ExoCross

[h1]I honestly didn't expect to get this hooked on a racing game with mixed reviews...[/h1] This game came out years ago and I'm sorry I had missed it earlier due to [b]it's mixed reviews[/b]. I only picked it up years after release on a whim. [b]ExoCross[/b] is easily one of the [i]coolest[/i] driving experiences Ive had on Steam, and I've been on Steam for about as long as it's been around ([strike]Steam's old enough to drink now[/strike]). I think I understand why Exocross got mixed reviews, and I don't totally disagree with why it got mixed reviews... [u]it isn't because it's a bad game... it's because some people love it and some people hate it.[/u] I'm one of the ones that love it so my personal review is definitely positive... if you agree with me it will be positive for you as well. So read on to see if you agree with me. [hr][/hr] [h2]What really hooked me is the physics engine.[/h2] It doesn't just use the typical arcade or semi-sim physics you see in most racers. It uses [b]soft-body tire simulation[/b] and something called [i]"4CPT" (4-Way Contact Patch Traction)[/i]. I actually ended up looking it up more info on it because the driving felt so ridiculously realistic to me. The game calculates the friction for each individual tire in real-time right at the "contact patch" touching the dirt. It constantly reacts to shifting weight, suspension travel, and how the actual tire rubber is flexing and deforming. You can really feel the chassis and suspension working as the weight transfers during corners. On some of the later tracks, you run into these sharp 180-degree turns. Once you get a feel for how the simulation handles weight distribution, whipping the tail around those corners and powering out of them feels [b]incredibly satisfying[/b]. [i]Literally my hands get sweaty.[/i] It also has a great [b]slipstreaming mechanic[/b] where drafting right behind another vehicle actually cuts down on the wind resistance and gives you a noticeable speed boost. There’s a [b]nitro boost button[/b] too, which usually feels way too arcadey for my taste, but it works well here because you get more of a boost depending on how far back in the pack you are. It's a nice way to catch up if you mess up a corner, without breaking the realistic vibe of the rest of the game. [hr][/hr] [h2]If you have a Steam Deck and you're even marginally interested in racing games, you absolutely have to get this.[/h2] It is easily one of the [b]best-looking[/b] and [b]smohest-running[/b] racing games on the Deck, which is huge for a high-speed game like this. [list] [*]The load times? Seconds. [*]The graphics and frame rate? Solid. [/list] I was curious why it performed so well, and it turns out the devs actually built their [u]own custom engine[/u] for this game instead of using an engine that would be too resource-heavy for a racing game like Unreal or Unity, which are meant to be jacks of all trades. Because the engine is stripped down to run only what the game needs, and because of a [b]massive optimization patch[/b] they dropped specifically for the Steam Deck, it runs at a buttery-smooth. The Deck's CPU handles all those heavy real-time physics calculations with ease, leaving the GPU free to make the clean, sci-fi art style look absolutely crisp at native resolution. Regarddng the theme... instead of doing the usual flashy hovercraft sci-fi trope with lasers and weapons, ExoCross goes for a super grounded [i]"industrial motorsport"[/i] vibe where you're driving on gritty alien dirt tracks in giant, V8-powered RC buggies, though the tracks feel more like driving down a wash in the desert than too sci-fi, just a touch of sci-fi, I'd say. [hr][/hr] [h3]I think the only reason the game has mixed reviews is because the campaign isn't super long and some people feel like it's more of a tech demo than a full, bloated open world game.[/h3] For me, racing games aren't so much about huge open worlds, massive customization, inventory, character menus and a bunch of silly jumps and loop de loos, it's about [b]pure racing[/b] and getting good at some [i]well thought out tracks[/i] (instead of driving around a huge city, etc). Honestly, I don't mind what's missing here at all when the core driving and physics feel this amazing. [b]ExoCross nails that.[/b] If you're like me, you'll probably like it. [hr][/hr] [b]Side note if you've got multiple monitors[/b] - I have it running on my triple monitors on my Desktop PC with these Launch Option properties in Steam, and it runs and looks great: [code] -windowed -w [Total width of all monitors added together] -h [Height of your tallest monitor] -x [Horizontal distance in pixels from the left edge of your main monitor to the far-left edge of your setup] -y [0 to align with the top of the screen] [/code] Don't enter the brackets themselves of course. Spanned across multiple monitors the sense of speed is... [i]sweet.[/i] [hr][/hr] So if you appreciate [b]actual driving physics[/b] and want something that runs like an [i]absolute dream[/i] on the Steam Deck, do not sleep on this one just because it has a mixed review. If you have tastes like me, it's [b]highly recommended![/b] Thanks for reading. Please like this review if you found it useful. Thanks!

ExoCross ist ein Rennspiel das mit guter Grafik und gelungenem Sound überzeugen kann. Auch die Strecken sind vielversprechend, die Steuerung ist direkt, aber der Wagen verhält sich als würde er über Eis schlittern. Diese sehr heikle und gewöhnungsbedürftige Oberfläche der Rennstrecken ist der einzige Kritikpunkt der mir einfällt, denn sogar der Preis war in einem Sale sehr günstig.

Originally called Drag the game and devs was bought out by iRacing. Then got released half baked and incomplete. It has since been completely abandoned, pretty much since release (over two years now). The AI is the worst I've ever seen and nobody plays it online. Bottom line: iRacing got a cash grab out of the original fans and is now throwing it away for cheap in sales. Ironically the title itself had a LOT of promise. The cars look and feel great (even after the physics nerf making it more suitable to gamepads). But that was never realized because all iRacing wanted was the off-road tech and devs to make them work on iRacing itself.

Short version: This game was made for five people, and I’m one of them. Long version: This game is very well-made. It runs well, the graphics look nice, the track design is fun and distinct, the cars feel great to drive, and the soundtrack is good, if not particularly memorable. Even so, I can see why it’s got mixed reviews. On one hand, it features fictitious cars in a fictitious setting in a fictitious motorsports tournament. There’s no team management at all. Not only that, but it has no option for a manual transmission. On the other hand, the cars take some real skill to handle. They’re light, fast, and have spongey suspension, since they’re made for off-road. You can even turn some of the assists off (like traction control). The arcade racer fans will be drawn in by the concept and setting, then get blindsided by the semi-realistic handling. The racing sim fans will be drawn in by the semi-realistic handling and lose interest due to the fictional setting and lack of team management. And yet, I love it. I love semi-realistic rally/off-road racing, but I have no interest in games like Assetto Corsa Rally because of the team management aspect. I just want to go fast in a car that’s always one slip away from crashing. It’s a feeling I haven’t gotten since Dirt 2 and 3 on the Xbox 360. This game gives me that, with a sci-fi coat of paint. Not to mention that the cars themselves are awesome. A V8-powered AWD buggy with monstrous tires? Yes please! This game takes aspects from both sim racing and arcade racing and smashes them together in a way that will probably drive off most potential customers. But if you’re looking for something a little different and a little challenging, I can recommend it. This game was made for five people. If you’re still reading this review, you might be one of them.

Perfect game it works too fine on Linux , it makes alot fun, works too with gamepad

Título off-road diferente dos demais! E até com qualidades admiráveis. Em ExoCross você conta com bons gráficos, física dos veículos bem trabalhada, ambientação inovadora e recheado de desafios. Mas há limitações que impedem de torná-lo excelente: somente três veículos; sem opções de tunagem; poucos mapas de provas; e multiplayer deserto. No entanto, se você gosta de corridas e o encontrou em promoção, vale a pena adquirir e experimentar etapas altamente disputadas em cenários inusitados. Mas um detalhe: se pensa em adquirir tendo em mente conseguir todas as conquistas, esteja ciente que é pouco provável disso acontecer, porque ele é difícil. Boa diversão...

ExoCross is a frustrating game to review because there is a solid foundation here. Its not at all a bad game. Its well polished, the graphics are decent, it runs decent, the driving physics have reasonable depth, though not addictingly good but you just get the underlying feeling that theres something missing here, something that makes you invest more time into it, that makes you want to come back to it. The game has some interesting ideas but it doesnt commit enough. You have fantasy cars but everything else is not that out of the ordinary. When you think about it, its not that different to Rallycross. I feel like the game could have been more interesting if committed further into a direction. And you could have gone many directions, For instance make it more combat focussed, a more in-depth collision and damage model, perhaps add weapons, armor, add power ups. You could go much crazier with the tracks and environments, it may sound stupid but even a Forza Horizon has more interesting tracks and locations. You could have gone crazier with the content. Car customization, more cars, innovative and new game modes rather than just doing the traditional race and time trial, the content feels a little limited and it doesnt necessarily have to be a bad thing, theres other games where few cars are plenty such as the Trackmania franchise in which the Stadium car is THE Trackmania car but the cars in this game arent interesting and versatile enough to reach that level where you want to come back because the driving is fun. As previously said, there is a solid foundation here but the physics are punishing if you dont get it right but yet they dont feel that rewarding when you do get it right, its like youre trying to avoid a big mistake the entire race rather than having fun driving like you do in other racing games that nail the concept of driving physics. Series like Burnout, we have already talked about Trackmania but also take something like Rocket League or Mario Kart. Physics that are relatively easy to pick up and yet still hard to master. Physics that dont feel that punishing when youre not good at them yet but there is still enough depth for a learning curve. ExoCross does nothing really bad, its not a bad game but it lacks a creative vision, something that makes it stand out, it simply is too conservative.

Great , fun arcade racer and tbh i dont think it was meant to be anything else ! Alot of people moaning about it being such but i miss these games , its fun !!!

Not a bad pick up and run a few quick races kind of racing game. The beginning is nice, but the handling gets kind of wacky the deeper in the game you go, as it seems you're racing with slicks on. Took me all of four hours to complete the championships so get it on sale.

This was one of the first games that I bought on Steam to play on my Legion Go S Z2. Prior to buying it I had watched a few videos on YouTube and I couldn't believe that a game like this would run on a handheld. Graphically it lived up to my expectations and more and I get a steady 45fps with the TDP set to 14w. In my opinion its more of an extended technical demo than a full blown game though. Its great to show your friends the capabilities of your handheld but the content of the game demotes it to the role of a quick pick-up-and-play whenever you only have a spare 5 or 6 minutes. I'd recommend it when its on sale but only expect to be wowed by its graphics and not necessarily its content.