More information about the combat of FromSoftware’s new mech titleArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconhas been revealed.Armored Core 6was first announced at The Game Awards 2022, the same night FromSoftware’sElden Ringtook home Game of the Year. Since then, fans of the lauded studio have had many questions and speculations about what the combat of the sixth main-lineArmored Coretitle would be like from a post-SoulsFromSoftware.
Long before FromSoftware changed the industry withDemon’s SoulsandDark Soulsin 2009 and 2011, becoming one of the most celebrated game makers in video games, the studio was known for theArmored Coreseries, which featured fast-paced third-person mech combat. After finding unfathomable success with theDark Soulstrilogy andBloodbornein the 2010s FromSoftware moved on fromArmored Core. Now,with FromSoftware returning to its mech franchise, fans of the studio have been wondering whetherArmored Core 6would take some pages from the studio’s most recent successfulSoulstitles.
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AlongsideArmored Core 6’s release date, new information about the mech game’s combat has been shared by the game’s director Masaru Yamamura in an interview with PlayStation Blog. Along with the typicalArmored Coremedley of aerial and ground warfare Yamamura mentioned some key new combat features that are bound to get fans ofArmored CoreandSouls-like games excited. With the title featuring both ranged and melee combat, an ability called Assault Boost will help players quickly close the distance on an enemy, going from ranged fire to melee attacks in the process. Yamamura also expressed the potential for different combos to be weaved into this skill as well with players still being able to fire machine guns and missiles during the skill.
“Say you activate Assault Boost to make your approach while using machine gun fire and a missile salvo to stagger the enemy, then use your pulse blade to score a direct melee hit once you’re up close.”
Another element that’s new toArmored Core 6is the ability to stagger enemies. Much like in some of FromSoftware’sSoulstitles such asDark SoulsandElden Ring, players who deal enough damage to an enemy within a short period of time can stagger it and have an opportunity at a critical blow. While it’s unknown ifArmored Core 6’s stagger gauge will be visible to the player or if critical attacks to a staggered enemy will have a dedicated animation like inElden Ring,the combat feature seems to be one inspired by the studio’s deep and more recent history withSoulstitles. Additionally,Yamamura mentioned thatArmored Core 6’s boss fights will be challenging, with players needing to learn and grow familiar with a boss’s moves to be successful; a bonafide staple of anySouls-like.
While theArmored Core 6experience will be very different from that of aSouls-like title it looks like there will be some similarities and learnings from those games thatFromSoftware will be implementing in this sixthArmored Coreinstallment. There will likely be a lot more combat details revealed leading up toArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon’smuch anticipated release.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconis releasing on August 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
