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Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
The story unfolds on a distant, fictional planet named Rubicon 3, where a mysterious substance called Coral has been discovered. Coral can be utilized as an energy source, but it also triggered a catastrophic event known as the Fires of Ibis, which engulfed the planet and its surrounding star system in flames. Nevertheless, Coral continues to attract various corporations and resistance factions, all vying for control over it. The player takes on the role of an independent mercenary, piloting a custom-assembled Armored Core (AC) and plunging into various battlefields and missions, gradually drawing closer to the heart of the incident's secrets.
The player assumes the role of Augmented Human C4-621, who becomes an independent mercenary to earn a large sum of money by carrying out missions for "Handler Walter." After successfully smuggling themself onto the planet Rubicon 3, they acquire the license of another deceased mercenary, along with their callsign: "Raven."
'Handler' Walter
A mysterious man who sends C4-621 to Rubicon for a specific purpose. He also serves as the operator during 621's combat operations. His words often reveal a sense of care and protectiveness towards 621. When Vesper II Snail mocks 621 as a "hound" or Sulla provokes 621, Walter steps in to stop them.
He is the boss of the Chapter 5 mission, "Destroy the Xylem." Handler Walter, who frequently provides assistance to the protagonist 621 throughout the game, appears before the player in the finale of the Liberator of Rubicon route, piloting this "IB-C03: HAL 826." It is equipped with a generator powered primarily by Coral and armed with Coral weaponry. In the game, his attacks are incredibly fierce, and upon successfully defeating him, you can use his parts. This is the final manned successor to the Ibis series, piloted by a re-educated Walter. Its entire frame is equipped with R&D-produced Coral weapons, making it extremely powerful! However, it has no second phase and no defensive buffs, so if you can push it into a staggered state, it can be defeated quickly.
The IB-C03: HAL 826 / Handler Walter has been brought to life, pursuing excellence in sculpting, coloring, and articulation.
The main body stands at approximately 150mm tall and is primarily made of PVC and ABS. Accessories include interchangeable left and right hand parts, missiles, a shield, a blade, an expanded blade, a rifle, and parts for the rifle's expanded mode. The majority of the frame features a metallic red as its main color scheme. In addition to the wide range of motion characteristic of the ROBOT SPIRITS line, some joints also utilize die-cast parts.
My love for Armored Core is second to none!
In terms of specifications, this is practically on the level of a Metal Robot Spirits release! The entire body is fully painted, with metallic red as the primary color. Most of the joints are metal, the weaponry is as extensive as in the game, and it's also interchangeable with other ACs in the same series, increasing playability! As for the appearance, I really have no complaints!
However, the biggest issue is its head! The head is assembled from left and right halves. But this parts separation leaves a long seam line on the right side of its "mouth," while its right cheek is perfectly smooth... As the ultimate toy perfectionist, I'll need to scribe a panel line on its right "mouth" area later to give both sides of the head a balanced look! Another problem is the weapon-holding hand part! The fingers grip the weapon well, but the thumb is extremely thin and feels like it could easily break. And since the rifle has some weight to it, there's a chance of "drooping" when held with one hand! Additionally, it's a shame that there are relatively few expressive optional hand parts!
Regardless, I will definitely be picking up the next release, the Alba Steel Haze Ortus! And there's reason to believe it might be the last one in the series...
D.M.S. Play Scoring
Look (40) 33
Articulation and Poseability (20) 15.5
Accessories and Gimmicks (20) 15
Quality Control (QC) (10) 6.5
Price (10) 5
Total Score: 75