Hands-On Preview: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn

by

The closed beta is now available, giving players a first look at this new action-adventure RPG. The game is inspired by Mass Effect, but is set in the universe of The Expanse.

I spent a little time playing the game, trying out different characters and getting through the beginning. I experienced some of the combat, story, and conversations. Even if you haven’t read or watched The Expanse before, it’s easy to understand what’s happening, which is a great feature.

The closed beta was fairly brief, lasting about an hour. While that wasn’t enough time to form a solid opinion about the game, it did give a glimpse of both its strengths and weaknesses. I’ll share my thoughts below, but remember that the game could still change before it officially launches.

What is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn?

This action RPG feels a lot like Mass Effect. You start by picking a class, but it’s more similar to Elden Ring – you’ll get some initial gear and skills to help you learn the ropes. Your class choice also determines whether you’re seen as an Earther or a Belter, which affects how people react to you throughout the game.

After you make your selection, you’ll find yourself caught up in the world of The Expanse, fleeing from a dangerous group known as Protogen. Your goal is to escape the Pinkwater 4 space station and uncover the truth behind their pursuit.

Walking through the station lets you observe everyday life and meet the people who inhabit it. Soon, you’ll be in the thick of battle, using your skills and taking cover to defeat enemies.

The game lets you slow down time and direct your companions to focus on specific enemies, using their unique skills. They can also interact with the world around them, and it looks like explosions play a big role! Later in the game, you’ll be able to unleash even more powerful, explosive attacks with the help of another character.

A Tense but Stunning World

I didn’t get a ton of time with Osiris Reborn, but one thing really stuck with me: the developers clearly put a lot of effort into making the game engaging. It looks fantastic, with a lot of detail that really creates the right atmosphere, but honestly, the best part was the feeling of actually walking in space – it was incredible!

The game is visually stunning, even when set against the emptiness of space, and really makes you feel insignificant compared to the vastness of the universe. There’s a particularly intense moment where you’re thrown into the void – a frightening prospect – but you narrowly manage to survive.

I’m not sure how realistic the space elements are, but the game was incredibly immersive. Even though you’re protected at the very beginning and can’t actually die, there’s still a strong sense of dread, even during the opening rescue sequence.

The game benefited from the writers’ involvement, and the result was a surprisingly cinematic experience – something many modern games lack. I’m really hoping to see more moments like this throughout the game, as it was genuinely enjoyable.

Improved Combat Mechanically and Visually

The game is visually stunning, and the combat is a major highlight. Explosions are incredibly realistic, and even less realistic abilities are still enjoyable to use. I especially loved the Gremlin Drone Swarm – watching the drones slowly take down enemies always made me smile.

Okay, so it definitely feels like Mass Effect, which I love, but it’s also better in some ways! For one thing, you can actually target enemies even when they’re hiding behind cover – that’s a huge improvement. And remember what I mentioned before? Your squadmates aren’t just standing around; they can mess with the environment, like blowing things up or changing the whole battlefield, which is awesome.

The game is visually impressive and rich with detail, effectively creating the intended atmosphere. However, the real highlight is the experience of spacewalking.

While the full game will likely offer even more depth, the combat in this version was noticeably more exciting and immersive than other games of its kind. It felt like a modern take on classic gameplay, with satisfying details like impactful visuals and screen shake during explosive attacks. Everything seems to be coming together really well.

Battles were challenging, but different from most games of this type. Instead of just having more health and dealing more damage, tougher enemies try to make you constantly move between cover. Staying put won’t work – you need to actively attack and eliminate enemies to progress.

Some Issues with Inspiration

I found the voice acting for the main character, who’s an Earth-based hacker, a little underwhelming, though it’s a minor point. It didn’t quite feel right, and I’ll try to explain why. The game draws heavily from Mass Effect, almost aiming for a Shepard-like player character.

It’s good to aim for that kind of delivery, but it ended up making the voice acting feel a bit flat. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but it was strange that the actor didn’t convey much emotion, even during angry scenes. The lines all sounded similar, which impacted the writing and how people reacted to it – jokes didn’t land as well, and emotional moments felt off.

The user interface was the only other thing I noticed. It works fine and gets the job done, but it didn’t quite feel right to me. It wasn’t unattractive, just a bit too simple considering the game’s sci-fi theme. That could be adjusted, but I appreciated how easy it was to use.

Despite a few issues, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn looks like a promising game that’s trying to revive a classic style of gameplay. I had fun with it and plan to continue playing, though I think a few tweaks could make it truly stand out.

Read More

2026-04-22 17:10