Exoborne: A High-Octane Extraction Shooter with Exo-Suit Action
Exoborne, an upcoming extraction shooter, refines the genre's core tenets – get in, grab the loot, and escape – by introducing powerful Exo-Rigs that boost strength and mobility. My hands-on experience with 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. Currently, three distinct rigs are 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 rig boasts unique modules for further customization. While the three rigs offer diverse playstyles, the limited selection feels restrictive, leaving room for future expansion.
The shooting mechanics are satisfying. Weapons possess a weighty feel, melee attacks pack a punch, and the grappling hook adds exciting traversal options, surpassing the limitations of standard movement. Dynamic weather events, including tornadoes (boosting aerial mobility) and heavy rain (rendering parachutes ineffective), add unpredictable challenges. The inclusion of fire tornadoes presents both a strategic advantage and a deadly risk.
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. Leaving earlier yields less loot, while staying longer increases rewards but also risk. Loot is scattered throughout the environment, with the most valuable prizes being other players' possessions and artifacts. Artifacts, essentially loot boxes containing high-value items, require keys and successful extraction for claim. Heavily guarded high-value areas provide the best loot but demand significant risk.
Even when downed, players aren't immediately eliminated. Self-revives are available unless completely bled out; otherwise, teammates can revive fallen comrades, though this is time-consuming and vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Concerns and Future Outlook
My experience revealed two primary concerns. Firstly, Exoborne strongly favors cooperative play with a coordinated team. While solo play and random squads are possible, the experience suffers without a dedicated group. This is a common challenge for squad-based tactical games, particularly those that aren't free-to-play.
Secondly, the late-game remains unclear. While PvP encounters were enjoyable, the infrequent occurrences weren't sufficient to drive repeated play solely for PvP. The developers' focus on late-game PvP needs further definition to ensure long-term engagement.
Exoborne's PC playtest (February 12-17) will offer a further opportunity to assess its overall appeal and address these concerns. The core gameplay loop is compelling, but the long-term viability hinges on addressing these issues and expanding content.
