Exoprimal
- July 13, 2023
- CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
- 7h median play time
Exoprimal will be one of the strangest releases of the past several years. Arriving during Capcom's renaissance, this multiplayer-only shooter does so many things right while still fumbling in key departments that may harm its longevity.
Exoprimal is an online, team-based Science Fiction Hack and Slash game with a good plot and Marvelous visuals. Players can team up in 2-player co-op or multiplayer modes, including PvP, to control advanced exosuits and save humanity from history's most fearsome creatures. The game offers fantastic gameplay, good music, and plenty of humor, but be prepared for grinding. The Deluxe Edition includes early unlock tickets and skins for a head start.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of PvE and PvP gameplay, allowing players to compete against each other while also fighting hordes of dinosaurs.
- The exosuits are diverse and fun to play, each with unique abilities and playstyles that keep the gameplay fresh.
- The story is surprisingly engaging, with well-developed characters and a narrative that unfolds as players progress through matches.
- The game is priced too high for the amount of content available, with many players feeling it should be a lower price or free-to-play.
- There is a lack of cross-platform party functionality, making it difficult for friends on different platforms to play together.
- The initial gameplay can feel repetitive and slow to unlock new content, which may deter some players from continuing.
- story1,183 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in *Exoprimal* is surprisingly engaging, featuring a campy, tongue-in-cheek narrative that unfolds as players progress through multiplayer matches. While the game initially presents a limited variety of missions, new content, including unique objectives and boss fights, is unlocked by playing, which can lead to a repetitive experience for those not invested in the story. Overall, the storytelling approach—integrating narrative elements into gameplay—has received mixed reactions, with some players appreciating the gradual reveal of lore while others find it convoluted and frustrating.
“The story is surprisingly strong with fun characters and an engaging plot; it's nothing award-winning, but it adds a lot to the game.”
“The story is done in an unusual but interesting way, where you'll get a cutscene or story piece after every few matches you play.”
“The story is engaging enough and the characters aren't too bad; I enjoy them.”
“The story feels tacked on and it unconvincingly attempts to contextualize the game's obtuse premise.”
“The story is extremely cheesy and tongue-in-cheek, often in a 'so bad it's good' manner, reminiscent of straight-to-DVD B-movies playing on basic cable at 3 PM on a Saturday.”
“The story is a bit complex, but easy to follow.”
- gameplay398 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Exoprimal is generally described as fun and engaging, featuring a mix of PvPvE mechanics where players battle hordes of dinosaurs while competing against another team. However, many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop, with limited maps and objectives leading to a grindy experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its smooth controls, diverse exosuits, and satisfying combat mechanics, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a casual, action-oriented shooter.
“I love this game; it has such a good twist on the classic hero shooter gameplay. I wish it was popular enough to stick around.”
“The gameplay is very fun, simple, and intuitive while also being quite engaging.”
“The gameplay loop is fantastic. The different suits are very interesting to play around with.”
“Queue times are long, matchmaking seems mostly random, and the gameplay is no replacement for many of the other co-op shooters.”
“The gameplay loop is literally just move 15 meters => kill 50 dinos => repeat.”
“Repetitive gameplay: the gameplay quickly fell into a monotonous cycle of moving from one section to another, engaging in repetitive combat encounters against waves of dinosaurs, while simultaneously competing with an enemy team.”
- monetization101 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game has drawn mixed reactions, with many players criticizing it as excessive and reminiscent of free-to-play models despite the $60 price tag. While some appreciate that all in-game purchases are cosmetic and can be earned through gameplay, others feel the presence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and a battle pass creates a cash grab atmosphere. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as needing improvement, with calls for a more player-friendly approach.
“All in-game purchases are cosmetic, currency can't be purchased and everything feels incredibly balanced.”
“I’m a casual player who loves PvE co-op games, and this game is made by the same company that made Monster Hunter - one of the best games of the category - and predictably the gameplay itself is really enjoyable: smooth controls, satisfying effects, good balance, promising content roadmap and most importantly no abusive monetization tactics.”
“As for their monetization for the game which is pretty much why people dislike the game so much, I honestly don't see too much of a problem with it since it's only cosmetic and it's honestly very easy to get coins by playing the game and unlock a legendary skin.”
“It is a mortally boring grindfest with unsatisfying combat, boring music, a story that would have been better if it hadn't existed at all, disgusting monetization, and a developer team that is so desperate for gameplay ideas that they're resorting to the novelty of crossovers in their second content patch.”
“The monetization is atrocious, between a battle pass, deluxe edition, and loot boxes that unlock things in the game at a bad pace.”
“It's a $60 cash grab from a triple-A studio, and I personally don't think it's worth the price.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their technical quality and aesthetic appeal, with many reviewers noting impressive character designs and smooth performance even on lower-end hardware. However, some players feel that certain environments lack detail and that the overall visual experience, while good, does not push the boundaries of modern gaming. Despite mixed opinions on specific elements, the visuals are considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to an engaging experience.
“The combination of impressive graphics, a compelling storyline, intelligent gameplay mechanics, and an immersive soundtrack makes this game an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“Exoprimal's graphics and environmental design are impressive, too, with an engaging futuristic aesthetic that manages to incorporate elements of the natural prehistoric world.”
“Amazing graphics and gameplay.”
“As far as graphics, if you look at anything for more than a few seconds it starts to look like something that could have come out 10 years ago.”
“The graphics aren't impressive, the story is pointless and terrible, the gameplay is horribly simple, the characters all play the same except Murasame and Zephyr who are melee characters.”
“Mid graphics; the graphics kinda suck, think of Valorant-style graphics (kinda blocky), however the mechs are good and the maps seem okay, nothing too impressive though.”
- optimization47 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its exceptional optimization, running smoothly even during chaotic moments with numerous enemies on screen. Players report minimal bugs and crashes, with many noting that it performs well on a variety of hardware setups, making it a standout in terms of performance compared to other recent releases. However, some users express concerns about the impact of DRM on performance, suggesting that it may hinder optimization on older machines.
“Extremely well optimized, especially in very chaotic moments I never noticed any frame drops.”
“The game itself is probably the most optimized I've seen for a release in a long time; I have encountered 0 bugs, 0 crashes, and 0 FPS drops.”
“Decent optimization is rare these days, and I do want to commend Capcom for it as all their releases recently have been very well optimized.”
“Performance is lacking.”
“Addition of the enigma 'DRM' malware tanks performance on even slightly older machines and is aggressively anti-mod, including performance mods.”
“Decent optimization is rare these days and I do want to commend Capcom for it as all their releases recently have been very well optimized.”
- grinding39 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly for unlocking suits and abilities. While some appreciate the grind as a means to stay engaged and enjoy the gameplay, others criticize it as repetitive and frustrating, especially given the game's price point. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding is a significant part of the experience, it can detract from the enjoyment for those seeking quicker progression or a more varied gameplay experience.
“Despite how it looks, the game is not very grindy and the monetization is surprisingly not egregious.”
“The game is very fun, with cool upgrades that take a few games to unlock but are not grindy. There are lots of suits to pick from, cool abilities, and matches are enjoyable. I prefer PvE and can play for hours at a time.”
“Extremely grindy and too many locked suits and variants, probably because they want you to use money to buy them instead.”
“This game has level-locked content it seems, and is too grindy to get to the good stuff.”
“The game is enjoyable for the first three hours, but it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive due to slow progression and the inability to do what you want.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as goofy and entertaining, with players enjoying its lighthearted context and funny character interactions. While some elements, like the AI's attempts at humor, may fall flat, the overall presentation and absurdity of the storyline contribute to a genuinely funny experience. Players appreciate the comedic moments that arise during gameplay, particularly in the context of the quirky theme of robots versus dinosaurs, although some feel the humor can be inconsistent.
“This is my go-to chill-out game where I just want to have some simple fun in a funny context.”
“The story is ridiculous and the progression can be slow at times, but it's so well-presented in its handling of the characters, voice performances, and the piecing together of a little mystery that I found myself liking it and even laughing a lot.”
“We played all day, stayed up later than we have in a long time, and had some hilariously wild moments.”
- music19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, particularly during key moments and combat. While some noted a lack of variety and repetitiveness in certain tracks, others highlighted the ambient music and "banger" tracks that contribute to the game's emotional depth. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, elevating the gameplay despite some criticisms regarding its diversity.
“The soundtrack is mostly nice ambient music, with some fantastic tracks during key story moments, though the latter ones are not included in the OST on Steam unfortunately.”
“The music fits the game's mood perfectly and enhances the emotions during gameplay.”
“The combination of impressive graphics, a compelling storyline, intelligent gameplay mechanics, and an immersive soundtrack makes this game an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“The Gundam-ish aspect is there on like a 1/10, the soundtrack hits a 3/10 because of basic repetitiveness.”
“It is a mortally boring grindfest with unsatisfying combat, boring music, a story that would have been better if it hadn't existed at all, disgusting monetization, and a developer team that is so desperate for gameplay ideas that they're resorting to the novelty of crossovers in their second content patch.”
“Sound design is great, love the combat noises and some of the music tracks are bangers for sure.”
- stability17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 41 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is highly praised, with many users reporting a smooth performance and no significant bugs or glitches. While some minor issues like model clipping are noted, they are generally considered acceptable. Players appreciate the game's optimization, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, and find it enjoyable to play without encountering crashes or major performance problems.
“It plays well, runs great, and is a low-stress PvE/PvP game.”
“The game isn't buggy; at least from my experience, I've had no encounters with crashing or performance issues.”
“It's very fun, runs great, looks good, has no apparent bugs, and the exosuits are very distinct and enjoyable.”
“But the actual execution of this story is buggy and confusing; sometimes I see cut-scenes from things I don't even know about yet.”
“Duh, every game has bugs; even the old school ones (they were just called glitches).”
“May add more stuff later if I find them buggy/annoying.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of Exoprimal is mixed; while some players find the game infinitely replayable due to its engaging campaign and potential future content, others criticize its limited mission variety and lack of diverse game modes. The endgame offers more challenging and varied missions, but the initial gameplay can feel repetitive, leading to a perception that it may not justify its price point. Future updates are anticipated to enhance replay value, but current content may not satisfy all players.
“That being said, although 60 bucks is a bit iffy, the game itself is great, replayable to infinity, despite some flaws, like the lack of a proper selection for types of missions that you want to play.”
“Endgame: once you get to the endgame and finish the story, the base missions become harder and more diverse and will feel very versatile, which is perfect for replayability!”
“Personal hero (suit) progression, a big chunky campaign that's infinitely replayable, and the promise of more to come too.”
“Exoprimal still needs different game types and lacks features in terms of long-term replay value.”
“Game is kind of boring and doesn't have much replayability.”
“The gradual process of unlocking more playable content by means of repetition through the first map for around 10 matches may not be everyone's cup of tea.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players found the story to be heart-touching and satisfying, others criticized it for being boring and lacking coherence. Emotional moments are present but often overshadowed by uninspired character interactions and perceived budget constraints. Overall, the game has the potential for emotional impact, but execution varies among players.
“It was emotional when it needed to be, and the ending was satisfying.”
“One of the best games with a captivating and heart-touching story.”
“Cut scenes are great, but the emotional scenes truly stand out and elevate the experience.”
“The story is dull and lacks coherence, making it hard to connect emotionally.”
“I found the emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing.”
“The characters felt flat, which made it difficult to feel any real emotional investment.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by engaging cutscenes, extensive voice acting, and a focus on teamwork, contributing to a fun atmosphere. Players appreciate the varied and cool character designs, which enhance the overall experience alongside intuitive controls and fast-paced combat.
“Great and varied character designs, intuitive controls, fast and frantic combat with a fun atmosphere and a focus on teamwork.”
“The cutscenes are quite good, and there is a lot of voice acting, which enhances the character development.”
“Do you like plot and character development?”
“The cutscenes are quite good and there is a lot of voice acting, but the character development feels lacking.”
“Do you like plot and character development? Unfortunately, this game doesn't deliver on either.”
“Character design is interesting, but the character development is shallow and unengaging.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by vibrant character designs, dynamic day-night cycles, and weather effects that create a lively and immersive world. The combination of fast-paced combat, teamwork, and varied environments, including lush vegetation and ruined structures, enhances the overall experience, making it engaging for both PvP and PvE players. Players appreciate the atmospheric backdrop that complements the intense exosuit-versus-dinosaur battles, contributing to a compelling and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“This fusion creates an atmospheric backdrop for the fierce exosuit-versus-dinosaur combat, further enhancing the immersive quality of the game.”
“I really like the atmosphere in general with the maps featuring vegetation and ruined buildings; the exosuits are really cool, varied, and fun, and there's some customization with the modules.”
“The day-night cycles and weather effects contribute to a realistic atmosphere, making the world feel alive.”
“This mechanic is quite the game changer depending on the timing of usage, which further pushes the game into the PvP atmosphere.”
Critic Reviews
Exoprimal review
The beginnings of a PvPvE cult hit. Extinct animal slaughter is fundamentally fun, but the foundations are sparse.
69%Exoprimal
Exoprimal will be one of the strangest releases of the past several years. Arriving during Capcom's renaissance, this multiplayer-only shooter does so many things right while still fumbling in key departments that may harm its longevity.
80%Exoprimal review
Exoprimal is fun in short doses, and there's absolutely a foundation to build on here. Like many live service games, this could be something very special in a few months.
70%