Exo One: Prologue

Exo One: Prologue is a very short game, but it manages to leave a strong impression because the movement feels so different from almost anything else I have played. I am controlling a strange alien craft that can roll across planets, build up speed, launch through the air and use gravity to keep moving. There is not much traditional gameplay here. I am mostly travelling through strange landscapes and trying to understand how the movement works, but the whole thing has a really calm and unusual atmosphere that I enjoyed. The movement is easily the best part for me. The craft can change between a rolling ball and a flatter shape, and I have to use that difference to control my speed and height. Rolling down slopes builds momentum, while changing the shape lets me glide through the air and use gravity in a completely different way. At first it feels awkward because I am not used to controlling a vehicle like this, but once I start understanding the rhythm, moving across the landscape becomes really satisfying. Getting a good run going and carrying that momentum across a huge stretch of terrain is probably the most enjoyable part of the prologue. I also really like the atmosphere. The planets are quiet and empty, with huge landscapes, strange clouds and distant horizons that make me feel very small. There is not much clutter on the screen, so I can actually pay attention to the environment and the movement. The sound design and electric guitar soundtrack fit the setting surprisingly well too. It gives the whole thing a dreamy feeling without making it completely passive. I am still trying to move efficiently and reach the glowing point in the distance, but I can also just enjoy the strange world around me. The biggest problem is the length. This is specifically a prologue and Steam describes it as roughly ten minutes long, so there is no way for me to judge it like a full game. I can finish it very quickly, and there is not enough here for proper progression, exploration or a deep story. That is understandable because the whole purpose is to introduce the mechanics and mood of Exo One, but it still limits how high I can rate it. I can enjoy what is here, but I cannot pretend a ten minute experience offers the same value as a complete game. I also found the movement takes some getting used to. The controls are simple, but using gravity and momentum properly is not immediately obvious. There were times where I was rolling along the ground when I really wanted to launch into the air, and I had to figure out the timing through practice. I actually think that learning process is part of what makes the movement interesting, but the prologue does not give me a huge amount of time to master it before it ends. The game is trying to make movement feel alien, and it definitely succeeds at that, although it can also make the first few minutes feel a little awkward. The story is mostly there to create a sense of mystery rather than give me a full narrative. I get the idea of an alien signal leading humanity towards the construction of the Exo One craft, followed by a strange journey beyond Earth. I like the feeling that there is something bigger happening behind what I am seeing, but the prologue obviously cannot explore much of it. For me, that works as an introduction because it makes me curious about the full game without trying to explain everything immediately. Overall, Exo One: Prologue is a really good introduction to an unusual idea. I love the strange movement, peaceful alien landscapes, atmosphere and soundtrack, and I think the game does a great job of making gravity and momentum feel like the main mechanics rather than just background physics. The extremely short length and slightly awkward learning curve stop me from giving it one of my highest ratings, but considering that it is completely free and is specifically designed as a short introduction, I think it does its job very well. It made me interested in the full game, which is probably exactly what a prologue should do. Rating: 7.7/10