Archetype Entertainment, a studio founded by former BioWare developers, has released a 40-minute gameplay video for their upcoming sci-fi action RPG, Exodus. The footage offers a substantial look at the game, which appears to serve as a spiritual successor to the Mass Effect franchise.
The game casts players as Jun Aslan, the heir to a Traveller dynasty tasked with leading humanity to new homes among the stars following Earth's ecological collapse. The recently showcased mission involves Jun and his team attempting to liberate caretakers of an orbital platform, a sentient frog-like alien species known as the Kay, from a hostile human faction. The universe of Exodus also features intelligent, oversized animals called the Awakened, who coexist with humans. One of the game's companions is an octopus piloting a mech, a nod to fan desires for unique alien companions in Mass Effect.
Throughout the gameplay demonstration, numerous elements strongly evoke the Mass Effect series. Early scenes feature a space vista with a structure prominently resembling a Mass Effect Mass Relay, an iconic element from BioWare's series used for interstellar travel. The combat presentation, including enemy designs, health bars, and the companion UI, also mirrors Mass Effect's mechanics and visual language. Players can issue commands to companions and access a combat wheel for weapon and ability selection. Enemies display health, armor, and shield indicators with the same color-coding used in Mass Effect—red for health, yellow for armor, and blue for shields—with player abilities designed to counter these defenses.
Exodus incorporates a dialogue and decision-making system where player choices impact team disposition and can lead to significant narrative consequences. The demo illustrates dialogue choices that can result in the death of a potential enemy. Near the end of the video, Jun faces a critical decision that affects the fate of an entire species, with one choice aligning with his companion Suliman and his benefactors, and the other not. This choice is presented as crucial for acquiring ship upgrade components, similar to the difficult moral dilemmas common in Mass Effect.
The timing of this gameplay reveal, amidst news surrounding BioWare's ongoing developments, has led to speculation about its deliberate nature. However, the developers at Archetype Entertainment have provided a clear view of their project. The release suggests that the talent and creative vision behind beloved BioWare titles continue to thrive, with Exodus poised to fill a void for fans seeking experiences akin to the Mass Effect games.