Some gamers enjoy a more challenging and puzzle like drive, which is what the MudRunner series is all about. The series’ brand of off-roading simulation is on a whole other, much muddier, level to other racers. The latest game in the series, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game by Saber Interactive, takes the sim core of the series, then builds upon and mods the experience into much more complete offering, that will appeal to newcomers as well as long serving veterans.
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Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, like its origin series, is all about vehicles versus environments. You’ll find very quickly that roads are a truly rare treat in the great unknown. And, you’ll spend most of your time cutting through rivers and scaling mountains.
Tools for the Trade
But, fear not, as you have a garage of more than capable work horses to tackle things with. Ranging from 4x4s to chunky trucks, and everything in between. It’s also worth highlighting that there is a point to this drive on the wild side. You’ll be tasked with completing missions as you work your way around.
These missions include taking cargo to set points or setting up kit, all of which will bag you some cash for completing them. You can then use your well-earned cash to buy new rigs and upgrades to make getting around a little easier.
Sim Goals
Expeditions‘ biggest hook, however, is the moment-to-moment gameplay. There is something alluring about the challenge of understanding the goal and then reading the lay of the land.
And, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is really a full-fat sim. You’ll have to think about gear set-up, what drive mode you are in, tyre pressure etc. And that’s even before you have navigation and falling off cliffs to worry about. It’s even before you think about managing fuel and spare parts.
Mods are Gods
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is as much a micro-management title as a driving game. For example, all-wheel drive is great, and will see you forging your way through and over most things you encounter. But, on all fours, you engine will quaff fuel like an Irish man taking the Guinness in on St. Patrick’s Day.
So, reading the moment-to-moment situations you’ll face is a big part of the gameplay loop. But, you do have some tools that will help out; like a drone than can scout for the best path to take or spot areas of interest and a winch that will pull you out or up most issues.
Base Camp
Much of the game flows like a standard MudRunner title, but Expeditions has a grander focus on base building. Building your base lets you have more options to help take the strain on longer missions.
You can add refuelling stations or the ability to swap rigs mid-mission. You can also hire a crew, which gives you some extra perks but at a cost to your bottom line. Whether the cost is worth the perks is up to you – but, in our experience, they’re worth every penny.
MapRunner
As for maps there is a good selection on show, set in Little Colorado, Arizona, and Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe. These bring not only a challenging mix of terrains and environments, but also really striking bio-spheres to explore – really everything you see can be reached if you have the drive and patience that is.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is a pretty game. There are some jaw dropping vistas and some breathtaking moments to be had as you wander the wilderness.
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The audio of Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is adequate. The overriding tones being of gear boxes grinding away and the splash of rivers and mud hitting your cab.
BlindRunner
If there was an issue with the game, it’s that it’s all a bit too open ended. And beyond a bit of flavour text about the mission, it’s a very lonely experience in ways. In fairness to Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, it does not hold your hand. The game expects you to have the drive to overcome countless trials and tribulations.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game has faith that you will get the job done, writing your own tales of triumph over adversity as you do.
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Another big part of the MudRunner series is its multiplayer options. However, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game launched without its co-op option. The mode is set to drop soon so this is a short-term grumble.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game takes what the series is known for, smooths off the rough edges, making it a more welcoming title for newcomers. Impressively, Expeditions avoids sacrificing its core in opening the series up for those after its brand of slow and steady gameplay.
The puzzles and diesel fumes are still intoxicating to the right sort of player. And, if you are looking for a horsepower challenge into the unknown, it’s worth taking the wheel.