Ever wondered what rally cars would look like in the far future? Exo Rally Championship has the answer. Deadly. Released on June 7th of this year, This Sci-Fi racing game puts players in the driving seat of rovers competing in various dangerous and thrilling rally stages across the universe.
Players take the driving role in Team Lindsay, a resurrected team that wants to find it’s feet again in rally driving. The players will drive through checkpoints on various hazardous rally stages. They must compete against the clock to win. The rovers themselves can be very difficulty to drive at first with rookies very likely to destroy their cars if they aren’t careful. The mechanics of the game are very grounded and realistic although the game is lacking in some areas.
Four Rovers of the Apocalypse
There are Four different types of Rovers that players take control of. However, to drive some of the rovers players will need to obtain licences from rookie to semi-pro and finally pro class.
The UTV is the beginners rover, with a 250 bhp engine and weighing half a tonne. This rover is avaliable at the start for anyone but is mainly used by rookies. It’s the easiest of the rovers to control and introduces players to basic RCS (Reaction control System). Players can use RCS to control the landing and avoid tipping the rover over. However, there is a limit to how RCS the player can use in the form of RCS Fuel. This makes conserving fuel an important element of the game otherwise you could run out when you need it.
The second Rover is the EXO 4 which is faster and harder to control. Players who obtain a Semi-Pro licence and complete the training can drive these. This time, the RCS system also lets players soften their landing to avoid damaging the vehicle. The EXO 6 is for Pro’s of the sport and lets players use RCS to boost themselves making them go even faster. Only Pro level license players can drive them. These vehicles are the fastest and most dangerous in the sport.
Mining Rovers
Finally, there are also the mining rovers which are the slowest and heaviest type. They can go through small bumps but will have difficulty going through larger bumps. Players also need to have a Pro Licence to drive them. These rovers also have no RCS meaning that if players go too fast and get air time they will no way of controlling them. They are very old school and they may seem easy to handle at first but the lack of RCS means they are deceptively tricky to drive.
Overall, I think the variation in each series of rover gives players new ways to drive. The EXO 6 series are considered the pinnacle of the sport . Although the EXO 4 series are more nimble and are my personal preference. The handling could be improved however as the grip levels in the game are too low and should be increased in the next patch. I would also like to see new types of rovers in the future.
Series and Events
Players can choose from various modes in the games menu. Firstly, there are the series in which players can choose to drive one of the four rovers depending on their licence level and race in multi stage, cross planet races. Events are similar but the different stages take place on the players chosen planet. Training helps the player obtain licenses to drive new vehicles and teaches them new techniques. Free roam lets you take control of any rover and explore the planets. Daily events let players earn XP in custom created one off events. The stage editor lets players make their own stages and online rally lets them compete in PVP rally events.
I do wish that the players could compete against other rovers together in races instead of just timed events. I wouldn’t necessarily have this in online rally’s as some players may try to hit other players off but playesr could compete against Ai opponents in events. #
Surveying the Scene
Before each stage, players should survey it using the drone and mark each point to make it easier to drive. You can also mark danger points like rocks or cliffs. Just don’t crash the drone like I did or you’ll be forced to start the stage with no survey. Before some stages, you may be allowed to service your vehicle. During a service, you can Refill your RCS and change your tyres. There are also different types of tyres such as offroad softs which wear out quickly but provide more grip to the opposite of offroad hards. Paddle tyres are suitable for muddy tracks and low traction surfaces. You can also tune your car to your liking.
Danger Zone
If you aren’t careful, the rover can easily be damaged. There are several ways you can damage your rover. Firstly, you could cause a puncture to one of your tyres or damage your springs with a hard landing. You could also cause multiple systems to fail by slamming straight into debris or terrain. Finally, you could cause a tyre failure or completely snap off your suspension. The damage mechanics in the game are very realistic and do change the way your rover handles dramatically. You can knock down some obstacles such as trees although i wouldn’t advise ramming it into one.
From New Earth to The Moon
There are 5 different planets players will be driving on each with it’s own unique weather and atmosphere. Firstly, there is New Earth the easiest planet with trees, hills and some bumps that will provide some challenge to new players. Then there is Dhool the sand planet which introduces meteors for players to avoid and dust that can get into the rovers. It’s extremely important to clean your rover after each service or else you might find yourself breaking down.
Tensei is a deadly, cold planet with a poisonous atmosphere. Players who break the oxygen tanks will find themselves inhaling the toxins, killing them. The Moon, known as the “thinking mans track” features low gravity and no atmosphere to carry heat away. This results in low traction, demanding very careful driving and longer cooldowns for RCS. Finally there is Fusang, another poisonous planet filled with lava and volcanic eruptions. Players will need to avoid molten bombs from these eruptions to prevent damage to their car. This planet is like playing a giant game of the floor is lava, avoid staying on said lava for too long or your tyres will melt.
The variation in planets helps gameplay to feel fresh and new, giving players new challenges to overcome in each one. My favourites are the moon stages, the low gravity changes how you approach driving and seeing the earth from far away makes you feel like Neil Armstrong. Although, I hope they do add more planets in the future, maybe in a DLC?
Soundtrack and Graphics
The soundtrack, created by Rhys Lindsay, is melancholic and matches the space/ SCI-Fi theme with heavy synths and an atmospheric guitar. The game uses the unity graphics engine and looks good for the most part. There is the occasional time where the textures struggle to load in but most of the time there haven’t been any issues with it. I also haven’t encountered any game breaking bugs.
The games physics which have been created by Mark Billington are very polished and realistic. Every piece of dirt or gravel is visible to the player and you can feel the difference in driving on the moon vs driving on New Earth.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the game has very well made damage mechanics and physics. It also has decent graphics and a unique soundtrack. The variation in both vehicles and planets should keep players interested for a while. It has a reasonable price tag at £19.99 on steam which i think is good value. It’s impressive how an indie studio like Exbleative games which only has three people has created such a high quality game.
However, I would add in other planets in future DLC and new types of rovers. I would also improve the grip in the game and add in a event where players can compete against AI opponents in races instead of timed events.
