In today’s increasingly visually-based world, game design and graphics take top priority in any well-developed video game. It is a fact that Surviving Mars, a science fiction colonizing game that allows you to design your own landing site and space station on the red planet by developer Haemimont Games and publisher Paradox Interactive, delivers on this promise with jaw-dropping, realistic visuals and effects. Although the game process is extremely complex and slightly cluttered, the creativity and life of this game more than makes up for its shortcomings.
In the mission I played, you attempt to establish the first “Martian Dome” in order to prove that human colonization is possible on the planet. Your main goal is to locate and harness the three main resources: water, concrete, and metals. There is an impressive array of resource extraction technology and drone infrastructure to help you achieve this goal, but all this machinery in turn must be connected to a power source. Therefore, you must balance construction of machines with power cables, solar panels, sensor towers, just to name a few. Personally, my favorite part of construction was watching the construction teams deploy and build the machines on your screen, right before your eyes; it created the real feeling of watching a building project unfold on an entirely different planet, remote controlled by drones. As your power stations start pumping energy and your station develops, you derive a genuine sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from constructing something from scratch.
The one aspect of the game that I felt was slightly problematic was the sheer amount of data that each machine spits out, from the building process to the hourly production and the total demand, etc. The overall station also constantly informs you about the research, available funding, and nearby resources that can be utilized, and although this information is extremely helpful, it can be a bit too overwhelming at times. Perhaps this is because I personally treat every bit of data as something that should be analyzed and acted upon, but I sometimes felt that there was so much to do and explore that the game experience turned more stressful than enjoyable. Then again, everyone reacts to data and information differently, so others may have a different experience with the same numbers.
But above all else, the fantastically impressive element of Surviving Mars was by far the visual graphics. From the very beginning, every single detail of the rocket ships and the planet mars was elegantly rendered and extremely well-detailed. As a disclaimer, I have no artistic background or credentials, but I really just enjoyed the overall aesthetic and design of this game and thought it added to the playing experience. I absolutely loved it when the setting turned to night time, and the space station lit up with brightly glowing lights. Again, it enhanced the realism of the game and underscored the effort that went into the graphic design. As a result, if you want to play a game that includes not only complex strategy and data but also beautiful visuals, check out Surviving Mars!
Rating: 8/10
Check Out the Surviving Mars – The Surface of Mars – Developer Diary:
Surviving Mars releases today for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.
PC Review
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Overall Score - 8/108/10
From the moment I first played Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the original Xbox, I have always had an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for video games. I admire their ability to immerse us in completely different worlds, and I am always eager to see how they integrate the newest breakthroughs in digital technology to make virtual reality feel real. I am currently a senior at UC Berkeley, but when I'm not studying I always make time to play Xbox One with my younger brother.
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