SOL: Exodus Launching Fighters This Wednesday

Greg Tito

PR for Dungeons & Dragons
Sep 29, 2005
12,070
0
0
SOL: Exodus Launching Fighters This Wednesday

SOL: Exodus may herald the return of the space combat simulator genre.

One of my favorite moments from PAX Prime this past year was trudging up the stairs to the independent section and here's a handy timeline of the space combat sim [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112653-PAX-2011-Publishers-Are-Followers-Not-Innovators-Says-Indie-Dev] to keep you clear.) After quitting a high-level gig at Volition where he was design director of the first Saints Row, Stockman signed on with Seamless to make SOL: Exodus. The fruits of his labor will be released to the wilds of Steam on January 25th for a bargain price of $9.99.

[video=5272]

The game features 8 missions of open-ended combat in three dimensions. This is no StarFox on-rails crap, you can pilot your ship anywhere and attack any target you want in in SOL: Exodus. Targets include capital ships with weak points apparent with a scan of their hull and static defense you can hack into via your onboard computer. The weaponry leans towards visceral with machine guns and homing missiles instead of lasers, but Stockman's goal was to evoke the new Battlestar Glactica, not Star Wars.

The story drives that comparative military realism home. The Earth's sun is dying, and humanity is forced to quickly expand to other planets in the solar system. A fanatical religious organization known as the Children of the Dawn have other plans, however, and want to make sure the sun goes supernova and brings rapture to all human beings, regardless of whether they want to be burnt to a solar crisp or not.

[gallery=625]

I'm looking forward to launching my campaign as an ace pilot in SOL: Exodus this week, but, for now, feel free to enjoy the launch trailer above and these tasty screenshots. If you're interested in learning more about the genesis of SOL: Exodus, check out my feature on the space combat sim and Stockman's plans for reviving the genre here. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9253-A-Space-Fighter-Versus-the-World]

Permalink
 

Atmos Duality

New member
Mar 3, 2010
8,473
0
0
Dammit.
And I just picked up Evochron Mercenary on Steam too. (finally got it working...what a buggy game engine)

Though at the same time...HUZZAH! For the rebirth of a genre that's been dead for FAR too long!
 

Cpt Corallis

New member
Apr 14, 2009
491
0
0
Odd. When I try to watch the trailer i get a trailer for Wipeout 2048. Not necessarily complaining mind, but not quite what I expected.
 

Silvianoshei

New member
May 26, 2011
284
0
0
Yes! Let's get back to Freelancer, Freespace 2, Wing Commander, and X-Wing! God I missed this.

The only thing I'm dissapointed about is that there is only 8 missions. For ten bucks that's not bad (considering Freespace 2 was $80 when it came out), but here's hoping for DLC.
 

Greg Tito

PR for Dungeons & Dragons
Sep 29, 2005
12,070
0
0
Cpt Corallis said:
Odd. When I try to watch the trailer i get a trailer for Wipeout 2048. Not necessarily complaining mind, but not quite what I expected.
Yeah, sorry, that was user error. I'm an idiot.

Greg
 

Baresark

New member
Dec 19, 2010
3,908
0
0
I welcome a return to this now missed genre. I have such fond memories of this game type, good old Wing Commander comes to mind. I loved Freespace. I would suggest Darkstar One to people as well. Not a perfect game, but underrated. Also, this seems like a return to the more basics of the genre. Usually this game type is used for 4X games. Not a bad thing unless you simply want to go and fly some missions in space for a little excitement.
 

samsonguy920

New member
Mar 24, 2009
2,921
0
0
Greg Tito said:
Cpt Corallis said:
Odd. When I try to watch the trailer i get a trailer for Wipeout 2048. Not necessarily complaining mind, but not quite what I expected.
Yeah, sorry, that was user error. I'm an idiot.

Greg


Looks pretty solid. I don't know the SOL franchise as well as I probably should, but I think I will follow its career with great interest.
 

Weaver

Overcaffeinated
Apr 28, 2008
8,977
0
0
So it's just sequential combat missions and no open space exploring/trading?
Not really what I want in a space sim.
 

gigastar

Insert one-liner here.
Sep 13, 2010
4,419
0
0
Why does everyone seem so quick to forget about X3: Terran Conflict, and its upcoming sequel X: Rebirth?
 

thenumberthirteen

Unlucky for some
Dec 19, 2007
4,794
0
0
Cool. Definitely picking it up when it's released. If it's really good I may even treat myself to a new joystick since my current one's a bit basic.

samsonguy920 said:
Looks pretty solid. I don't know the SOL franchise as well as I probably should, but I think I will follow its career with great interest.
I didn't even know there was a SOL franchise. I thought it was a new IP. Cool.
 

bificommander

New member
Apr 19, 2010
434
0
0
Well, I recently gave EVE a spin and that combat system was just too dry for my tastes. This looks a bit too much to the arcadey-side but I might give it a go. I do feel it's worth supporting the genre. (I'll get X:Rebirth, provided it comes with a decent tutorial for once)
 

Worgen

Follower of the Glorious Sun Butt.
Legacy
Apr 1, 2009
14,954
3,828
118
Gender
Whatever, just wash your hands.
Hmm this is looking pretty interesting, I'm going to have to keep an eye on this.
 

Fiz_The_Toaster

books, Books, BOOKS
Legacy
Jan 19, 2011
5,498
1
3
Country
United States
Oooooooh this looks super fun.

Didn't know SOL was a franchise, but I think buying this will make up for my ignorance.
 

Greg Tito

PR for Dungeons & Dragons
Sep 29, 2005
12,070
0
0
Fiz_The_Toaster said:
Oooooooh this looks super fun.

Didn't know SOL was a franchise, but I think buying this will make up for my ignorance.
This is the first game to bear that name. I'm sure Seamless would like SOL to be a franchise but I wouldn't call it that yet. Head over to Steam and buy it on Wednesday if you want to make that happen.

Greg
 
Apr 28, 2008
14,634
0
0
Oh hells yes. Those Egosoft guys have had the space-sim genre to themselves for far too long. While the X games aren't too bad, it's nice to have some variety.

Will definitely pick this up.
 

Fiz_The_Toaster

books, Books, BOOKS
Legacy
Jan 19, 2011
5,498
1
3
Country
United States
Greg Tito said:
Fiz_The_Toaster said:
Oooooooh this looks super fun.

Didn't know SOL was a franchise, but I think buying this will make up for my ignorance.
This is the first game to bear that name. I'm sure Seamless would like SOL to be a franchise but I wouldn't call it that yet. Head over to Steam and buy it on Wednesday if you want to make that happen.

Greg
After re-reading the article I feel like an idiot. Hooray for Mondays!!!

I miss space combat games, so that purchase is totally going to happen.
 

thenumberthirteen

Unlucky for some
Dec 19, 2007
4,794
0
0
Just looked on Steam. Is there any word on a UK price? It doesn't show one. $9.99 is about £6.50, but there are always taxes and mark-ups for Europe over the US.
 

Soveru

New member
Jul 12, 2010
103
0
0
Judging from what I heard about the game, it's going to be awesome or be really horrible.

Fingers crossed
 

omicron1

New member
Mar 26, 2008
1,729
0
0
I was sold right up until I read "fanatical religious group."


I don't tend to like games that treat me as the villain, and expect me to agree.
No sale.
 

Scars Unseen

^ ^ v v < > < > B A
May 7, 2009
3,028
0
0
omicron1 said:
I was sold right up until I read "fanatical religious group."


I don't tend to like games that treat me as the villain, and expect me to agree.
No sale.
You're a religious fanatic?

OT: Just a few minor nitpicks from a fan of the genre(nothing that would prevent me from buying the game)... I'm glad that this uses a first person perspective, but having a cockpit would help with the immersion. I'm not fond of the big glowing "LOOK AT ME!!!" indicators for the weak points. A simple reticle for lock-on would be preferable. And the game says that the missions take place within the Solar System, yet the sky is cloudy... in space. Did we get a new nebula when I wasn't looking?

Anyway, aside from the minor stuff, this does look like something I'd have fun with, so I'll check it out.