Speed is, ultimately, the modus operandi of a car.
Expeditions: A Mudrunner Gamedemonstrates this not to be the case.
This bouncy, slimy off-roading simulator is the most fun I’ve had with an imaginary car since 2018’sJalopy.
I’ll circle back to the game’s theme and structure later.
In its moment-to-moment, Expeditions is rather wonderful.
Although each vehicle handles differently, they broadly function in the same way.
It’s surprising how quickly these driving techniques become intuitive.
Always look for the smoothest route, even if it’s more circuitous.
If you come to a large body of water, use your sonar to detect where it is shallowest.
That same sponginess is also what makes Expeditions so physically satisfying.
Its tactile simulation of tyres on terrain is one of gaming’s little miracles.
There’s a clear difference between the gritty dirt of Arizona compared to the soft undergrowth of the Carpathians.
Combined with how uniquely rugged each square inch of terrain is, it makes basic driving enormously gratifying.
The challenge of Expeditions emerges from balancing these short-term obstacles against your longer-term goals.
This isn’t the only decision you’ll need to make either.
This combination of intuitive physics puzzling and resource management results in a very satisfying off-roading experience.
I’m less convinced by the theme and structure.
The research angle is a nice idea, but in practice it can be a bit dry.
These objectives might be more compelling if they contributed toward a larger story or were written with more colour.
Yes, pollution of natural habitats is an important concern in the real world.
But I’m not caring about some junk left in a pretend Carpathian swamp unless you make me.
The two environments are equally enjoyable to explore, with each biome generating unique challenges.
Nonetheless, I find the constant dipping in and out of the world to be quite dissociating.
It doesn’t help that the game’s menus are harder to navigate than its own wilderness.
This review is based on a review build of the game, provided by publishers Focus Interactive.
