Mars Colony: Frontier
- September 25, 2015
- HyperKat Games
Get on Steam"Mars Colony: Frontier" is an open-world simulator where you, as an astronaut stranded on Mars, must manage survival for yourself and the colony against various hazards. Play solo or with up to 7 other players in multiplayer mode, competing for resource control in a dynamic economy. Choose from four career paths to specialize or generalize skills in this immersive experience of life on the red planet.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a relatively realistic simulation of living in a Martian colony, appealing to fans of science and survival mechanics.
- It features engaging gameplay with the ability to build and manage your own base, along with multiplayer options for competitive play.
- The developers are responsive to feedback and actively working on updates to improve the game, showing commitment to its future development.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, making it frustrating and often unplayable for many users.
- Graphics and user interface are considered subpar, which detracts from the overall experience and immersion.
- Many players feel that the game has been simplified compared to its predecessor, losing some of the depth and complexity that made the original enjoyable.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the effort put into developing intriguing plotlines involving mars quakes and missing persons, while others find the narrative elements lacking and unsatisfying. Many users express frustration with the story mode's execution, citing issues like bugs and a lack of engaging content, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while there are promising aspects to the story, it appears to need further refinement and development to fully engage players.
“With storylines that have graduated from 'challenger' to include mars quakes, missing persons, and others that I won't spoil, it's easy to see the hard work Howard and his team put into this game.”
“The first campaign segment is done, and the sheer amount of control over all the aspects of keeping a breathable atmosphere, crops, and mining will keep the player involved even when the storyline is quiet.”
“I like the addition of a new map, looking forward to more maps and add-ons to the storyline.”
“Other things were added, and there are some story elements, but unfortunately they aren't very satisfying.”
“Started in story mode... talk to so and so, then nothing to do.”
“Game locks up when trying to start story mode, do not buy.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them barely acceptable and dated, while others appreciate the improvements in lighting and atmosphere. Although there are complaints about NPC proportions and occasional lag, many users believe the solid gameplay compensates for the graphical shortcomings. Overall, while the visuals may not meet modern standards, they are deemed adequate by some, and there is optimism for future enhancements.
“What I saw when I started was slightly better graphics and smoother lighting, so definitely an upgrade there.”
“Graphics and tutorial could use further improvements, but Mars terrain and inside base scenes are already great, and I'm confident the game will continue to evolve and develop.”
“Despite the dated graphics, the mood and atmosphere feels spot on.”
“Graphics are barely acceptable, and the UI is less than perfect, but the gameplay is solid.”
“Extreme lag, bad graphics, frankly a total waste of my money.”
“Yes, there are problems with the game, yes the graphics are bad, and yes it is much different in terms of what Challenger was.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally solid and enjoyable, despite some criticisms regarding the removal of realistic mechanics compared to previous titles. While the graphics and UI may not impress, the game offers fun and interesting mechanics that contribute to an overall positive experience. However, there are suggestions for improvement in game mechanics to enhance future iterations.
“Graphics are barely acceptable, and the UI is less than perfect, but the gameplay is solid.”
“Less realism than Challenger, but it really doesn't take away from the gameplay fun.”
“It was a fun little sim with some interesting mechanics.”
“Now a lot of people that helped test Challenger have said many realistic mechanics of the game have been taken out.”
“Gameplay feels like wandering around aimlessly.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that hinder gameplay and make controls feel clunky. Many feel that the current state is unacceptable for a full release, suggesting it would be more appropriate for early access. Overall, there is a strong sentiment of disappointment regarding the lack of transparency from the developers about these problems.
“Way too buggy for this price.”
“If it were in early access, maybe: I can see it becoming a fun colony sim, but at the moment the controls are clunky with not enough power to fix that, and the menus are too buggy to be comfortable using.”
“Shame on the devs for not being upfront and transparent about this terrible buggy game!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is engaging, with players appreciating the control over environmental management, which maintains involvement even during quieter story moments. While the graphics may be dated, the overall mood effectively enhances the experience.
“The first campaign segment is done, and the sheer amount of control over all the aspects of keeping a breathable atmosphere, crops, and mining will keep the player involved even when the storyline is quiet.”
“Despite the dated graphics, the mood and atmosphere feel spot on.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall atmosphere lacks depth and fails to immerse the player.”
“The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often falls flat, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as coincidental and light-hearted, adding an amusing touch to the overall experience.
“It's a hilarious coincidence, but hey, it's there.”
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch!”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns!”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users express skepticism about the game's monetization strategy, suggesting it may be a cash grab linked to the release of the highly anticipated movie "The Martian."
“You can't help but wonder if this was purely a cash grab because of the highly anticipated movie 'The Martian' coming out next week.”
