Mini-review of xenophobia

Not your normal gunman with a boomer rifle.

Exophobia
Platform: PC, also on PlayStation 4/5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
Developer: Zark Attack
Publisher: PM Studios
Release date: July 22nd, 2024
Price: $14.99 via digital download
Availability: Steam

Exophobia definitely looks like a first-generation first-person shooter with its pixelated visuals and generic stage design. Similar to Wolfenstein 3D or the first DOOM, it’s easy to become lost in the game due to its simple graphics. As such, to navigate Exophobia’s wrecked spacecraft, you will have to rely on the existence of vanquished adversaries.

Yes, an in-game map is provided by developer Zarc Attack to assist players in navigating the complex system of rooms and halls throughout the multi-story spaceship. However, simply glancing at the map necessitates battery life, so you’ll occasionally need to refuel at one of the game’s save rooms.

The design choice is definitely meant to evoke a sense of unease, akin to the limited ammo in the first few Resident Evil titles. However, considering the number of one-way doors and the lack of signage indicating when to change floors, restricting the length of time you can look at the map feels harsh.

Charge ‘n’ Blast

Yet that’s not the only unexpected peculiarity of xenophobia. A piece of upgradeable alien technology serves as your weapon. Initially, you have to use a single shot at a time to combat the robots carrying shields and mutant lobsters in the game. Aiming and darting out of cover for a fast blast are less important in firefights because the game’s vertical axis is fixed and you cannot gaze up or down.

For most things, time is everything. You can enjoy a few i-frames as you slip past environmental hazards, or you can knee-slide into enemies to temporarily stun them. However, there isn’t much room for error in firefights, particularly when facing the game’s five bosses, so be prepared to repeat these encounters several times.

Amid the Halls and Walls, Lost

The most noteworthy peculiarity of Exophobia is definitely its metroidvania-style gameplay. The game requires you to go back a lot, either to use your charged shot to blast down barricades or to revisit a closed door with a newly obtained keycard. The majority of first-person shooters have an arena-based or at least linear gameplay style. However, the level of detail and complexity in the landscape is made evident by the game’s cartography.

The majority of players will likely need seven to 10 hours to finish the game. There are five difficulty settings in the game, and you can turn off the necessity for batteries to view the map, albeit it’s tucked away in the menu. Call me naive, but I liked Exophobia better when it was a more forgiving game. In case you’re looking for hardship, Zarc Attack is more than happy to provide it to you.

The publisher offered a review code for the PC game Exophobia.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 70%

Story – 65%

Aesthetics – 75%

Content – 68%

Accessibility – 70%

Value – 72%

Overall Rating – 70%

Good

Summary: Exophobia isn’t your average boomer shooter, with its retracing in the vein of a metroidvania and shootouts that depend heavily on timing. If you choose to play the game on its default difficulty and take on the alien lobsters, it’s entertaining and extremely difficult.