Archetype Entertainment and Blur Studio’s space RPG Exodus was announced in December and was generally noteworthy for several reasons: 1) Matthew McConaughey portrays the character, and 2) the game’s plot is woven into time dilation during faster-than-light travel, with jumping adventurers across the stars who have been fighting the evil Heavens for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.
This is notable for three reasons, and the third thing is the cosmic spire of fat with bubbling faces that wants to eat your ship and your soul. Say hello to Mara Yama, the craziest Celestial faction yet. Here’s the trailer where McConaughey does something where he lingers on the sibilance and makes you want to lean over and vigorously mess up his hair.
Here’s a little riddle:
Mara-Yama, terrifying Celestial beings transformed into monstrous forms, are unlike anything humanity has ever faced in their fight for survival. Mara-Yama feed on fear, delight in cruelty, and delight in the agony of their prey. They’re not just hunters – they’re sadistic predators who relish every moment of the mental torment they inflict.
Stalking the deepest shadows of the Centauri Cluster, Mara-Yama strikes without warning, targeting the isolated and unsuspecting. But they want more than just cargo – they harvest minds, memories, and even emotions, leaving the survivors forever haunted by the terror that hides among the stars. Few escape their grasp, but those that do know the terrifying truth that lurks in the void.
We haven’t seen any footage of Exodus yet. While there’s definitely room for a up-to-date Shepard-style sci-fi story at this point, I hope this isn’t the case too similar to Mass Effect and is capable of doing something complicated and fancy, especially with time dilation. Signing up for McConaughey must have cost a lot – it would be a shame if the interstellar connection turned out to be just a matter of cutscenes. You can read more about time dilation in the Book of Exodus here.
