Much like other millennials in and around the age of 30, I fought against Tik Tok when it first rose to popularity. However, one global lockdown later, I too am hooked in a way I don’t like to admit. Even putting the comedy skits and peeks into the lives of others to one side, TikTok has become a surprisingly effective platform for indie developers looking to provide a brief vertical slice of their games.
Exo One, a game developed by sole developer Exbleative, is one such game I stumbled across on TikTok. It’s a relaxing adventure title that takes players across alien landscapes in a hi-tech spaceship that can change shape mid-flight. The prologue, which is currently available on Steam, features one level and introduces some of Exo One’s story elements.
While the story is understandably thin in the prologue, we are introduced to the game’s leading character, the Exo One ship. The ship was built out of blueprints discovered at the other end of an alien signal. It not only plays an important role in the narrative, but also forms the blueprint of the gameplay.
You see, Exo One can shift between numerous forms, changing how effective it is during different forms of travel. Players can switch between a round ball-like shape which can roll across the ground to gain momentum and a flatter disk-like shape that looks closer to a sci-fi rendition of a UFO.
These two different modes work together by letting players take advantage of gravity and air resistance. Roll across the floor to let gravity do its thing and build up your momentum, before releasing your attachment to gravity by shifting into a disk shape to fly over large portions of land.
Exo One’s two primary methods of travel work together perfectly, with simple controls that make the ship feel like an extension of your controls. It takes a little getting used to at first, but once you’ve got an understanding of the ship’s mechanics you can really gain some speed and air. There’s a genuine joy to be found in gliding through the air.
There are geographical features across the world that players can use to gain further momentum or air. Large hills can be used for a major boost in speed, while thermal updrafts will push the players higher up in the planet’s atmosphere. Looking for these features while on the move is challenging, but ultimately rewarding.\
Gliding through the air is further backed up by stunning visuals, particularly the game’s volumetric cloud formations. The landscape below looks jagged and barren, while the clouds and the space above are serene. Visually, the game drives you to aim for the clouds, pushing you away from the restrictive and ultimately less optimal ground.
I want to see more of Exo One and the worlds it has to offer. As short as the prologue was, it got me intrigued in travelling with the ship even more. Exo One is due to release soon for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, although the developer has not announced a specific release date.
