About a year ago I saw a short ExeKiller trailer for the first time, which, as far as I remember, looked fairly decent, but it did not really catch my attention back then. However, something very different happened a few hours ago when I watched its newly published video, an Official Gameplay Overview commented on by the developers themselves, which shows far more than that initial video ever did. It is a retro futuristic cyberpunk FPS that really reminds me of classic westerns.
What can be said, looking at the difference between both videos, is that without a doubt the dedication and passion Paradark Studio has poured into its development are clearly visible. From my point of view, we are looking at a sci fi action game that can easily hang with the shooters that have hit the market in recent years. A bounty hunter, a risky mission, and a dystopian future set in an alternate reality. This is what ExeKiller’s gameplay looks like, commented by its devs and shared from GameTrailers on YouTube:
When RDR2 Meets Cyberpunk 2077
ExeKiller is a first-person action-adventure game with a multi-choice story. The game’s plot is set in a dystopian alternate reality world, in which a decimated humanity struggles to cope with the effects of a massive catastrophe that destroyed the Earth, turning it into a scorched desert. The player takes on the role of Denzel Fenix, the eponymous Exekiller – a bounty hunter in the service of Helion, the ubiquitous corporation headquartered in a massive structure towering over the ruins of New York.
In the course of the game, Denzel discovers the truth about himself, and this revelation puts him in the sights of several powerful factions. From this point, a dangerous and difficult game of survival begins. And it is only up to the player to decide how Exekiller plays out this battle. The game world consists of a semi-open environment with a central hub, many smaller locations with long distances between them and environmental hazards such as unexpected enemies or dangerous weather.
The gameplay is primarily designed around the principle of “choice”. While completing quests, the player will never be limited to one path or solution for every problem encountered. The decisions made by the player will clearly affect the attitude of NPCs, dialogues and possible endings, making each playthrough unique.
Key Features
- Semi-open hub environment with a lot of freedom: The map opens up gradually. Completion of the main quests affects the state of the world, allowing the player to gain access to new areas, arsenal and options for the storyline. Very early in the game, the player recovers her or his car, the Appaloosa, making free roam more accessible and rewarding.
- Unique settings and visuals: Exekiller‘s world is unique, combining retro futuristic technological advancements with post apocalyptic scenery, all served with a western movie vibe. The color palette and other visuals, warm orange and brown hues, transport the player to the 1970s, which, combined with a non intrusive HUD, creates a fully immersive, retro experience.
- Linear narrative with non linear choices: In each quest, the player has the opportunity to choose her or his path. Whether the player chooses to spare lives or end them, cheat or obey the law, loot the money or return it intact, these choices will affect her or his path to the end of the game. Many of the effects of a player’s choices will not be visible up front, but they will cause changes significant enough that the player should watch his steps.
- Dialog that matters: A dynamic dialogue system that does not interrupt gameplay, the player retains full freedom of movement and action, making it possible to carry on a conversation while driving or shooting, for example. Dialogs in the game are very important, using them will allow the player to get alternative solutions to his or her current tasks.
- Chose your own playstyle: Whether the player decides to move in with guns blazing to get the bounty, or to take a sneaky approach, using gadgets and hacking skills, convince others to make his or her point, or all of the above, is up to him. Gameplay is designed around the main principle, choice.
- Character progression: No XP or leveling up, all of the player’s progression will come from his or her choice of mods, augments and tech implemented in weapons. Rewards for quests and unique finds will enrich the player’s arsenal, expanding his or her choice of weapons and available encounter tactics.
So…
Unlike my first impression, I can now say with certainty that I cannot wait to play it. ExeKiller still does not have an official release date, but we can expect news about that very soon. Because of this, you should head over to its Steam page right now and add it to your Wishlist. Obviously, I have already done so. And while we both wait, how about dropping by the comments and telling us what you think about this attractive proposal? You know gamer, we’ll be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: GameTrailers Official YouTube Channel, ExeKiller on Steam
