Publisher: Strategy First
Developer: Parallax Art Studio
Minimum requirements: Windows XP/Vista; P4 1.8 ghz CPU or similar; 512 MB RAM; 7 gb available HD space; 128 mb graphics card; 16-bit sound card; Direct X 9 or better
Genre: First Person Shooter
Release date: Available now
Review by: Andrew Clark

Rock n’ roll is a lot like first-person shooters. There are big name acts like AC/DC, which wrote the book on the genre, and ID Software’s Doom; these set the stage for everything to come after them. There are also acts that used a special talent such as Freddie Mercury’s voice, which took rock to a whole new level, much like Half Life 2’s gravity gun. And then there’s Exodus from the Earth: the FPS cover band.

The Earth is in peril, and like every other game of its ilk, it’s up to a wise-crackin’ anti-hero to “one-man army” his way through a corporate grid and save the day. Our hero, Frank, is hired to investigate a conspiracy surrounding man’s ability to survive on other planets and the A.X. Corporation’s involvement with a cover-up of a “second Earth.” Ol’ Francis must blast his way through a variety of futuristic environments to discover the truth at all costs.

Exodus plays like every other shooter out there, so anyone who’s picked up a controller or keyboard/mouse combo knows the drill. Run, shoot, collect keys and try not to die. Other than that, there’s nothing else to mention, so with that out of the way I can move on to the important stuff.

I really wish I had more praise to give to Exodus From the Earth, but sadly I do not. It’s simply not unique, functional or fun in any way. Serviceable graphics, almost impressive particle effects and satisfying character gibs staved off my temptation to cry, although that only goes so far when compared to the wealth of faults that I found.

The truth is that a serious story can only be taken seriously if the localization and voice acting match the tone of the game. The obvious voiceover faux pas in Exodus aren’t ironically funny, they’re just plain bad, so any sense of immersion is jettisoned out the window 20 seconds into the first act. To make matters worse, inconsistent physics, backtracking, convoluted level design, sticky walls, and enemy A.I. that either tries to shoot you through a box or ambush you “haunted house”-style make the game an exercise in masochism.

Some rock bands make a lasting impression on us, as do some shooters. Unfortunately, Exodus from the Earth is just a filler act, designed to keep you busy until the big one hits the stage. What one considers “big” and “rock” dictates whether or not this is worthy of your time. For me, it wasn’t.

Our Score: