First announced back in March of this year,Exoprimalis a brand new IP coming from Capcom, set to release at some point next year.Exoprimalsees up to four players face off against endless hordes of dinosaurs, equipped with some high-tech mech suits, and geared up with some impressive weaponry. With mech suits and co-op beingthe central focus ofExoprimal’s marketing, gamers have been quick to compare it toAnthem, BioWare’s disappointingly lackluster co-op mech game from 2019.
Launching in an incredibly buggy state, BioWare’sAnthemfailed to live up to expectations in almost every way. With a lackluster story, mundane gear system, and tedious and repetitive level design,Anthemwas a clear letdown, so much so that itslarge-scaleAnthem2.0 updatewas canceled by EA. Despite releasing a good few years ago, the smell ofAnthem’s disappointment still lingers, andExoprimalneeds to shake off its comparisons to it, and reclaim them for its own.
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How Exoprimal Can Reclaim its Anthem Comparisons
In the modern gaming world, public reception is everything, and right nowExoprimal’s isn’t looking too hot. Upon the launch ofExoprimal’s reveal trailer, fans were disappointed that it wasn’t a return to theDino Crisisfranchise, and with every trailer that’s released since, gamers have been quick to draw comparisons between it andAnthem. However, it’s not too late forExoprimalto turn those comparisons into positive press.
Some of the only aspects ofAnthemthat critics and general audiences agreed were actually decent about the game were the flying mechanics and other traversal options. Though glitches held it back at every step,Anthem’s flight controls did feel pretty responsive, with fluid animations and a nice sense of momentum. WhileExoprimaldoesn’t seem to be implementing any full flight mechanics, it does have several exosuits that have enhanced mobility, and it showcase those more in the marketing, tapping into the only element that madeAnthemreally stand out from the crowd. Thenext fewExoprimaltrailersshould focus on the fluid movement animations, the speed of some exosuits, and any flight-like abilities.
The best way forExoprimalto turn itsAnthemcomparisons into positive press is by subtly showing off features thatAnthemtried to implement, but failed to perfect, thus casually showing howExoprimalwill be better on launch. One of the biggest criticisms ofAnthemwas its lack of engaging game modes.Exoprimalis set to launch with over five game modes. While the trailers released so far do a good job of showcasing each one, future trailers should double down on showing the differences in each game mode and the variety within, which would suggest that the game has quite a bit of replayability.
Along with showcasingExoprimal’s game modesin more detail, Capcom should also take the time to break down each of the game’s exosuits and their unique abilities in greater detail. One ofAnthem’s biggest marketing points was its customizable Javelins, andExoprimalcould easily outdo it by detailing all the game’s different gear options and cosmetics. Capcom should also ensure thatExoprimalrewards players who finish missions with plenty of new gear pieces and weapons. This should show audiences that, unlikeAnthem,Exoprimal’s rewards are worthwhile, and they encourage repeat play sessions.Exoprimalalready stands out fromAnthemquite a bit, but for general audiences, Capcom really needs to make sure that its marketing doubles down on what makes the dinosaur horde game so unique.
Exoprimalreleases in 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
