Almost A Year Later, Armored Core 6 Comes Across As Sekiro’s Rebellious Brother

Rarely do gamers get to indulge themselves in quality mecha games to pass the time. FromSoftware returned to its roots with Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, delivering a mecha-based vehicular combat experience that captivated me for hours on end. Armored Core 6 is amazing, it reminded me of Sekiro, despite the absence of a direct gameplay comparison.

Armored Core 6 is a modern mecha game that does not reinvent the wheel but makes huge improvements over the last title in the series under the supervision of Hidetaka Miyazaki. It boasts stunning visuals, a polished 60 frame rate, and brutal and unforgiving combat depicting FromSoft’s creativity and excellence.

Armored Core 6 Isn’t Your Typical Soulsborne Game

After finishing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I didn’t want to stop and wanted to either keep on playing or find something similar, but none captured my interest quite like Sekiro did. Sekiro made a lasting experience for me thanks to its remarkable enemy design and the sheer cling-clang sword fight satisfaction.

Sekiro has the best combat of any game I’ve played
byu/SteadmanSlickkk inSekiro

I found myself needing to adapt to a more strategic approach, relying less on dodge or spamming right-click attacks and more on mastering the art of parrying and deflection to overcome opponents. Investing time in learning these techniques proved immensely rewarding, prompting me to seek similar challenges, which led me to Armored Core 6.

Armored Core 6 features the classic FromSoftware difficulty, and I found it is probably one of their most difficult games to date. Armored Core 6 is a very frustrating installment if you’re not using the right parts.

Challenging And Brutal Fast-Paced Combat

In Armored Core 6, where you sortie into a mission to clear primary objectives. On my first playthrough, I felt some missions were relatively easy, but others posed significant challenges, prompting me to rethink my weapons choices and AC parts selections through multiple visits to the Assembly.

You will have limited currency credits called COAM, that you can use to unlock parts. These parts play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of both close-quarters and long-range combat; whether you will excel or have to try again. Like your AC, enemy ACs are also loaded with the versatility of Rocket Launchers, Plasma Riffles, Granade Launchers, etc. You will not have a moment to blink if you want to win.

There are a variety of options to approach your enemies. Enemies will have aces up their sleeves. You also need to be aware of the Stagger Guage, right above the HP bars, which when full, you can deal satisfying damage to your enemies, exactly how you kill enemies and bosses via filling up their Posture bars in Sekiro.

Tanky Or Glass Cannon Mecha? It’s Your Call

Are you a tank-loaded with Bazookas type player or an agile, skinny mecha enjoyer that can close or gain distance between yourself and enemy ACs quickly? You can make it happen. There is no, one-size-fits-all approach in this game. Fashion ACs are a thing in this game as well.

You can have an Evangelion-inspired tank mecha which shreds enemy ACs into scraps with powerful, Bazookas on both arms. Or you can go with a military-style agile mecha with Burst Rifles, following a Soulsbornes-like approach; hitting and dodging in your main play style. The options are endless.

Fantastic Replayability With Different Mission Objectives

I admire FromSoftware games due to their replay value, gameplay, and story that is all over the place. Like Sekiro, Armored Core 6 follows a different approach. While the storyline may not be immediately apparent, careful attention to conversations during missions is essential to grasp the ongoing story fully.

I had to play the game multiple times to piece the story bits together, which changes after each playthrough and new things unfold in the same mission cleared before. Hidetaka Miyazaki incorporated his genius by splitting the story into multiple playthroughs with mecha personalization, ensuring fantastic replayability.

I craved this experience after ending Sekiro, sure Soulsbornes has better replay value but the grind aspect of those games isn’t for me. The ability to buy and unlock elements along your playthrough sets apart Armored Core 6 from other releases by FromSoftware.

If you’re a fan of Sekiro I believe you’re also craving the safe thrill and experience and I think it’s worth giving this hidden gem a try.