Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is the next title in Saber Interactive’s mud-drenched off-road series. Following on the dirty and rugged wheels of the acclaimed 2017 game and its follow-up SnowRunner, this one is promising another series of trials that are not for the faint of heart. It may not be exactly like the real thing but it looks to be as close as it can get, the sensations seem to be there, as well as the challenge – it’s quite stressful and accomplished in the way that it mimics all kinds of rough terrain, to the point of becoming a physical gaming experience, especially if you go for steering wheel support.
Let’s Get Physical
Expeditions is the antithesis of racing games, a different kind of adrenaline rush where speed gives room to calculated advances, each bump and climb potentially endangering your stability and chances of success. Moving slowly and carefully adjusting the vehicle’s state according to the extreme terrain, finding pathways across the landscape that are far less obvious than the expected route but possibly more rewarding, this is as much a driving game as it is a tactical one, requiring a thoughtful approach to every rock and river.
One of the beautiful things about Expeditions is that it avoids the pitfalls of a closed circuit for you to follow without much margin for exploration. The research missions you embark on are open-ended, allowing you to consult the map to check the potential course to your next objective, and use a series of gadgets to properly plan the itinerary, such as a reconnaissance drone. It’s not a game to rush through, each stage taking a significant time to achieve and mistakes coming at a high price, often at the cost of a winch or a jack-screw, items that you get to choose before each expedition but on limited amounts.
The initial choice of vehicles, from trucks of many sizes to the smaller all-terrain vehicles, basically off-road, scout, heavy, on-highway, and special categories, is very important due to the different conditions that you will face, and you can take more than one for each expedition. Sometimes you’ll have to tow a heavy truck stuck in a swamp, using your winch and full power to take it back to solid ground, easier said than done.
On the terrain, it’s all about adapting to the conditions as you go. Vehicle control may seem daunting at first, given the apparent excess of options to consider, but a little practice goes a long way. It almost ends up being a case of working out traction and power, adjusting as needed depending on the steep climbs, rock sizes, deep and muddy rivers with strong currents. The straightforward approach to this involves using the right shift, low gear naturally recommended for the times when you need more power and traction. Playing around with differential lock, tire pressure, and various devices to scour the terrain is priceless, also including the Echo Sounder to track the depth of ponds and avoid dangerous situations, but there are a few more depending on the mission requirements. Some of your actions will increase fuel consumption, and its advised to carry some extra jerrycans just in case, or you’ll have to be on the lookout for trade or resource spots where to get some.
Drive recklessly and the vehicle will suffer significant damage – and the odds of it taking damage nonetheless are huge, even with the most careful driving ever done. That’s why taking some spare parts for repairs is another thing to keep in mind.
Physics are for the most part amazing, pretty much unrivaled. Expeditions is a gritty, teeth-grinding experience where you’ll want to push on the controller or pedals to the top of your strength because subconsciously it might make all the difference on that final stretch – it doesn’t, but it’s almost impossible for you to avoid doing it anyway. The way the vehicles bounce and how the suspensions work, seeing it struggle as it slides on mud and ponds, it’s a true joy and you can almost feel the mud splashing around you.
Dirty Business
Barely scratching the surface of Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, this is already shaping up to be a solid new chapter in the series. There are still some questions up in the air, such as the introduction of cooperative play as in the previous games, something that is rumored but yet to be officially confirmed. As for the rest, it’s bound to be as physically demanding and challenging as it was expected to be, a true test of skills and patience aimed at fans of rough driving and vehicle management. Expect to roll down some hillsides and have the greatest kind of conflicting feelings of frustration and admiration, but always lured into giving it one more shot.
MP1st was given access to a preview build of Expeditions: A MudRunner Game for our hands-on session. Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is launching on March 5, 2024 for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
