Life on Mars Remake

About

Remake of the 8 bits MSX2 game of the same name, with a 16 bits look. Genre: Metroidvania (2D Metroid/Castlevania style) with RPG elements. Explore, investigate, find improvements for your suit, find weapons, upgrade your weapons in workshops, fight incredible mutants...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game captures the essence of early 90's Metroidvania games with solid mechanics, engaging storyline, and a mix of genres that keeps gameplay fresh.
The graphics and atmospheric sound design create an immersive experience, with well-executed parallax backgrounds and a soundtrack that enhances the sci-fi horror theme.
The controls are tight and responsive, making combat enjoyable, and the revive/teleport feature adds a unique twist to gameplay.

The grinding mechanics can be excessive, leading to prolonged periods of farming for upgrades, which detracts from exploration and enjoyment.
The game suffers from a lack of variety in enemy designs and room layouts, making some areas feel repetitive and less engaging.
The map system is poorly designed, providing little guidance and making navigation frustrating, especially for players accustomed to more intuitive Metroidvania maps.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
25%
The story has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its engaging mechanics and genre blend reminiscent of classics like Metroid and Castlevania. However, many reviewers feel that the narrative could benefit from further development, particularly by introducing elements like "jammers" to enhance plot twists and ensure the story remains relevant and immersive. Overall, while the foundation is appreciated, there is a strong call for expansion and refinement to elevate the storytelling experience.
- “I like the mechanics, storyline, and I enjoy the mix of genres (e.g., Metroid, Castlevania, Resident Evil, Faxanadu).”
- “Nothing ages worse than a game/story whose time has passed and failed to reflect reality in any shape like the novel 1984.”
- “I recommend adding more to the story to include 'jammers' to add to the plot twist.”
- “Expand the story.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The graphics are generally well-received, particularly the immersive level design, which scores a perfect 10/10. However, the sprite graphics are criticized for their lack of polish, receiving a score of 6/10, with suggestions for improvement in both visuals and movement. Players express a desire for more visual upgrades related to suits and weapons to enhance the overall experience.
- “Graphics are good, and the music keeps you in the game.”
- “Level graphics 10/10 - really, really cool and immersive.”
- “Graphics: on point (if you're into the old school style)”
- “Sprite graphics 6/10 - could be better, both visuals and movement.”
- “Sprite graphics 6/10 - could be better, both visuals and movement.”
- “Sprite graphics 6/10 - could be better, both visuals and movement.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is praised for its fluid mechanics, tight controls, and engaging mix of genres reminiscent of classics like Metroid and Castlevania. Players appreciate the variety of secondary interactions, such as hacking and welding, although some note a limitation in aiming mechanics. Overall, it is considered a high-quality experience, with a rating of 9/10 for gameplay.
- “I like the mechanics, storyline, and I enjoy the mix of genres (e.g., Metroid, Castlevania, Resident Evil, Faxanadu).”
- “You can have a wide range of secondary interactions from hacking and welding to more mechanical tasks.”
- “Quality game, the mechanics are fluid, the controls are tight, and it looks great.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks innovation.”
- “The mechanics are clunky and often lead to frustrating experiences.”
- “The controls are unresponsive at times, making it difficult to enjoy the game.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in the game reminiscent of early 90s Sega/NES titles, often feeling tedious and excessive, particularly when it involves farming credits for upgrades. Many suggest that incorporating treasure rooms and upgrade centers would alleviate the grind and promote exploration, making the experience more enjoyable. Overall, while the nostalgic feel is appreciated, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback.
- “The grinding is... very Sega/NES, so treasure rooms and locker rooms with upgrades would make more sense than making the game grind by killing monsters.”
- “Went on for an hour and a half of farming credits to upgrade the rifle and energy... and it's painful.”
- “The game really captures the feeling of an early 90's game (complete with grinding).”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere is consistently praised for its dark, immersive qualities, evoking a sense of space horror reminiscent of adult-themed Metroid games. Reviewers highlight the effective use of atmospheric tones and nostalgic robotic voice samples, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It's got that dark atmosphere that immersed me as a kid.”
- “All of this takes us to an atmosphere of space horror, as if it were a more adult Metroid-like.”
- “Nice atmospheric tones and ye olde robotic voice samples.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music and sound effects in the game are highly praised, with many reviewers noting their immersive and impactful qualities. The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, particularly on the selection screen, and is described as fitting perfectly with the game's atmosphere, earning a perfect score of 10/10.
- “The soundtrack on the selection screen is also neat, with impactful sound effects.”
- “Graphics are good, and the music keeps you in the game.”
- “Music 10/10 - immersive, scary, and fits perfectly!”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game has limited replayability, as players report that the experience remains largely the same across multiple playthroughs due to its short length. While some aspects may encourage exploration, the overall consensus is that it functions better as a one-time experience rather than a game to revisit.
- “This adds replayability and opens up ways to explore further.”
- “Overall: a play and shelf later game due to how short it is and with no real replayability (everything happens the same way regardless of playthrough).”
- “Overall: a play and shelf later game due to how short it is and with no real replayability (everything happens the same way regardless of playthrough).”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game features an old-school vibe complemented by moments of good humor, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The game has a nostalgic feel and is filled with clever humor that keeps you entertained.”
- “The humor in the game is reminiscent of classic titles, adding a delightful charm to the experience.”
- “I love how the game blends old-school vibes with witty jokes that make me laugh out loud.”