Exodus developer explains how it differs from Mass Effect

movement has been compared to mass effect From the moment it was revealed, and to be fair, it was probably inevitable. Archetype Entertainment is, after all, made up of several former BioWare developers. movement A choice-driven sci-fi RPG where you can explore companions, alien worlds, and a vast universe. mass effect It's still one of the easiest benchmarks for that kind of game. Rather, comparison is a compliment. Especially considering how much of a mark BioWare's sci-fi RPG franchise has left on the genre.

At a recent Future Games Show showcase briefing with Archetype Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast, I asked: movement This is a team that welcomes such comparisons and wants players to see the games for themselves. After getting responses from each team member there, it became irrefutably clear that Archetype would not run on: mass effectBut it also doesn't want movement It can be seen as a spiritual copy. Between time expansion, dynasty building, leadership, Awakened, Celestials and a much greater focus on what happens after players leave home. movement It seems to be aiming for a completely different SF RPG identity.

Exodus is using the Mass Effect comparison as a starting point.

mass effect is one of those games that will be evaluated in some way when it comes to sci-fi RPGs. Especially when it emphasizes companionship, player choice, alien civilizations, and stories set in the furthest reaches of space. BioWare's trilogy helped set the standard for what modern space travel RPGs should look like. mass effect That's rarely a bad thing. In fact, for most RPG developers, it's probably an honor. Archetype general manager Chad Robertson seems to think so. movement It is built on the following ideas: mass effect Never seen:

First of all, we love the comparison to Mass Effect. It's an amazing sci-fi franchise and some of us have had the pleasure of working on it. In terms of trying to give us a unique Exodus, what I want to focus on is the overall experience that builds on some elements that are not part of that franchise. In particular, we did things like time expansion to the story to make it stand out and feel unique and make the decisions in the game feel much more weighty. And we've always had the goal of delivering world-class, high-quality modern gameplay and taking it to the next level where Mass Effect left us as great as ever and really taking the next step in all areas.

if movement In fact, time expansion can make player choices feel more important, which already provides one major way to differentiate. mass effect Of course, I made a lot of big decisions. movement We are working with the idea that some choices may not be fully implemented until years or even decades later when we are able to return to our home country. Robertson also mentioned modern gameplay, which is another area. movement There's a real opportunity. as much as i love mass effectI never liked it because of the combat. It was okay at the time, and it definitely got better as the series progressed, but the characters, story, and atmosphere were always the real reasons I wanted to stay in that world.

But that's where the comparison becomes much more difficult. movement. mass effect I became interested in the characters, but I also became interested in the world. It made every new location feel like it was part of something much bigger, and every conversation seemed to add much more depth to the galaxy BioWare had built. This is a difficult thing for a new sci-fi RPG to succeed at, especially one that will be compared to: mass effect Whether you want it or not. According to narrative lead Drew Karpyshyn: mass effectArchetype seems to believe movement Ready for the challenge:

When people talk about Mass Effect, what impressed me while I was working on it was the depth of the universe, and I think that's what we took to a whole other level. There are so many beings in our universe between the Celestials and the Awakened. Can we say changeling? I think I just did that. sorry. I don't know But there's so much we've built, so much to explore, and the universe is so vast. That's what I like. It's the depth of science fiction we put in there, the variety of pieces and how they work together. I think that's what people will recognize, and it's something that's been made with the care and attention and love of true fans of the genre.

It'll definitely be interesting to see just how deep the world of Archetype actually gets once players get their hands on it. Time expansion already feels like the game's biggest appeal. movement It's a great way to have more influence than usual on missions and choices. But that idea alone doesn't convey much. If the world around you feels empty, all the years passing in the background won't mean much. movement You need places worth returning to, factions worth learning about, companions worth keeping close to, and enough history behind the universe to make players feel like they've stepped into a world that could actually exist in reality.

But about that movementSimilarities to ' mass effectYou don't have to stray as far as possible from BioWare's acclaimed trilogy to prove yourself. There's nothing wrong with Archetype building a sci-fi RPG with companions, choices, strange worlds, and big questions about humanity's place in the universe. mass effect 3 The genre emerged over a decade ago and has had plenty of room to grow since then. If you give me anything movement An opportunity to take something familiar and push it forward with an idea that BioWare hasn't really had the opportunity to explore in the same way. Game director Chris King compared this to the differences between two other sci-fi titans.

Chad's favorite science fiction franchise is Star Wars, and my favorite franchise is Star Trek. The reason I brought that up is because although both have spaceships and aliens, there are many differences between them. And that's kind of how I think about Exodus as well. You might probably say at first glance, “Oh, companions and choices, I see similarities in all of these things.” But I think the kinds of stories we're trying to tell and some of the things we're experimenting with are quite different from what we've done in the past. So the idea of building a dynasty and carrying out these missions and being separate from your people, the theme of what it means to be a leader, how you approach that, and how people will perceive that. Time dilation. These are the kinds of things we haven't been able to explore in the past that we're very excited about, and once we started talking about what we wanted to do here, they were figuring out things we hadn't done before. So, there are many things that have similar ingredients but give a slightly different feeling.

Indeed, King's comparison is correct. because movement There's no need to pretend it's similar mass effect It's not there. It just needs to prove that those similarities aren't the most interesting thing about it. That might be easier said than done, especially considering how much love people still have for the BioWare trilogy. But Archetype seems to be approaching the comparison in the right way. While you're making your point, you're acknowledging what the players are already seeing. movement There is another story to tell. If the official game can support this, mass effect It may still be the first comparison a player makes, but it shouldn't be the last.