Developer Archetype Entertainment, featuring talent from the original Mass Effect team, is crafting Exodus, a new sci-fi RPG aiming to capture the spirit of BioWare's beloved series. While not a direct sequel, the game draws inspiration from its predecessor, promising a rich narrative experience with significant player agency.
Exodus is set approximately 40,000 years in the future, centering on protagonist Jun Aslan, who acts as a bridge between humanity and the genetically engineered Celestials. The narrative thrust involves Jun's quest to save their home planet, Lidon, from a Celestial techno-virus. A recent Gamescom demo offered a glimpse into the game's opening hours, placing players in the role of Jun and their diverse crew as they infiltrate the Khonsu defense platform orbiting Lidon.
The playable demo showcased the game's striking visual design, particularly during an exterior spacewalk sequence with mag boots, where players are treated to deep space vistas and the looming presence of Lidon. The station's interior eschews typical metallic aesthetics for a unique design inspired by livestone, a key substance in Exodus' lore, featuring cavernous curves and hexagonal structural joints reminiscent of the Giant's Causeway.
Jun possesses abilities that tie directly into the game's environmental design. The protagonist can manipulate livestone, allowing for the creation of platforms and walkways where none existed before. Additionally, Jun's "precognition" ability highlights points of interest, such as weak walls or hidden rooms, encouraging light exploration and revealing useful resources or weapon modifications.
The gameplay demonstration at Gamescom was designed to offer a comprehensive look at Exodus's offerings, including combat, exploration, and narrative choices. The mission involved infiltrating Khonsu to liberate a captured member of the Kay species, drawing parallels to Star Wars' Death Star infiltration but with Archetype's own unique twists.
Combat in Exodus is founded on cover-based shooting but expands significantly through a flexible system of skills, abilities, and companion synergy. Players can approach encounters guns-blazing, but opportunities for stealth and experimentation are abundant, supported by skill-tree upgrades that allow players to tailor their playstyle. Jun's primary weapon, the Recycler, can switch between four distinct firing modes, and abilities like "Erupt" can send enemies flying, creating breathing room. Later upgrades, such as "Petrify," allow for temporary incapacitation of enemies or machinery.
Companions play a crucial role in combat, each with unique skillsets and ultimate abilities. Suliman offers stealth support, Elise provides heavy firepower, and Salt offers utility by shrouding enemies in fog. Companions can also engage in "Focus Fire," a cooperative move where players assist them to faster charge their ultimate abilities. All companions are technically with the player at all times and can be switched out at waypoints, offering flexibility in team composition.
Archetype Entertainment emphasizes player agency not just in narrative progression but in moment-to-moment gameplay. The game's design is influenced by the trope of being outnumbered and needing to be resourceful. This philosophy translates into providing players with multiple options for approaching challenges, whether through stealth, direct combat, or a combination of both.
The game's combat system encourages dynamic switching between weapon types, leveraging cover, and utilizing a variety of abilities. The inclusion of a double-tap-to-evade dodge mechanic adds a layer of nimbleness to the action. Furthermore, the Recycler's ability to convert scrap into ammunition on the fly adds an interruptive element, requiring players to adapt during engagements.
Beyond combat, Exodus aims to deliver a robust choice and consequence system. Even minor decisions, such as choosing whether to save a dying soldier, can have ripple effects, potentially leading to future encounters or alliances. Larger choices, like deciding the fate of the captured Kay, can impact relationships with companions.
A significant narrative mechanic involves time dilation, respecting the principles of relativity. Journeys to distant worlds will take years or decades from the perspective of the home planet, Lidon, which serves as the game's hub. This means that upon returning, players will see the tangible consequences of their decisions, affecting companions, characters, and the world itself.
Archetype is also introducing a "Breakpoint" system, which provides hints about potential future outcomes based on key decisions. This system, combined with Jun's prognostication abilities, allows players to better steer events, though the developers acknowledge that unexpected situations will always arise.
With its ambitious blend of deep narrative choices, dynamic combat, and unique world-building, Exodus appears poised to deliver a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs. The game is slated for release on April 7, 2027, for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.