After a year of waiting, the gameplay trailer for Archetype Entertainment’sExodushas finally been released. Developed by a team of former BioWare employees, the trailer gives a strong sense of familiarity to anyone who played theMass Effectseries. With a third-person viewpoint, a sleek look, and a mix of shooting and melee combat with alien enemies, there’s a lot that’s in common withMass Effect, even if some of it is more reminiscent ofAndromedathan of the original trilogy. However,Exoduswill bring new elements to the table.
The story ofExodusfocuses on humanity’s fight for survival in a dangerous alien galaxy and their quest for lost technology to face a powerful enemy. The trailer shows exciting action scenes, including intense gun battles and a surprising fight with a heavily armored grizzly bear, which addsa boss-level twistcompared to theMass Effectseries.Exoduswill clearly be competition forMass Effect, but whether it can find its place in the crowded sci-fi RPG market remains to be seen.
Exodus Gameplay Trailer Reveals A New Look At The Game
Exodus Looks Great In Its Gameplay Reveal
Archetype Entertainment has revealed the gameplay of its new sci-fi RPG,Exodus, in a recently released trailer. The footage shows third-person battles featuring alien enemies and even a surprising confrontation with a heavily armored grizzly bear. There are somany similarities to theMass Effectseriesthat it looks like a sequel toMass Effect Andromeda.This is seen in the character designs, movement mechanics, and overall style. However, while the inspiration is there, the game clearly goes its own way.
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Players will take on the role ofJuno, a customizable characterwho can use a grappling hook to navigate different environments, adding an interesting twist to exploration and combat. The trailer suggests that the game’s story will be shaped by player choices, reflecting the developers' signature approach, and will impact the future of humanity over many years.
The narrative revolves around humanity’s fight for survival ina dangerous alien galaxy after leaving a dying Earth. This backdrop sets the stage for a quest to recover lost technology necessary to fight against the powerful Celestials. Celestials seem to be mysterious beings threatening human existence. The game also seems to show deep relationships with companions that could lead to romance. However, becauseExodusis still not close to being finished, a lot may change throughout development.
Why Exodus Looks So Much Like Mass Effect
Exodus Looks Like A Sequel To Andromeda
Exodusand theMass Effecttrilogy look very similar, and that’s on purpose. The team at Archetype Entertainment includes many former BioWare staff members, like Creative Director James Ohlen, whoplayed a key role in creating gamessuch asBaldur’s Gate,Knights of the Old Republic, andMass Effect: Andromeda. This connection explains the many similarities in the gameplay shown in the trailer.
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The game uses a third-person view, similar toMass Effect, which sets the right mood. The main character, Juno, moves around similarly to Ryder inAndromeda. The combat combines both shooting and melee fighting against alien enemies, similar toMass Effect, even atone point using what looks like an Omni-Blade.
James Ohlen is joined by two other Bioware veterans: Drew Karpyshyn, the Lead writer forMass Effect 1and2,and developer Chad Robertson.
Visually, the game also resemblesMass Effect, featuring futuristic buildings and dark environments witha similar color scheme and style. The dialogue feels comparable, too, which suggests that the story focuses on good writing and relationships — traits also found in Ohlen’s earlier works.
Additionally, the main storyline about humanity escaping adying planet and facing powerful alien forcesin a new galaxy mirrors the central plot of theMass Effectseries. WhileExodusaims to create its own unique identity, the trailer hints that it feels like a spiritual successor created by developers who understand what makes a great space opera RPG.
Will Exodus Be Able To Stand Out From Mass Effect?
Who Wins The Fight?
The similarity between theExodustrailer andMass Effectis exciting in some regards, but it could bebad for a game trying to carve out its own identity. While the involvement of former BioWare developers is a perfectly good reason for the game to resemble those past works, there are several ways in which it ultimately could set itself apart.
For example, the introduction ofa grappling hook for movementallows for more dynamic and acrobatic gameplay, which is different from the more straightforward movement inMass Effectand the jet pack spamming ofAndromeda. Additionally, the mechanics of time dilation could change the story significantly. This feature might make players think deeply about their choices and their long-term impacts on the game world, potentially creating a different type of narrative experience thatMass Effectdoesn’t offer.
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The game’s villains, theCelestials, are described as having earthly origins, which hints at interesting stories about humanity’s evolution and its complicated relationship with its history. This might make the story feel less like a typical alien invasion plot and more about dealing with humanity’s past actions over thousands of years. If developers make it feel different, they can avoid making the audience feel likethey’re replayingMass Effect. At any rate, if the game takes heed ofwhat to do differently fromAndromeda, it could provide a much better experience than the lastMass Effectouting.
Ultimately, whetherExodussucceeds depends onhow well it combines these unique features.Exodusis different enough that it offers a brand-new experience. If the developers can highlight the new mechanics and story elements,Exoduscould stand out as a noteworthy sci-fi RPG instead of just being seen as a “Mass Effectclone.” Archetype Entertainment has plenty of time in the pre-alpha stage to refine these ideas and deliver something new and fresh.
