By A jaw-dropper on Xbox Series X!
- by Ben Kerry
Yesterday, we gathered some initial impressions of ARC Raiders as it was just launching on Xbox – and the overall agreement was that this is a highly proficient extraction shooter. Those were very preliminary impressions of course, with comprehensive reviews of this new multiplayer offering expected to emerge in the upcoming days and weeks. Nevertheless, the excitement surrounding this title did encourage me to give it a go myself and, wow – this is a remarkably impressive endeavor from Embark Studios.
I’ve engaged in a few rounds of ARC Raiders at this stage, and I’m still very much acclimating to this sci-fi realm filled with genuine raiders and menacing robotic beings. I must confess that I’m nowhere near in a position to pass a judgment on the game overall, but what I can convey is that this is an exceptionally engulfing experience that feels like the epitome of triple-A video games – all encapsulated within a multiplayer extraction shooter format. I truly wasn’t anticipating this!
Upon loading this game and merely getting ready for a session, ARC Raiders exudes refinement. The cutscene craftsmanship is superb, the character designs and voice performances are exceptional, and everything just congeals into a cohesive experience – which is not frequently the case with contemporary multiplayer titles. Moreover, there’s the artistic vision – envision Star Wars meeting Destiny with a hint of The Last of Us, and you’re nearly there. Proper gritty sci-fi material that I’m thoroughly enjoying so far.
Speaking of The Last of Us… ARC Raiders almost triggers memories of what we were envisioning Naughty Dog’s shelved multiplayer offshoot to appear and feel like. Naturally, Embark’s sci-fi perspective takes things in a slightly distinct direction, but it’s still quite a raw interpretation of the aesthetic overall – and that, combined with the AAA polish displayed here, undoubtedly provides us that atmosphere. ARC Raiders resembles something that the renowned Sony studio would devise as an online experience, which is pretty darn high commendation.
Here are a few additional stunning screenshots to illustrate my stance:
As I indicated right at the beginning, the jury’s still weighing in on the game in general — and how the entire gameplay experience will mesh as I keep playing. What I can assert is that ARC Raiders is exquisite, engrossing, and extraordinarily impressive from a technical standpoint. Embark has crafted a world I simply want to immerse myself in, and that’s truly setting it apart at this moment amidst the sea of chaotic multiplayer games existing these days. I’m eager to continue playing and see where this adventure leads!
Are you contemplating whether this might be the multiplayer experience for you? Engage with us about ARC Raiders in the comments section below.
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is an enthusiast of action, racing, and plain shooting in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he’s not clutching an Xbox controller as if his life depended on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that’s far too old for him, watching football on the television, and likely dining somewhere.