Exoborne: The Extraction Shooter That Falls Flat on Its Face!

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The upcoming game by Tencent, titled Exoborne, might be one of the most ordinary extraction shooter games we’ve seen so far. Due for release this spring on all platforms except Nintendo Switch, it appears to draw heavily from games such as Marauders and Escape from Tarkov. However, it seems to lack significant elements that could set it apart.

In the near future, I find myself in a world devastated by relentless climate change-induced extreme weather events. A sinister corporation called Rebirth has risen from the ashes, ruling with an iron fist. The story of Exoborne is still sketchy at best, but it’s clear that the desolate landscape and dynamic weather systems are more about setting a post-apocalyptic mood than spinning an engaging yarn. Despite this, the gameplay is constructed upon this narrative base, offering some run-of-the-mill multiplayer action with a paint-by-numbers feel to it. It’s fun for a while, but it never manages to break free from its generic mold.

After spending numerous hours on the game Exoborne, I find myself struggling to move past its disconcertingly monotonous nature. Many aspects of the gaming experience seem to be a repetitive collection of cliches prevalent in modern AAA games, such as the gunplay and exploration, the storyline and music, right down to the title itself which feels like a fusion of trendy sci-fi visuals and artificial intelligence jargon. This unoriginal design left me feeling drained and disillusioned by Exoborne well before my time should have run out, making it challenging to anticipate its final release with enthusiasm.

What Exoborne Is Bringing to the Extraction Shooter Banquet

In the world of gold rush style video games, known as extraction shooters, competition is fierce as each game tries to stand out from the crowd with unique features. For instance, Hunt: Showdown offers a distinctive Americana-influenced, dark fantasy setting from the turn of the century, while Escape from Tarkov boasts intricate simulation mechanics and meticulous attention to detail. The debate over which game is superior is ongoing, but given the congested marketplace, originality and innovation are crucial for success.

As a gamer diving into Exoborne, what sets this game apart for me is the array of dynamic weather effects that can dramatically alter my gaming experience. Intriguingly, these weather conditions can play a pivotal role in shaping my gameplay, sometimes steering me away from specific zones, launching me skyward, or muffling my footsteps to catch foes off guard. Whether these environmental perils aid or impede me depends on how swiftly I can adapt, which infuses Exoborne with a thrilling sense of unpredictability.

In Exoborne, players are equipped with a parachute, which they can utilize to glide through storm winds, providing swift and turbulent navigation. The combination of this wind-riding system and a rechargeable grappling hook creates an engaging and gratifying movement experience within the game.

In summary, while Exoborne’s dynamic weather effects are mentioned in its promotional materials, they may not exceed your expectations as the game doesn’t appear to be pioneering in this area. Although a tornado or fog can add excitement to gameplay, the ways players interact with these elements seem relatively superficial. For instance, a tornado might toss you into the air, and fog could hinder visibility, but these effects don’t significantly alter gameplay compared to similar weather conditions in other open-world games like Breath of the Wild. Unfortunately, during this preview build, the influence of adverse weather was often minor or temporary, which was somewhat underwhelming given its prominence in Exoborne’s marketing.

Exoborne Nails Its Genre Fundamentals, but That May Not Be Enough

In the game “Exoborne”, the gameplay style is typical for the extract-and-shoot genre. Players drop into the vast map of Colton County, complete tasks, gather as many resources as possible, and then exit. You can choose to play “Exoborne” alone or with a team of up to two others. However, during your mission, you’ll encounter both automated enemies and other player-controlled teams, all seeking your valuable loot. Any items you carry into a game will be lost upon defeat, so building a loadout involves assessing risk versus reward. This balancing act is a significant part of the “Exoborne” gaming experience.

In the game Exoborne, the PvPvE structure is based on zones with low, medium, and high risk levels. As you might expect, high-risk areas are more perilous but offer better quality loot. If you don’t get to a loot hotspot first, you can let another player do the hard work, defeat them, and grab the loot they’ve gathered. This encourages players to continuously engage in conflict. This tried-and-tested gameplay model is found in many other successful extraction shooters as well, and it can be quite enjoyable, at least for a while.

The true test for Exoborne lies in its ability to refine and strengthen the link between loot acquisition and progression. Currently, acquiring loot and in-game resources provides temporary satisfaction as crafting diverse character builds is somewhat lacking, and overall, the game feels quite uninteresting. Although you can acquire new Exosuits with distinct stats and abilities, these mainly consist of special moves such as an area-of-effect ground slam or a crowd-control force burst. These abilities offer limited experimentation opportunities and do not significantly influence gameplay in unexpected ways during regular play.

The narrative here is consistent with guns: acquiring new ones and enhancing existing ones can be beneficial, but they don’t significantly alter the gameplay experience. In the long run, obtaining loot fails to deliver a sense of excitement after the initial few games, as it doesn’t yield fascinating rewards; subsequent playthroughs become monotonous rather swiftly.

Final Thoughts

In summary, Exoborne may not appeal to many due to its lack of excitement, particularly if you’re not already a fan of the extraction shooter genre or are looking for something fresh. If you’re an avid player in this genre, it might be wiser to hold off on Exoborne, especially since it’s slated as a premium release, and you might prefer updates for your existing favorites instead.

If you’re yearning for a fresh gaming experience, Exoborne might offer some straightforward action, but don’t expect anything revolutionary at this point. Despite its lack of complexity or frustration, I found it somewhat dull and derivative. I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed by its unoriginal visual design, and unfortunately, the gameplay and early progression systems didn’t capture my attention enough to make me excited about it. Regrettably, it’s quite ordinary, offering little to get enthusiastic about.

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2025-02-18 08:24