus, multiple playthrough is almost a requirement now for a lot of FromSoftware fans. I’d say that Armored Core’s approach just adds more incentive to something that a lot of fans are going to do anyway.

Armored Core VI is not enough to dethrone Elden Ring as a potential game of the year. However, the game’s accessibility and fluid combat are enough to introduce the mecha genre to a new batch of gamers. Outside of comparing the title to other FromSoftware games, Armored Core VI is still a great game for both new and veteran fans of the mecha genre.