Exoborne Is an Extraction Shooter With a Twist(er)

Get in, secure the loot, and escape. These are the core tenets of any extraction shooter, and the eagerly anticipated Exoborne adheres to this formula while amplifying the excitement with super-powered Exo-Rigs, dynamic weather effects, and the beloved grappling hooks. After spending around 4-5 hours at a recent preview event, I left with a sense of satisfaction rather than a craving for "one more drop." However, I believe Exoborne has the potential to make a significant impact in the extraction shooter genre.

Let's delve into the Exo-Rigs, which are central to what sets Exoborne apart. Currently, there are three types of Exo-Rigs available: the Kodiak, which provides a shield during sprinting and enables a devastating ground slam from above; the Viper, which boosts health regeneration upon eliminating enemies and features a potent melee attack; and the Kestrel, which prioritizes mobility with enhanced jumping and hovering capabilities. Each Exo-Rig can be further customized with unique modules, enhancing their specific abilities and allowing for varied playstyles.

Personally, I relished the thrill of swinging in like Spider-Man with the grappling hook and executing the Kodiak's powerful ground slam, obliterating everything nearby. While the other suits were equally engaging to experiment with, the current limitation to just three suits suggests room for expansion. Unfortunately, developer Shark Mob couldn't provide details on future Exo-Rigs at this time.

When it comes to the shooting mechanics, Exoborne delivers a satisfying experience. Guns have a weighty feel with a solid kick, melee attacks pack a punch, and using the grappling hook to glide across the map adds a thrilling dimension to navigation. Weather events play a crucial role, either enhancing or impeding mobility. Tornados can boost your aerial capabilities, while heavy rainfall renders parachutes nearly useless. The post-apocalyptic setting is further enhanced with fire tornadoes, which offer mobility benefits but pose a lethal risk if you get too close.

Risk vs. Reward

Risk vs. reward is the core principle driving Exoborne's design. Upon entering the game, a 20-minute timer begins, and once it hits zero, your location is revealed to all players. You then have 10 minutes to extract or face immediate termination. You can opt to extract at any time before the timer runs out, but staying longer increases your potential loot haul. Loot is scattered throughout the environment, in containers, and on defeated AI enemies, but the most valuable items come from other human players, allowing you to claim their gear and accumulated loot.

Beyond standard loot, artifacts represent the game's biggest prizes. These are essentially high-value loot boxes that require both the artifact itself and an artifact key to unlock. Artifact locations are visible to all players, often leading to intense confrontations. Additionally, high-value loot areas are guarded by formidable AI mobs, challenging players to risk it all for the best rewards.

This dynamic creates a tense atmosphere and encourages strong communication within your squad. Even if you're downed, you're not necessarily out of the fight. Self-revives allow you to get back up before bleeding out, and if you do bleed out, a surviving teammate can still revive you, provided they can reach your body in time. While this process is time-consuming and leaves you vulnerable to enemy attacks, it's a valuable lifeline that keeps you in the game.

My demo experience highlighted two major concerns with Exoborne. Firstly, it seems tailored for players with a dedicated group of friends. While solo play and matchmaking with strangers are options, they're less optimal. This is a common challenge in squad-based tactical extraction shooters, and it's compounded by Exoborne not being free-to-play, which might deter casual fans without a ready-made squad.

Secondly, the late-game experience remains unclear. Game Director Petter Mannefelt mentioned that late-game dynamics would revolve around PVP and player comparisons, but specifics were not disclosed. While the PVP encounters I experienced were enjoyable, the intervals between them were too long to make me eager to return solely for PVP.

As Exoborne gears up for its playtest from February 12 to the 17th on PC, we'll see how it continues to evolve and address these concerns.