Exoborne: A High-Octane Extraction Shooter Preview
Exoborne, an upcoming extraction shooter, refines the genre's core tenets – infiltrate, loot, extract – by introducing powerful Exo-Rigs, dynamic weather effects, and grappling hooks. A recent preview session provided a compelling 4-5 hour experience, hinting at significant potential within the competitive extraction shooter market.
The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's identity. Three distinct rigs are currently available: the Kodiak (focused on defense and devastating ground slams), the Viper (emphasizing aggressive combat with health regeneration and a powerful melee attack), and the Kerstrel (prioritizing mobility with enhanced jumping and temporary hovering). Each rig can be customized with unique modules, further enhancing their specialized abilities. While the limited selection of three rigs feels restrictive, developer Shark Mob remains tight-lipped about future additions.
Gunplay is satisfyingly weighty, melee attacks pack a punch, and the grappling hook adds a dynamic layer to traversal, surpassing the limitations of standard movement. Unpredictable weather events – including tornadoes offering aerial mobility boosts and rain rendering parachutes ineffective – inject thrilling unpredictability. The inclusion of fire tornadoes adds another layer of risk and reward to navigation.
Risk and Reward: A Core Mechanic
Risk versus reward permeates Exoborne's design. A 20-minute timer triggers a location broadcast to all players, initiating a 10-minute extraction window. Early extraction offers less loot, while extended stays yield greater rewards, including valuable items from fallen enemies and other players.
Artifacts, high-value loot boxes requiring keys, represent significant rewards but attract competition. Heavily guarded high-value loot zones further incentivize risk-taking. This creates tense gameplay and fosters strong squad communication. Even after being downed, players aren't immediately eliminated, offering self-revives and teammate resurrection opportunities, although these are time-sensitive and vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Concerns and Future Outlook
Two key concerns emerged from the preview. Exoborne strongly favors coordinated squads, potentially alienating solo players or those lacking established groups. This is exacerbated by the game's non-free-to-play model. Secondly, the late-game remains undefined, with PVP interaction currently punctuated by periods of inactivity. The developer's focus on PVP in the late game requires further clarification to ensure sustained engagement.
Exoborne's PC playtest (February 12-17) will be crucial in assessing these aspects and shaping the final product.
