Mars is waiting for you… Do not just survive Mars, but colonize it… Make it Earth 2.0!
Some key points that this game offers:
- Various Story lines “Mysteries” to choose from, making each scenario unique.
- Different game modes to choose from, including Creative Mode.
- Massive Randomized Research Tree.
- Each Country/ Sponsor offers unique research among other goodies to your playthrough.
Gameplay & Controls:
The game offers full controller support for those that wish it; however, the keyboard and mouse are the better of the two options; This is a City Builder after all! The controls can be remapped to your specific liking giving you full power over life and death in every aspect here.
The game is not your typical City- Builder. You can say it is comprised of two parts, robotics and colonist. You start the game with a few Drones, your primary workforce on Mars. You task them to start collecting resources in range of the Rocket, Drone Hub and RC Commander.
Once you start laying down buildings that need to be built, drones will automatically collect and place the resources needed to build the selected building. The Drones are pretty much automated with a very instructive AI. Building maintenance is done automatically by your drones, another neat thing is that the storages that you place will all be filled with a minimum amount of resources if you have any resources in range of the drones.
When you have the basics of the game down and you have built the requirements such as water, oxygen and a stable electrical supply, you can build your first dome and send for your first Colonists. They have their own constant requirements such as water, air and electricity, as well as food, a home, medical care, safety and a few other necessities.
Combined these two aspects make for one very stunning adventure, nothing is too hands on or over complicated, The AI for your drones help micro manage all the small aspects of your colony while you make the big choices; such as what research to start with and where to go next.
Graphics:
Jaw droppingly gorgeous, we have a wide variety of settings to fully customize how the game runs. The game has fairly standard requirements considering our day and age, and includes the settings to run the game on Ultra, and frankly 600 Sols in with several thousand colonists and several small cities scattered across Mars. The game handles beautifully and dreamlike with no lag or hint of slowing down.
Every aspect and every detail have been carefully drawn and brilliantly presented to give us a lifelike experience of what Colonizing and Surviving on a hostile world will be like. Storms and disasters not only look unique as they occur, but they are both beautiful and marvelous to behold as they unfold. Cold waves appearing slowly and before you know it the entire surface is frozen over, or dust storms starting up and covering up everything before your eyes, these and many more. There may be dangers but they are part of what makes this game so amazing…
Buildings, Drones, Rovers and every other buildable aspect is just as beautiful to behold, witness and experience. Your colony comes across as alive in a way never seen before, and it is all thanks to the beautiful work of these developers.
Sounds:
Bringing life to this game type in a way that has yet to be experienced elsewhere. Every action and occurrence has its own unique sound. Mars might start out as a dead planet with nothing happening, but from the moment that first rocket lands that changes.
As your Drones and Rover collect resources you can hear them hard at work, moving collecting storing, everything offers unique background sounds. Resource generating buildings such as Your Turbines, Moisture Vaporator and so many others, all offering a unique tone to their doings to add further life to your colony.
These and so many other buildings, all unique and so stunningly implemented to bring us this amazing game.
Last but not least, that amazing soundtrack that makes it all so much better, so much more enjoyable and realistic. Every tune makes the entire experience so much more memorable.
Replayability:
Surviving Mars offers a Creative Mode, Challenging Mode and the standard game mode which can be customized to your liking. At the heart of this game lies Sandbox Mode, so the fun will only stop when you decide to stop playing the game.
There are talks of DLC’s that will add content to the game as well, so there will always be plenty to do in this stunning game.
MGR Gaming’s Conclusions:
Spoilers Ahead:
When it comes down to the numbers, Surviving Mars is absolutely gorgeous, filled with everything we’ve been wanting from a game like this. The fun never ends and there is always room to grow and to expand. We have numerous futuristic aspects to the game, that adds to the uniqueness of the game.
Rival colonies add an extra flair, but the best of all is the choice to add a mystery to your game. This allows each playthrough to be unique and adds a thrilling experience to your playthrough.
Additional Info:
Platforms: PC: Mac: Linux: PlayStation 4: Xbox One
Genre: City Builder: Strategy: Survival: Simulation
Censor Rating: n/a
Age Rating: n/a
Developer: Haemimont Games
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Release Date: 15 March 2018
MGR Gaming Steam Curator:
https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32364038/
