Exoborne: Extraction FPS Straddles New and Familiar Ground
Sharkmob’s Exoborne aims to shake up the extraction shooter genre with its combination of fast-paced action, powerful exosuits, and a dystopian setting ravaged by extreme weather events. While the game showcases potential, it ultimately falls short of truly revolutionizing the formula.
The core gameplay loop feels familiar. Players drop into a large, visually-striking map, scavenge for loot, complete objectives, and attempt to extract with their hard-won treasures. The dynamic weather system, however, adds a layer of unpredictability, forcing players to adapt their strategies and equipment choices to survive flash floods, sandstorms, or even sudden, intense heat waves. This environmental threat creates tense situations and adds a rewarding element of tactical decision-making.
The exosuits, however, fail to live up to their potential. While they offer a variety of abilities and passive bonuses, these don’t seem to dramatically alter the fundamental flow of combat. The emphasis remains heavily on gunplay, leading to encounters that lack distinct strategic depth offered by other suit-based games in the genre.
The world itself feels strangely barren. Despite the promising premise of a post-apocalyptic society, points of interest lack distinctiveness, and the overall exploration experience feels repetitive. The narrative, though hinted at through environmental details and conversations, remains underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and context.
Loot feels abundant, but rarely feels meaningfully impactful. The lack of a strong emphasis on crafting or customization systems further compounds this issue. Upgrading weapons and gear feels mostly cosmetic, rather than strategically game-changing.
The AI enemies, while present, rarely pose a significant threat. Human opponents offer the strongest challenge, but these are usually few and far between.
Despite these shortcomings, Exoborne shows glimpses of promise. The dynamic weather system is a stand-out feature, and the core gunplay is solid.
With some significant improvements to enemy AI, a more compelling narrative, and a deeper loot system that fosters strategic decisions and meaningful player progression, Exoborne has the potential to carve out its own niche in the competitive extraction shooter market.