Exoprimal

Exoprimal is a 2023 multiplayer third-person shooter video game developed and published by Capcom. In the game, the player controls an "exofighter", an exosuit-equipped soldier, who must complete objectives while fighting hordes of dinosaurs with the goal of defeating the sinister artificial intelligence Leviathan. In gameplay, players are grouped into two teams of five, and must compete with each other to defeat waves of dinosaurs and complete objectives before the opposing team can.

Exoprimal
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Takuro Hiraoka
Producer(s)Ichiro Kiyokawa
Kazunori Inoue
Artist(s)Takuro Fuse
Writer(s)Naoki Tarama
Composer(s)Akiyuki Morimoto
Shusaku Uchiyama
Yuko Miyata
Akihiko Narita
Kodai Ikeda
EngineRE Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseJuly 14, 2023
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Exoprimal was released on July 14, 2023 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, as well as launched on Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC and Cloud. The game received mixed reviews from critics and had sold over 1 million units by September 2023.

Gameplay
An in-game screenshot depicting exofighters battling a Tyrannosaurus while using an energy shield to protect themselves.

Exoprimal is a "player-versus-player-versus-environment" video game where players, controlling exofighters, are divided into two teams and compete to complete objectives first. The game features multiple exosuits, each with their own weapons and abilities, categorized into three character classes: Assault, Tank, and Support. For instance, Roadblock is a tank character who is equipped with a shield, the Witchdoctor is a supporting character who can heal other players, and Barrage is an explosive expert. Players can change their classes during gameplay, or apply "rigs" to their characters, which grant them abilities from other classes.[1] Players can also progress through the game's Survival Pass to unlock new skins and cosmetic items for their exosuits and weapons.[2]

The main mode in the game is "Dino Survival". Two teams of five players must race against each other to complete the objectives set by Leviathan.[3] The main opponents in the game are dinosaurs unleashed from mysterious vortexes, including Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Pachycephalosaurus, Pteranodon, and massive hordes of raptors, as well as mutated prehistoric creatures named "neosaurs" which have special combat abilities.[4] The objectives and combat challenges players must complete include Dinosaur Cull, VTOL Defense, Data Key Security, Omega Charge, and Energy Taker.[5] According to game director Takuro Hiraoka, players are sometimes required to fight against or fight with each other.[6] Dinosaur Cull requires players to eliminate a specific kind of dinosaur, while VTOL Defense tasks players to guard a grounded aircraft and protect it from dinosaur attacks. As the player completes objectives, they will gain experience points, which would allow them to further upgrade their characters and unlock more story missions.[4]

Plot

In the near future of 2040, interdimensional time-travelling portals known as "vortexes" begin to appear on Earth. The only thing that comes out of them are massive hordes of hostile dinosaurs and "neosaurs", genetically-modified dinosaurs mutated by the chemicals Hi-Xol and Lo-Xol, causing global chaos and destruction. Humanity fights back by fielding "exofighters", soldiers equipped with specialized exosuits manufactured by the Aibius Corporation. Aibius also develops "Leviathan", an advanced artificial intelligence designed to assist the exofighters by augmenting their operations and predicting where the next vortex will open. However, the exofighters are rivaled by mercenaries and private military companies seeking to acquire data for themselves.

In 2043, Patrol Squad #52585 "Hammerheads"—consisting of Ace, a rookie exofighter and the fully-customizable player character; Lorenzo, the squad leader and mechanic; Alders, an engineer; Majesty, a skilled but serious exofighter; and Sandy, the squad's android assistant—are caught in a vortex during a mission and find themselves on Bikitoa Island in a mysterious alternate timeline. Ace meets veteran exofighter Magnum, who assists him and the Hammerheads, as well as Leviathan, who has seemingly gone rogue and is now hosting "wargames". These consist of various "combat tests" that send the participants back in time to a specific date in 2040, where they must fight waves of dinosaurs and neosaurs appearing through vortexes opened by Leviathan themselves. Ace, supported by Magnum and the Hammerheads, takes part in the wargames while attempting to uncover Leviathan's secrets.

Development

Exoprimal is currently being developed by Capcom. The team's goal was to design an action game that was distinct from Capcom's previous titles, and they envisioned a game in which players are required to overcome and eliminate hordes of enemies, unlike Monster Hunter in which players only take on one single enemy at a time. Dinosaurs were chosen as the game's main enemy type because Hiraoka and the team believed that "it would be fun to experience the threat of history's most fearsome predators", especially if they attack players in a massive horde. The game is not related to the Dino Crisis series, though the producer of that series, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, was involved in the development and production of Exoprimal.[7]

The game was officially announced during Sony's State of Play livestream in March 2022.[8] Capcom arranged network tests for PC players in July and August 2022, allowing them to play a pre-release version of the game.[9] An open beta for the game was held from 17 to 19 March 2023.[10] Exoprimal is set to be released for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S as a fully-priced product in 2023.[11] Exoprimal will feature a collaboration DLC with Street Fighter 6, featuring character skins based on Ryu and Guile.[12]

Reception

Exoprimal received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[13][14][15]

Sales

In two weeks, Exoprimal had attracted over 1 million players.[28]

By September 2023, the game had sold over 1 million units.[29]

References
  1. Borthwick, Ben (June 16, 2022). "Exoprimal showcases fifteen minutes of gameplay in extended preview footage". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  2. Nightingale, Ed (March 9, 2023). "Exoprimal out in July, plus Game Pass day one". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  3. Miller, Matt (June 13, 2022). "Exoprimal Stomps Back Into Action With New Trailer". Game Informer. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  4. Tran, Edmond (June 14, 2022). "Exoprimal – Everything to know about Capcom's sci-fi dinosaur shooter". GamesHub. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  5. Maker, Connor (June 14, 2022). "Exoprimal trailer has more dinosaurs pouring out of the sky, closed network test news". VG247. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  6. Iwaniuk, Phil (June 15, 2022). "Exoprimal interview – cloudy with a chance of velociraptors". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  7. Cook, Adam (March 15, 2022). "'Dino Crisis' producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi is working on 'Exoprimal'". NME. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  8. Phillips, Tom (March 9, 2022). "Capcom announces Exoprimal, a new squad-based multiplayer game with dinosaurs". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  9. McWhertor, Michael (June 14, 2022). "Capcom reveals more about Exopreimal, its 5v5 action game about a dinosaur crisis". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  10. Makar, Connor (March 10, 2023). "Exoprimal will be available on Game Pass day one". VG247. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  11. Skrebels, Joe (June 14, 2022). "Exoprimal Is a Full-Price Game and No, It Has Nothing to Do With Dino Crisis". IGN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  12. Barker, Sammy (June 8, 2023). "Ryu, Guile Get Exoprimal Makeovers for Street Fighter 6's First Capcom Collaboration DLC". Push Square. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  13. "Exoprimal for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  14. "Exoprimal for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  15. "Exoprimal for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  16. Colantonio, Giovanni (July 20, 2023). "Exoprimal review: Capcom's dinosaur shooter is ridiculous in all the right ways". Digital Trends. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  17. Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (July 18, 2023). "Exoprimal review - a surprisingly rich blend of dino-killing and team vs team". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  18. Romano, Sal (August 2, 2023). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1810". Gematsu. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  19. Stewart, Marcus (July 28, 2023). "Exoprimal Review - Trojan Rex". Game Informer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. Helm, Jordan (July 27, 2023). "Review: Exoprimal". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  21. Saltzman, Mitchell (July 20, 2023). "Exoprimal Review". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  22. Brown, Andy (July 27, 2023). "'Exoprimal' review: an enjoyable shooter with an identity crisis". NME. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  23. Iwaniuk, Phil (July 21, 2023). "Exoprimal review". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  24. Bergin, Lauren (July 19, 2023). "Exoprimal review – Overwatch with boring dinosaurs". PCGamesN. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  25. Barker, Sammy (July 20, 2023). "Exoprimal Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  26. Mejia, Ozzie (July 19, 2023). "Exoprimal review: Dino-sore". Shacknews. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  27. Makar, Connor (July 18, 2023). "Exoprimal review: A blast from the past with an uncertain future". VG247. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  28. Carter, Justin (July 26, 2023). "Exoprimal evolves to 1 million players in nearly two weeks". Game Developer. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  29. Editor-in-chief, James Batchelor (October 26, 2023). "Street Fighter 6 drives record H1 results for Capcom's games division". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved October 27, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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