In the vast expanse of space, a small indie team embarked on a daring mission: to create a game that pays homage to 80s and 90s pop culture while capturing the essence of the Metroidvania genre. Enter MARS 2120, developed by the passionate minds at QUByte Interactive. As you step into the boots of Sergeant Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte, you’ll explore the mysteries of the Red Planet, face gigantic enemies, and relive the excitement of classic action films. But does this interplanetary adventure deliver the thrills it promises? Let’s find out if MARS 2120 is the cosmic escapade you’ve been waiting for!
Gameplay
In MARS 2120, players step into the boots of Sgt. Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte as she embarks on a space mission to the first human colony on Mars. Naturally, things have gone very wrong and it’s your job to go clean up the mess. The game follows the classic Metroidvania formula, emphasizing exploration along with a ton of backtracking as new abilities become available to access other rooms. As you traverse the Martian landscape, you’ll encounter diverse biomes, uncover hidden secrets, and face various threats.
Anna wields special abilities tied to elements like ice, fire, and electricity. These abilities play a crucial role in both combat and what areas you can access. Some rooms are blocked and can only be accessed by shooting it with the correct ability-powered gun. Others require you to melt a wall of ice with your flamethrower to access. Others are blocked behind doors that require an electric jolt to a powerbox nearby. There’s a nice range of ways to access different rooms and biomes, and as you acquire new abilities, it has you thinking about that powerup you could see but not access a biome or two ago.
Combat combines melee and ranged attacks, allowing players to perform combos by seamlessly switching between these attack types. You can do some impressively quick switching between that can be essential when you see certain enemies. Know a particular creature is weak to ice? A quick single or double tap of a right trigger, and you can instantly fire your ice-powered shotgun.
Whether you’re facing run-of-the-mill foes or colossal bosses, mastering what powerups and abilities you have is essential for survival. There is one part, though, that makes survival hard. And that is when Anna won’t face the way you point her. Facing colossal bosses where you need to use your ice shield, it’s imperative that she’s facing the right way. Otherwise, the shield becomes pointless. You point her in the direction of the oncoming flame and activate your shield only to have her then turn around and show her back to the emeny. Thankfully it’s not all the time, but it did make getting past one boss fight more of a challenge than it should have been.
Each boss encounter requires strategic thinking – uncover their weaknesses, adapt your approach, and hopefully emerge victorious. Like most in this genre, it’s about finding the pattern. Some are more obvious than others, but nailing the pattern, recognising what attack is coming, and when you can attack is key.
How It Looks
The game’s depiction of Mars is nothing short of breathtaking. As you explore the red planet, you’ll encounter diverse environments – from rocky canyons to windswept dunes, ice caves and floral biomes, there’s a lovely range of landscapes to see. The attention to detail in the Martian terrain is remarkable. Jagged cliffs, ancient lava flows, and sandstorms create an otherworldly atmosphere. When I started playing, I was a bit distracted by all the background elements because it looked so cool. There can be a lot going on, and it made me wish I could explore the background rooms. It’s all beautifully crafted into a visual delight that adds a real horror element to the game. There are chaotic-looking experiments, bisected alien species (or lap-grown nightmares) and ransacked rooms that were clearly evacuated in a hurry.
MARS 2120 doesn’t just focus on natural landscapes; it also introduces remnants of a lost civilization. Ancient Martian ruins dot the landscape, hinting at a mysterious past. These structures – partly buried in the regolith – feature intricate carvings, faded murals, and enigmatic symbols. Old human structures where experiments happened are also a delight to explore and offer a nice alternative to the surrounding Mars world. The contrast between the barren surroundings and the remnants of an advanced civilization adds depth to the game’s narrative. There’s so much background world-building that you can’t help but wonder what this place was like beforehand.
MARS 2120 offers a visual feast, immersing players in the stark beauty of Mars while unravelling its secrets. If you’re a fan of exploration and awe-inspiring vistas, this game delivers on both fronts! You can get lost in the details and I absolutely love that.
Conclusion
MARS 2120 offers an immersive experience that takes players to the Red Planet. Whether you’re a sci-fi enthusiast or simply curious about Mars, this game is definitely worth exploring. Get ready for an otherworldly adventure by putting on your spacesuit! It’s a game that has actually got me playing on my Xbox again, but would also be perfect on something like my Steam Deck. But it’s nice to have a game that makes me want to turn my Xbox on. There’s an awful lot to love about it, and the attention to detail in how it looks is phenomenal.
I rate Mars 2120 a quality 9/10. Maybe a 9.5, but we don’t do half-numbers here. Honestly, it would be a 10/10 if it wasn’t for that one problem that occasionally pops up where Anna just won’t stay facing the direction I’ve pointed her. And the nice thing about that is that it’s something fixable. It’s not a game-breaker. If that’s the only thing I have to complain about, then that’s a winner in my eyes.
Mars 2120 can be bought on the Xbox store for less than £20, which is a great price for what you get.
