A challenger appears! Brace yourselves, folks, Saber Interactive has done it again with its latest release... Expeditions: A MudRunner Game! With the same creators behind the critically acclaimed SnowRunner, Saber Interactive offers yet another physics-based off-road simulation installment. Does it hit the mark? Let's find out!
Gameplay: As a player, you lead research missions, driving a variety of all-terrain vehicles across expansive open worlds - from the arid landscapes of Arizona to the rugged beauty of the Carpathian Mountains. The game emphasizes realistic off-road driving, challenging terrain, and strategic planning.
Tip: If a heavy truck is stuck and doesn't have an Anchor, a light scout can roll through and place an anchor in the right location. Especially if it's able to reach higher ground a lot easier.
So make sure to manage your camp and crew effectively, and expect rugged conditions, unpredictable weather, and the need for resource management... because they can run out. You can by more than one set of anchors if needed, and trust me... some areas will make you wish you did. If not you will find yourself pumping the brakes even more to avoid flipping your truck... trust me; I learned it the hard way. I flipped my heavy truck... right into the water! Of course, you have your Jack-Screw to help flip the vehicle, but... do you want to end up in that type of situation when you can avoid it? Bring the right tools for the job.
Saber Interactive has done an excellent job providing proper instructions and decreasing the learning curve here, ensuring that you can start and function through your missions properly with the challenges only stemming from the ones you're supposed to face (I'm not a newcomer to Mudrunner). The controls are simple enough, and the initial tutorial equips you with enough knowledge the get the party started by way of walking you through a challenge... which... you know what, let me just show you:
Before I forget... the average playtime to finish the main missions of the game is well over 100 hours. We aren't talking about the extras, so if you want a challenging sim to enjoy overtime... this will have you covered. Forcing you to pump the brakes to avoid flipping your truck... trust me; I learned it the hard way. I flipped my truck pretty badly right into the water!
Visuals: The visuals in this game are sweet! What makes them even better is the realism injected into the trucks with animation that captures the authenticity of off-road vehicles. Your graphics capabilities will increase the quality of the visual experience, so don't be shocked if the Switch version doesn't compare to other consoles... or PC. Every detail was taken into consideration, including the horn that shows the power of the sound. Trust me; those small details go a long way.
VIDEO CARD: 2 GB VRAM, Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 / AMD Radeon R7 370
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit PC
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game Recommended Requirements
CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
RAM: 16 GB
VIDEO CARD: 6 GB VRAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 6144 MB
PIXEL SHADER: 5.1
VERTEX SHADER: 5.1
OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit PC
Make sure to have 20 GB of free disk space or... get some more!
Audio: When it comes to audio, I highly recommend a surround sound system, especially if you prefer to drive from the cab view. The sound quality is genuinely authentic, from the shifting gears to the horn, which you feel in the sound. Speaking of shifting gears, the game's rumble feature is a bit on the shy side, giving you a subtle feedback experience as you drive through rough terrain. For the most part, the shifting is when I felt the feedback for the most part.
By the way, I found myself enjoying the experience more when I cut the music because I could hear what I wanted to hear.
Price: In terms of pricing, "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game" is available for $39.99 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch, ensuring a fair price for a stellar game.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game... offers different editions - Base Game, Year 1 Edition and the Supreme Edition. In addition to the core experience, Year 1 and Supreme Editions add extra content, including the Great Don 71 cosmetic for the Don 71 SUV and the Year 1 Content Pass.
Gameplay 5
Visuals 5
Audio 5
Price 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
