Exodus Game Review
It seems like the developers at Archetype Entertainment either have the devil’s own timing or they’ve decided to take advantage of the news that BioWare is no more. Earlier this week the studio, founded by ex‑BioWare devs, released a 40‑minute gameplay video of Exodus, a third‑person sci‑fi action shooter, and all I can say is damn. If you’re hurt by the fact that Mass Effect 5 has been dumpstered because of corporate malfeasance, you’re gonna want to take a look at this.
In Exodus you play as Jun Aslan, heir of a Traveller dynasty that shepherded humanity through the galaxy after Earth’s ecological collapse. The demo shows a mission where Jun and his team liberate an orbital platform’s caretakers — a sentient frog species called the Kay — from an evil human faction. The galaxy also hosts oversized sentient animals known as the Awakened, who live and work alongside humans, and one companion is an octopus piloting a mech, giving “You all wanted a Hanar companion in Mass Effect so here you go” vibes.
The 40 minutes of gameplay ooze with touches that evoke Mass Effect. The opening shows a massive mass relay looming in front of the orbital platform you’re meant to liberate — about as subtle as a brick to the face.
Other less‑than‑subtle references include the combat presentation, enemy health bars, and companion UI. You can issue commands to companions or swap Jun’s weapons via a familiar combat wheel. Enemies show health bars in Mass Effect’s color scheme — red for health, yellow for armor, blue for shields — and you have abilities to deal with each protection type. It feels like the UI has evolved into its most convenient form, like wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket.
©Archetype Games
Throughout the mission Jun can make decisions that affect his team’s disposition. The demo shows both sides of a dialogue choice, with one ending in a bullet to the head for a potential enemy. Later Jun faces a major choice that determines the fate of an entire species; one option pleases companion Suliman and his benefactors, the other does not. Securing Suliman’s help is useful for ship upgrades, but as in Mass Effect, outcomes share some common elements regardless of the choice.
Whether planned or not, it’s good the devs shared this now. Instead of spending on billboards or change.org petitions, supporting the new projects from ex‑BioWare developers is a better use of our energy. The people who made the games we loved are still creating things that feel familiar, even though the studio no longer exists.
