Mars Colony: Frontier

About

Mars Colony: Frontier is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by HyperKat Games and was released on September 25, 2015. It received negative reviews from players.

"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.

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36%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game offers a relatively realistic simulation of living in a Martian colony, with engaging gameplay and a solid economy-based system.
Mars Colony: Frontier includes interesting storylines and allows players to build their own bases, providing a unique experience each time.
Despite its flaws, many players find the game fun and enjoyable, especially those familiar with the previous title, Mars Colony: Challenger.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating and often unplayable for many users.
Graphics and user interface are considered subpar, and many features advertised are either missing or not functioning as intended.
The game has been criticized for being a simplified version of its predecessor, lacking depth and complexity in gameplay.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the effort put into various plotlines involving Mars challenges, while others find the narrative lacking and unsatisfying. Many users express frustration with the story mode's execution, citing issues like unengaging missions and technical problems that hinder gameplay. Overall, while the setting and potential for storytelling are acknowledged, the execution leaves much to be desired.
- “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.”
- “It's not exactly a perfect Mars simulator, but 'and then they all died of radiation poisoning anyway' doesn't make for a good story.”
- “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.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them barely acceptable and others noting improvements in lighting and terrain detail. While certain aspects, like NPC proportions and UI, are criticized, many agree that the overall atmosphere is well-executed. Despite some complaints about lag and bugs, players with lower-end systems report satisfactory performance at reduced settings, suggesting ongoing improvements may enhance the visual experience further.
- “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.”
- “I also found that the graphics are okay, but it is quite weird seeing NPCs around that all appear shorter than the character.”
- “Extreme lag, bad graphics, frankly a total waste of my money.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The gameplay is generally solid and enjoyable, featuring interesting mechanics, though some users feel it could benefit from improved game mechanics and a more polished user interface. Overall, while the graphics and UI may not impress, the core gameplay experience remains fun.
- “The gameplay is solid, despite the graphics being barely acceptable and the UI being less than perfect.”
- “It was a fun little sim with some interesting mechanics.”
- “The gameplay feels aimless, as I often find myself just wandering around without any clear objectives.”
- “I was disappointed with the gameplay; it lacks direction and purpose, making it tedious to progress.”
- “The mechanics are clunky, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs, clunky controls, and problematic menus that hinder the overall experience. Many feel that the game's current state is unacceptable for its price, 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 issues.
- “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!”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
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 feel 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 game's potential, the overall ambiance is flat and fails to immerse the player in the world.”
- “The lack of environmental detail and sound design really detracts from the atmosphere, leaving it feeling hollow.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted as coincidental and light-hearted, adding an amusing touch to the overall experience.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely spot-on, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep the gameplay light-hearted.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is perfect, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”