Exoprimal should’ve fell flat on its face at launch on July 14. It didn’t get much marketing hype and beta testers weren’t too fond of talking about it. Not to mention, one of its lead characters look a lot like Regina from Dino Crisis. Fans complained that Capcom should’ve just gone ahead and rebooted the survival horror series. Instead, it made a co-op shooter that only made fans even angrier since it also featured dinosaurs But, weeks after Exoprimal hit the storeshelves, it’s already celebrating a big milestone.
According to the Japanese gaming giant, more than a million people have played Exoprimal since its launch, a huge figure considering, as we’ve previously mentioned, the lack of hype surrounding its release.
Thus, this begs the question, why is Exoprimal standing out at a time when other co-op shooters and live-service titles are struggling?
For starters, Exoprimal is a technically sound game. Players report smooth gameplay, free of disruptive bugs and downtime, which can only be attributed to the impeccable work of Capcom’s development team.
While experiences like Destiny 2, whatever the latest Call of Duty is called, and Diablo 4, among others, often suffer from recurring system breakdowns, Exoprimal stands as a shining example of a shooter that “just works,” much to the joy of its growing community.
The gameplay itself is another significant contributor to the game’s success. Players have embraced the PvP elements of Exoprimal, finding excitement in racing against and battling other teams. This kind of competitive energy, especially when combined with wave survival and limited revives, adds a new level of thrill to the gameplay. Additionally, the unique class-based PvEvP structure, where two teams compete to complete objectives separately before a final showdown, infuses the game with a refreshing twist.
However, Exoprimal is not without its challenges. Players need to grind through an initial phase of repetitive and limited content. But for those who persevere, the game opens up into a sensory extravaganza, filled with thousands of dinosaurs, laser barrages, and captivating ultimate moves. There’s something inherently satisfying about surviving a horde of seemingly impossible dinosaurs with your team, coupled with the game’s 90s-inspired aesthetic.
Performance-wise, the game has proven to be a rock-solid offering. The matchmaking is seamless, with competent bots filling in for absent players. Furthermore, despite the vast number of on-screen dinosaurs at any given moment, the game maintains its smooth performance without any noticeable lag or slowdown. These qualities make Exoprimal a surprisingly robust multiplayer experience, offering a feeling of satisfaction, regardless of the outcome of the matches.
Exoprimal also shines in terms of class balance. The game features ten different exosuits categorized into three classes – Assault, Tank, and Support. Each suit has its distinct features, quirks, and strengths, and Exoprimal manages to make each suit viable, further enhancing the gameplay experience.
The game does have some weaknesses. There are issues with class balancing and a need for more diverse content and game modes. Despite these minor drawbacks, Exoprimal is turning heads, crafting a uniquely campy yet explosive gaming experience, and serving up a surprisingly ambitious story.
Exoprimal does more than simply integrate dinosaurs into a familiar hero-shooter landscape. Its best content, surprisingly innovative gameplay moments, and a wild sci-fi story, hide behind an initial phase of repetition. These engaging features, coupled with a well-designed PvPvE formula and distinctive exosuits, make Exoprimal a refreshing take on the multiplayer hero shooter genre.
There’s plenty of potential in Exoprimal, with its basic mechanics of battling dinosaurs and its competent bots ensuring that players will never feel shortchanged. Still, the lack of a traditional campaign mode is a drawback, and the game’s online-only nature raises questions about its longevity.
Yet, for now, Exoprimal continues to surprise and delight, and with its place on the Xbox Game Pass, there’s no reason for players not to give this potential classic a shot.
After Resident Evil 4 and Street Fighter 6, Capcom has been having an excellent year so far. It wouldn’t even surprise us if Monster Hunter Now, which is set for a global release in September, is better than expected as well.
