Archetype's upcoming space-faring RPG, Exodus, is slated for release on April 7, 2027, and has unveiled new details including a trailer showcasing a unique companion character: a super-intelligent octopus sniper named Salt, who operates within a mech.
Salt's distinctive human-octopod hybrid mech and her amoral personality have been highlighted as interesting elements, setting her apart from potentially generic companion archetypes. Another companion, Emrys, a Celestial being with a plural consciousness, also promises complex squad dynamics. However, these intriguing additions reportedly emphasize what some critics consider Exodus's primary weakness: the main character, Jun Aslan.
Jun is described as a conventional "chosen one" protagonist with Paragon/Renegade-style moral choices and a backstory involving parental issues. The narrative appears to follow Jun's journey from scavenger to savior of humankind, tasked with activating ancient artifacts to combat an interstellar disease. A significant criticism centers on Jun's perceived lack of distinctiveness, with the character presented as a conventionally attractive, generic hero whose appearance is likened to idealized social media personas.
Unlike the extensive character customization offered in series like Mass Effect, Exodus reportedly features a more curated approach to character design, limiting player agency in shaping the protagonist's appearance. This has led to comparisons with Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, whose varied player-created incarnations were a hallmark of the series. The default appearances of both male and female Shepard are noted for their own unique, albeit sometimes criticized, characteristics, which ultimately allowed for a wider range of player interpretation than Jun Aslan appears to permit. The visual design of Jun, particularly the default male version, has been unfavorably compared to the more customizable and often less conventionally appealing protagonists found in other RPGs, raising concerns about player engagement with a character described as a "boring hero."