Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon Unveiled by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco

[TheLostSwede]

Leading video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Europe and FromSoftware, Inc. today announced a new action game, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON. Jointly developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. and FromSoftware, Inc. this is the latest title in the ARMORED CORE series, now revived and reimagined as a new action game after 10 long years since the last entry in the franchise.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON will offer a game experience based on the mech game know-how FromSoftware cultivated over 25 years of developing games in the series, but now introducing groundbreaking gameplay found in the developer's recent action games. The new ARMORED CORE title will combine these elements into thrilling action that only mechas can provide. The game promises to be a unique entry in the mech action game genre.




In ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, players will be able to freely move through massive three-dimensional environments with rapid maneuverability while experiencing visceral vehicular combat.

Signature to FromSoftware's carefully crafted game design, the game will feature challenging and memorable battles along with a fulfilling progression system and deep gameplay, all of it now powered by assembling mechs and going to combat with massive bosses.

Players will recognize the sense of satisfaction and achievement when they overcome a difficult situation and relish momentary victory, and perhaps a boost to their standing, before encountering the next challenge.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Imouto]

Man, I sure do hope it's awesome and revitalizes the franchise.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

It will be funny if it will be a souls like experience.

 

[mama]

From Software always have my attention after Elden Ring.

 

[Solaris17]

It will be funny if it will be a souls like experience.

From Software always have my attention after Elden Ring.

You know this is an old series they have owned for awhile right? And by awhile I mean like a decade or more.

I’m pumped I love this franchise

 

[sepheronx]

I played Armored Core 1 to the point the disk was ruined on the PS1.

I have high hopes for this.

 

[1d10t]

Armored Core has been buried by Squaresoft's ( former Square-Enix ) Front Mission Series, losing in all aspect graphics, stories and mechanics. Funny enough a decade later they able to resurrect this unique mecha game while SquareEnix was busy milking their fan base.

 

[Minus Infinity]

Looks effing awesome.

 

[Thorsthimble]

This would be very, very cool. I hope they do it right.

 

[konga]

Armored Core has been buried by Squaresoft's ( former Square-Enix ) Front Mission Series, losing in all aspect graphics, stories and mechanics. Funny enough a decade later they able to resurrect this unique mecha game while SquareEnix was busy milking their fan base.

??? Front Mission is a series of tactical RPGs. They're very different kinds of games. This is like saying Doom lost to XCOM or something.

From Software stopped making Armored Core games after the PS3 era, but that has nothing to do with Front Mission (considering that's when S-E stopped making those games). They were just more focused on the Souls games at that point.

I think a lot of people may end up confused or disappointed by this game depending on how closely it hews to the previous games. The combat in this series is nothing like the careful and methodical combat of From Software's action RPGs, and they also have a simpler mission-based series. They're good games, but probably not like what a lot of people might be hoping for when they see this CG trailer.

 

[Airisom]

I've always been attracted to the potential Armored Core had, wishing the game would be like the amazing intros and cinematic trailers, only to be let down with bland, linear and repetitive gameplay. I've played through every release regardless and always enjoyed customizing the mechs.

If they can work on the boring, repetitive missions and unnecessary part/weapon redundancy, that would be a solid first step. They did a great job with the DS series and Elden Ring, so we'll see.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

You know this is an old series they have owned for awhile right? And by awhile I mean like a decade or more.

I’m pumped I love this franchise

Yes and they havent done anything with the franchise for almost if not over a decade.

 

[1d10t]

??? Front Mission is a series of tactical RPGs. They're very different kinds of games. This is like saying Doom lost to XCOM or something.

From Software stopped making Armored Core games after the PS3 era, but that has nothing to do with Front Mission (considering that's when S-E stopped making those games). They were just more focused on the Souls games at that point.

I think a lot of people may end up confused or disappointed by this game depending on how closely it hews to the previous games. The combat in this series is nothing like the careful and methodical combat of From Software's action RPGs, and they also have a simpler mission-based series. They're good games, but probably not like what a lot of people might be hoping for when they see this CG trailer.

There weren't many mecha games themed of that era so to categorize it in a specific genre is meaningless, but do as you please. Just to be on same genre, it's already shadowing Omega Boost and Mech Warrior, I remembered Omega can fly, Mech Warrior got visor view plus great customization and Front Mission got a solid story. The only thing I remembered about Armored Core, is that KOEI "borrow" it as their game mechanics for Shin Sangoku Musou ( Dynasty Warrior ) to this date.

 

[Vario]

It will be funny if it will be a souls like experience.

I hope not.



I played the hell out of all the PS1, PS2 era games. I played some of the PS3 ones as well.

My favorites are: Armored Core Project Phantasma (PS1), Armored Core 2 (PS2), Armored Core Nexus (PS2), Armored Core Last Raven (PS2),

 

[NC37]

If it's on PC, great. Console...ehh.

 

[kapone32]

They should justr remake Armored Core 2 with updated Graphics. That was for me the best of the series.

 

[sephiroth117]

If it's on PC, great. Console...ehh.

Worry not:
this new sequel is set for launch in 2023 on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
It's on PC and even old-gen (so we should not expect a radically different graphics compared to elden ring engine) !



Armored core, what can I say, I have a love/hate thing with this IP. I absolutely love mecha game and I think this IP always had insane ideas...in fact too insane for older hardwares and maybe the older From software. It's an IP that was ahead of its time and with too much much quirks, finition issues.
I remember on PS3 they had that crazy "faction wars" idea online. Really ahead of its time.

Compared to the souls, on an artistic level it was underwhelming sometimes, especially the environment/map and on a technical level it was chaotic, dark and often empty..the exact opposite of elden ring's artistic richness.

But is the old AC relevant ?
We are speaking of a studio who won 2 GOTY lately, a studio that sold close to 20 million elden ring copies, a studio ADORED by players and rightfully so.

And I CANNOT WAIT to see how that modern from software is going to imagine Armored Core. One thing is sure, I'm extremely curious, maybe it's the game I'm awaiting info on the most. I mean Zelda or other games I know they are awesome and I know what the gameplay will be approximatively...but AC, 10 years later I'm very curious to see that !

Fingers crossed at E3 or before we have more info (or maybe Gamescom since its opening show is managed by Keighley)

 

[AsRock]

Meh, i always been more of a Mech Warrior type in 1st person than 3rd person. Shame really had hope for a moment.

 

[Tartaros]

Armored Core has been buried by Squaresoft's ( former Square-Enix ) Front Mission Series, losing in all aspect graphics, stories and mechanics. Funny enough a decade later they able to resurrect this unique mecha game while SquareEnix was busy milking their fan base.

Front Mission has never buried any franchise because it was even more niche than Armored Core, very few people outside Japan knew abouy Front Mission and the most known title of the franchise is Front Mission 3 in the PSX, not to mention they were different genres of games and they only tie are the mechs. From Software stopped doing Armored Core games when they got into the Souls games, it's like saying Megaman games were ignored because Mario games were more popular.

 

[Totally]

...now introducing groundbreaking gameplay found in the developer's recent action games. The new ARMORED CORE title will combine these elements into thrilling action...

Went from yay to nay in that quickly, considering how they 'streamlined' the life out the last AC games, the difference between the original final fantasy and the remakes taking them from tactical turn-based games to hack and slashes, and the souls and souls like games they've been turning out. I'm concerned that this is just going to be another souls game but with mecha.

 

[1d10t]

Front Mission has never buried any franchise because it was even more niche than Armored Core, very few people outside Japan knew abouy Front Mission and the most known title of the franchise is Front Mission 3 in the PSX, not to mention they were different genres of games and they only tie are the mechs. From Software stopped doing Armored Core games when they got into the Souls games, it's like saying Megaman games were ignored because Mario games were more popular.

That's correct, Front Mission 1 launched on the SNES and launch for PS1 as well but didn't made a global version, same fate for Front Mission 2 with no NA or EU. But giving title popular game just for having an NTSC/PAL version is just overhype. In same context, I have mentioned Omega Boost and Mech Warrior are far better, both offer superior gameplay and customization. Most people like Armored Core because it simple and has same concept as Shin Sangoku Musou (Dynasty Warrior), which I don't know who copied who.

I remember playing Wild Arms and Tales of Eternia while learning kanji katakana and hiragana where most people praised Crash Bandicoot.

 

[Vayra86]

Looks more like a Death Stranding experience there, with that massive backpack.

 

[Vario]

That's correct, Front Mission 1 launched on the SNES and launch for PS1 as well but didn't made a global version, same fate for Front Mission 2 with no NA or EU. But giving title popular game just for having an NTSC/PAL version is just overhype. In same context, I have mentioned Omega Boost and Mech Warrior are far better, both offer superior gameplay and customization. Most people like Armored Core because it simple and has same concept as Shin Sangoku Musou (Dynasty Warrior), which I don't know who copied who.

I remember playing Wild Arms and Tales of Eternia while learning kanji katakana and hiragana where most people praised Crash Bandicoot.

I don't know what Armored Core you are thinking of because Armored Core is nothing like any of the games you have listed, especially and including Dynasty Warriors.

Armored Core is mostly an intense arena mech pvp game where you select parts based upon the listed engineering specifications and hidden values and min max a particular mech to be able to suit your combat style. The controls are extremely difficult to master especially the original ones before the dual shock analog stick controls. The single player missions were not really the strong point of the series but a few of the games had some decent missions, such as Project Phantasma and AC2. Most of the scene for this game series revolved around PvP. The missions were mostly for lore and finding rare parts.

It has nothing to do with Dynasty Warriors or Front Mission, other than being a real time combat game as far as Dynasty Warriors goes and having bipedal mechs as far as Front Mission goes.

Armored Core had a nice blend of brainpower (optimally designing a mech to be able to complete a mission or win an arena fight) and twitch gameplay, it played a lot like a fighting game in terms of the dexterity demands. People like Armored Core because it had a high skill ceiling and the multiplayer PvP matches are incredibly intense. There aren't any mech games that have that level of speed. Hawken was close but not nearly as good.

 

[Tartaros]

I don't know what Armored Core you are thinking of because Armored Core is nothing like any of the games you have listed, especially and including Dynasty Warriors.

The PSX ones were closer to Dynasty Warriors than a PVP game, it was mission based and you destroyed enemy bases, armies and things. You mean the first PSP Armored Core which indeed was more like a fighting game.

 

[Vario]

The PSX ones were closer to Dynasty Warriors than a PVP game, it was mission based and you destroyed enemy bases, armies and things. You mean the first PSP Armored Core which indeed was more like a fighting game.

The first PSX game had PVP support. The second two PSX games had an AI arena mode as well as PVP. All of these games had PVP split screen and link cable support. I remember having long nights as a kid battling my friends in split screen pvp on the first PSX Armored Core. The third PSX game was even called Master of Arena. By using a save game, unlocked parts from Armored Core (1997) and Project Phantasma (1997) could be used in Master of Arena (1999).

These games were really intended more for a Japanese audience and my understanding was there was a competitive scene.

The single player missions did exist, and if you think that makes it the same as Dynasty Warriors then you might as well say Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time was also Dynasty Warriors. Its an absurd argument. Yes, you battle other ACS, MTs, etc. Some of the levels are long and some are short. Some are to go inside a giant fortress and defeat an AC deep within, while others are just to defend a particular location for a certain amount of time. They weren't particularly great missions, though Phantasma had some memorable missions. The missions involving interiors were always cumbersome. Most of the purpose of the missions was to acquire money, unlock store items, and find hidden parts. If you failed the missions enough times you'd unlock Human + mode which gave you some cheat abilities such as firing back weapons while walking.

I'll also cite these contemporary reviewer quotations:

The local multiplayer was positively received, with Radakovic calling it "a sure-fire recipe for intense death matches for the fate of the universe."[5] Adam Douglas from IGN agreed, referring to the multiplayer as "The real meat of the game".[3] Next Generation noted the immense size and great variety of the multiplayer arenas.[21]