Exoborne Overview [SGF] — Storm-Filled Shot — GAMINGTREND

Even though the world of FPS is full of good examples, the pull shooter is still relatively new. There are multiple experiences, if you're not Escape from Tarkov or Gray Zone Warfare, people don't really know you. This means there's room for the genre to grow, and Exoborne is looking to bring something unique to the table. After watching a preview of the game, I'm intrigued by what developer Sharkmob AB has to offer.

The map presented to us takes place in Colton County, in a region of the southern United States decimated by apocalyptic storms. There is a huge chasm in the middle, showing how torn up the area is. This isn't the only map, as smaller and higher engagement maps will be part of Exoborne. I like the idea because battle royales like Call of Duty: Warzone have them and they tend to add a lot to the experience.

Watching the match in action surprised me at first. My brain had always thought it was a first-person shooter, but it's more of a third-person point of view. That said, you switch to first person every time you aim, like the old Rainbow Six Vegas games. Given the intense moments, environmental hazards, and emphasis on survival, I like the choice of having a freer view of my surroundings.

Speaking of environmental hazards, this place is subject to torrential weather conditions. I say this because during our gameplay demo, one team jumped out of their plane and headed straight into three nearby tornadoes. It's important to note that this isn't always negative and to get creative when playing Exoborne. There will also be different types of weather conditions, such as lightning and rain.

Your Operator's main goals are to prepare by preparing, which involves choosing your weapons, choosing your exo-rig class and adding add-on accessories, as well as setting your personal missions for the race. Choosing the right gear is important, as heavy gear could help you in the middle of a tornado, or gear with a plasma shield could help you take on a pack of enemies. Once you're geared up, it's important to come in and read your surroundings, both to locate missions and to scavenge additional gear and resources. Acquiring resources will usually lead you to perform activities on the map, which will involve firefights. Be careful though, as any engagement can attract the wrong attention: that of other players.

When fighting with other players, it's best to be able to adapt. Vehicles still exist in this world and are a great way to escape quickly, while still making noise. If you're stuck, you can also take advantage of the weather. The demo showed a team heading straight into a tornado, then abandoning the vehicle at the top, only to jump to safety via their parachutes. It's just cool.

I am happy to see through our presentation that Sharkmob AB is trying to make this genre more accessible. Things like mission structure are important, and while the team won't remove the loss factor from death, your long-term risk will be much lower. After all, even if you lose a few weapons or accessories, your exo-rig will still be intact, and a quick run or two to some bandit camps will help you recover some equipment.

Being able to run a good race depends on the equipment you work with. There's no “+5 chance” RPG mechanic here; whatever you bring with you is what you have. For example, if you want to utilize the game's incredible verticality, you might want to bring a grappling hook (which is similar in design to Just Cause). This is a high risk, high reward system, so plan carefully for possible losses if something goes wrong and you can't extract. However, I appreciate being able to instantly equip what I find, so that the best version of myself is present as I explore.

One thing Exoborne attempts to utilize is the aforementioned verticality. The glider is a good example, but using storms to reach higher vantage points is not only possible, but also a viable tactic. There are also plenty of ways to climb, like an oil rig that the weather ripped out of the sea and dropped onto dry land, or the huge cables that stretch the map. The latter is for a story reason, and I'm sure we'll figure it out closer to or at launch.

The launch is something we're not entirely clear on yet. The team is working hard and should be there to talk more about Exoborne at GamesCom, but there are a few things we're sure of. This is a premium game, but it will have several maps to interact with when it releases. I've been excited ever since I watched the original trailer, and seeing it in action has me ready to dive into it. Head to the battlefield – or more likely, spinning around in a jeep inside a tornado, screaming the whole time. You can now wish Exoborne on Steam.

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