The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has somewhat had a reverse effect on me than something I would have experienced earlier in my life. When I was younger, I would watch a movie or TV show, and that IP would often have a tie-in game. Recently, not only has this trend gone away, but my free time has decreased significantly as well. So watching shows and movies is often put on the back burner to not become even further buried by my backlog, or if we are honest, to not lose my footing in Destiny.
Nevertheless, a show I’ve become increasingly interested in over the last few years is The Expanse. A show that is not only loved by fans but also praised by critics. Two things that don’t normally go hand in hand with sci-fi entertainment. However, my personal life still got in my way. So when the opportunity came for me to preview The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, I was not only super excited but also worried that my lack of knowledge of the universe would hold me back. I’m pleased to say that all my concerns were in vain, and all my excitement was justified.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn PS5 Hands on Preview – Massive Mass Effect Vibes In The Best Way Possible
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I’ve spent a lot of time in Mass Effect, and I mean a lot. I’ve beaten the first game almost 6 times, platinumed the second game with the help of a co-writer here at PSU, and played the third game twice… also beat Andromeda, which I argue is the most amazing feat on this list. So believe me when I tell you, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn takes all the amazing, great gameplay aspects of Mass Effect and pulls them into the modern era.
From cover-based combat to telling squad mates where to go and what to do, you can feel the DNA of Mass Effect. Now, I will acknowledge that there are other cover-based shooters. Gears of War, Vanquish, and even Outriders are all cover-based third-person shooters. However, there is a feel and an aura of Mass Effect that you can 100% pick up on in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
From the lived-in feel of the space station, to the small interactions between you and your sibling V in battle, to how the AI engages with you in combat, all of it comes together to be an intense but never out of hand scenario.
In many third-person shooters, the AI can either be so smart that it never leaves cover and forces you to engage, or so dumb as rocks that it stands out in the open, waiting to be taken out. From the small glimpses the preview shows the AI functions as a unit and delivers enough of a challenge to force your hand but also allows you to feel in control of the situation.
In multiple cases, I focused on a single enemy only to be surrounded by a squadmate coming up the side. Now, while this is fairly common nowadays with AI, what I was delighted to see is that once I pull my attention from one enemy to the other, they take note and use that as an opportunity to change cover or move to a better vantage point.
This forces someone like me, who often neglects the other members of my squad and relies on the AI, to actually take control of the situation and tell them where to go or what to hit to carry out my overarching plan.
Cover and squad members are only a portion of the combat in The Expanse. You are able to carry up to two weapons in the game, modify the weapons, add equipment to the player, and change abilities to really take advantage of any situation and provide the most amount of fun in every instance.
Exploration Rewards Equipment
From a young age, I learned something very, very important from God of War: take the wrong path. Often this leads to new, powerful, and unexpected equipment and power-ups, and The Expanse is no different. As you explore the maps, you gain equipment and resources as well as weapons to upgrade and increase your arsenal.
This is where the RPG elements of the game really take hold and shine. Building a character that not only represents who you are trying to be but also has the walk to back up the talk. The devs at Owlcat Games really wanted every gun and piece of equipment to be not only viable but balanced, so that nothing is stronger and the choice is removed from the player.
The weapons are a great example. In most, if not every other game I’ve played, there are primary and secondary weapons. With The Expanse, every weapon is viable and powerful, from AR’s to handguns. This allows much greater vertical RPG elements to really hone in your perfect build.
Furthermore, there are character upgrades. Compact, dialogue, and passive skills that you can upgrade and unlock as you play and level. With this system, the player will have vast options with weapons and equipment, as well as deep upgrades with skills that not only alter combat but also dialogue.
This Is The Player And This Is My Favorite Store On The Expanse
Like in most RPGs nowadays, there are consequences to dialogue and choices. Knowing what to say and who to say it to will change every playthrough, and like in Mass Effect, your choices with your character will unlock or take away dialogue, just not tied to a karma system.
While paths in conversation aren’t dictated by morality, it will be on in-game choices in the background of your character, upgrades you choose, or previously talked to NPCs that will change the course of a conversation. All of this depicts an organic, natural way of conversation, making your choices feel impactful and keeping you from getting stuck in choice paralysis like Mass Effect often had me.
I might have wanted to say one thing, but knew it would unlock things down the road. This format gives you confidence that you’re doing what’s best for you by tying it to gameplay. Yeah, that sucks that it’s locked out, but this loadout is what I want, and I’m not changing.
While Owlcat’s dialogue is more appealing to me, it was the one negative I experienced during my play, though. Now, let me be clear, this isn’t the game’s fault, as far as I can tell. I expect this to change at launch.
However, I did not like the combination of preset voice options and the preset character look. To me, the voices didn’t match the character and often felt wrong, and pulled me out of the situation. This should be fixed when entering the character creation.
All in all, I’ve loved my time with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, to the point that I’m now going to start to finally watch a show that has been on my watch list for years. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has earned its place in my preorders, and a game that now has me pumped for the final release. I urge everyone who likes space exploration to check out The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
The Expance: Osiris Reborn Releases on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC Spring 2027