As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours exploring the cosmos and battling alien creatures in various sci-fi Metroidvania games, I approach Mars 2120 with a mixture of anticipation and skepticism, having seen its journey through early access.
It’s clear to observe that QUByte Interactive aimed to create an engaging science-fiction Metroidvania titled Mars 2120, featuring a spirited female protagonist in a stylish space suit and progressively developing abilities to navigate a lab filled with eerie extraterrestrial creatures. The influence of Metroid Dread is prominent, yet this might not always be advantageous. After nearly two years in early access, Mars 2120 is now prepared for its full release – the question remains: was the wait worth it?
In the role of Sergeant Anna Charlotte, you find yourself isolated on Mars, encompassed by peril. A malevolent force has overtaken the colony, claiming the lives of everyone present, leaving only you behind. The landscape teems with mutated creatures, monstrosities, and twisted researchers. Equipped with a versatile battle suit that allows for numerous enhancements, and a rifle customizable with three unique “Cores” – Lightning, Ice, and Fire, it’s up to you to survive this hostile environment and uncover the secrets of what happened to your fellow colonists.
Comparing Mars 2120 to the Metroid series, especially Dread, can be a complex situation. While it’s heartening to see a smaller developer honoring one of the genre pioneers, it also underscores the significant difference in quality between them. Despite having some enjoyable aspects, Mars 2120 falls short due to its problematic movement, unimaginative combat, and questionable boss designs.
In other words, Charlotte’s weapon versatility allows her to switch between a powerful purple laser gun and an icy shotgun. However, the game seems to encourage close-quarters combat as enemies often stand still when shot multiple times. You can either empty several rounds (12 to 15) into them or perform two melee combos which instantly kills them. There are skills available, like generating an electric field that lifts enemies and makes them hover comically, but straightforward punching seems to be more efficient. This electrical skill might offer some respite, but it’s not as effective as simply attacking things directly.
As a dedicated player, I’ve found the enemy movements in this game to be somewhat rigid and jerky, yet their melee attacks are astonishingly swift, giving the impression they’re skipping a few animation frames when they charge at you. The gunmen in particular seem to stand stock-still, allowing me to unload my weapon without much response, as if they’ve frozen in place.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve found that exploration in this game generally fares well overall. Charlotte swiftly uncovers an air-dash and wall-jump for her lightning Core, with more intricate moves to follow later on. The way she unlocks these abilities might not be as thrilling, though. Typically, you’ll encounter an obstacle followed almost instantly by either a power-up or a boss that bestows upon you the ability to conquer that challenge. It lacks the emotional depth, but revisiting earlier areas with newly acquired powers can yield significant rewards, if you manage it. The fast-travel system in Mars 2120 is not overly beneficial, and the travel nodes are scattered sparsely.
Occasionally, the viewpoint changes, adding a cool effect, but there are instances where you’re supposed to navigate 3D objects on a strictly 2D plane, making it quite challenging – almost like going back to an old-school console. As Charlotte is confined to her own plane, when you’re on a moving platform, it can feel like the object beneath you suddenly disappears, as if we’ve stepped back into an older gaming era.
In Mars 2120, you can acquire and install new abilities and enhancements, but you must meet certain experience (XP) requirements and locate the upgrades within the game world. Initially, I thought there might be a glitch since it shows all possible skills at the start, but that’s not the case.
It’s unfortunate that despite a promising premise, the game lacks originality and depth. Some levels, like the one set on a speeding, partially destroyed train, are intriguing, but overall, it feels repetitive. The main character, Charlotte, is underdeveloped, offering little in terms of personality or interaction with the environment. Enemy designs are adequate, but they rely heavily on reskinned enemies in early levels. The powers granted to the player are typical and unremarkable, offering nothing new compared to other games in the genre.
Mars 2120 lacks the uniqueness needed for it to shine. Its influences are evident, though somewhat ambiguous – perhaps one, at best – yet this isn’t sufficient to overcome its monotonous combat, poorly constructed bosses, and repetitive level design. While it offers an acceptable journey for genre enthusiasts, equipped with impressive abilities, it maintains a distinct early access game feel.
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2024-08-01 16:16