The first gameplay overview trailer for Expeditions: A MudRunner Game has been released, breaking down the premise and highlighting the features of the upcoming off-road driving simulator.
Players will “uncover mysteries,” “survey archaeological finds,” “gather geological samples,” among a variety of other “thrilling missions” across a number of vast, open maps based on real-world locales.
Dirt and discovery
While Expeditions does feature the familiar treacherous landscapes and complex off-roading mechanics that have become synonymous with its siblings MudRunner and SnowRunner, its focus is on making scientific discoveries rather than delivering large loads and repairing broken infrastructure.
Nevertheless, veteran players will be happy to know the vehicle survival mechanics are making a return here, as vehicles can be damaged and even disabled in especially precarious situations. Vigilance, preparation, strategy, and some finessing of the controls are all needed to ensure each journey is safe and successful.
Familiar vehicle categories such as scouts and large off-road trucks make a return, as does the customisation mechanics to allow each player to not only splash a new coat of paint on their ride, but also kit it out with equipment and accessory upgrades to make it battle-ready for the remote areas of missions.
New equipment options include tools like the anchor, deployable bridges, and more. Adjustable tire pressure systems have been implemented which can give a truck better grip when needed. The jack screw is a particularly powerful new piece of gear as it can spring a truck back onto all-fours after a tumble.
Being a team player
A big, new feature is the arrival of Team Members. There are various roles that can be filled via a list of candidates, each possessing different skills. Roles include mechanics, operators, managers and more.
Having them on your team makes life out in the field a little easier thanks to their “special abilities” to help surmount the various challenges that the game’s over 40 expeditions contain.
Interestingly, each of those missions carry a cost to participate in. So, successful completion will net higher profits that can be used to invest in better equipment and access other missions.
Base Camps can be set up on a map and expanded upon with new modules that add efficiency to the operation with equipment including storage units and drones.
There’s certainly a lot on the horizon in Expeditions. Its dangerous, exciting new world of off-roading adventures will open up on March 5 on all platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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