Exoborne: A High-Octane Extraction Shooter with Exo-Suit Action
Exoborne, an upcoming extraction shooter, refines the genre's core tenets – infiltrate, loot, and escape – by introducing powerful Exo-Rigs that boost strength and mobility. My hands-on experience, encompassing roughly four to five hours of gameplay, revealed a title with significant potential, though not without some reservations.
The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's identity. Three distinct suits are currently available: the Kodiak (emphasizing defense and devastating ground slams), the Viper (rewarding aggressive play with health regeneration and a powerful melee attack), and the Kerstrel (prioritizing mobility with enhanced jumping and temporary hovering). Each suit boasts unique modules for further customization. While the limited selection feels restrictive, the developer, Shark Mob, remains tight-lipped about future additions.
Gameplay is satisfying. Weapons possess a weighty feel, melee combat is impactful, and the grappling hook adds a dynamic element to traversal, surpassing the limitations of standard movement. Dynamic weather events, including tornadoes (boosting aerial mobility) and rain (rendering parachutes ineffective), significantly impact gameplay. Fire tornadoes present both an advantage and a lethal risk, adding to the game's post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
Risk and Reward: A Core Mechanic
Risk versus reward permeates Exoborne's design. A 20-minute timer initiates upon entry, culminating in a location broadcast to all players, triggering a 10-minute extraction window. Extracting earlier yields less loot, while delaying increases the potential rewards, including valuable artifacts (requiring keys for access) and high-value loot zones guarded by formidable AI. Player-versus-player (PvP) encounters are inevitable, with the spoils of war belonging to the victor.
Even death doesn't necessarily mean elimination. Self-revives are available before bleeding out, and teammates can resurrect fallen comrades (though this is risky and time-consuming).
Concerns and Future Outlook
Two key concerns emerged from my preview. First, Exoborne strongly favors cooperative play. While solo and public squad options exist, they are less than ideal. This is a common issue in squad-based extraction shooters, especially considering Exoborne's paid model.
Secondly, the late-game remains shrouded in mystery. While PvP encounters were enjoyable, the periods between them felt lengthy, leaving me uncertain about the long-term appeal of PvP alone. Shark Mob's plans for late-game content are currently undisclosed.
Exoborne's PC playtest (February 12-17) will be crucial in assessing its overall polish and addressing these concerns. The game's potential is undeniable, but its success hinges on refining its late-game and addressing the challenges of solo or public-squad gameplay.
