Exoborne: A Thrilling Extraction Shooter with Powerful Exo-Rigs
Exoborne, an upcoming extraction shooter, refines the genre's core principles – infiltrate, loot, and escape – by introducing powerful Exo-Rigs that boost strength and mobility. My hands-on experience with 4-5 hours of gameplay revealed a promising title with high potential, though some areas need further development.
The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's identity. Three distinct types are currently available:
- Kodiak: Offers a sprint shield and a powerful ground slam attack.
- Viper: Rewards aggressive play with health regeneration upon kills and a strong melee attack.
- Kestrel: Prioritizes mobility with enhanced jumping and temporary hovering capabilities.
Each Exo-Rig can be customized with unique modules, further enhancing their abilities. While the three available suits provide diverse gameplay, the limited selection feels restrictive, leaving room for future expansion.
The core gameplay loop is satisfying. Weapons have a substantial recoil, melee attacks are impactful, and the grappling hook adds a dynamic element to traversal, surpassing standard movement. Dynamic weather events, including tornadoes and rain, significantly impact mobility, adding a layer of unpredictability. Fire tornadoes offer a risky but rewarding traversal option.
Risk and Reward Mechanics
Risk versus reward is a core design principle. A 20-minute timer triggers a location broadcast, initiating a 10-minute extraction window. Staying longer increases loot potential, which includes ground loot, container loot, enemy drops, and player elimination.
Artifacts, high-value loot boxes requiring keys, add another layer of strategic depth. Their locations are visible to all players, encouraging player interaction and conflict. High-value loot zones, heavily guarded by AI, further incentivize risk-taking.
The game's design fosters teamwork. Downed players can self-revive or be resurrected by teammates, providing a chance for comeback even after elimination. However, this requires coordination and exposes vulnerable players to further attack.
Areas for Improvement
Two key concerns emerged from the preview:
- Squad Dependency: Exoborne strongly favors coordinated squads. While solo and matchmaking options exist, the experience is significantly enhanced with a pre-formed team. This is a common issue in the genre, but is exacerbated by the game's non-free-to-play model.
2. Late-Game Uncertainty: The late-game focus on PvP is currently undefined. While engaging, the infrequent PvP encounters leave the long-term appeal uncertain. Further clarification on late-game content is needed.
Exoborne's PC playtest (February 12-17) will be crucial in addressing these concerns and shaping the final product. The core gameplay is undeniably fun, but its long-term success hinges on addressing the late-game and squad-dependency issues.
