Mars Underground
- March 20, 2016
- MarsUnderground
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Mars Underground," Mars faces a repeating first day of school on an apocalyptic planet, with each day offering new, strange experiences, puzzles, and encounters in this engaging point-and-click adventure. Its dark humor, stylish presentation, and intriguing premise create a compelling, mysterious atmosphere that keeps players captivated.
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Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging time-loop mechanic that encourages exploration and experimentation, leading to multiple unexpected endings.
- It features a quirky sense of humor and a charming retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- Players appreciate the creative puzzles and the ability to retain items and knowledge across cycles, making gameplay compelling and addictive.
- The story can be confusing and lacks a cohesive ending, leaving some players feeling unsatisfied with the resolution.
- Repetitiveness in gameplay can become tedious, as players must repeat actions to progress, which may lead to frustration.
- Technical issues, particularly with achievements and performance on certain platforms, detract from the overall experience.
- story19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is a central focus, offering engaging plot twists and a complex narrative that unfolds through multiple cycles and branching paths. While some players find the story confusing and lacking a cohesive resolution, the humor and intriguing mysteries keep the experience enjoyable. Overall, it provides excellent value for those who appreciate a rich, albeit sometimes perplexing, storytelling experience.
“At first, it was just what I wanted, because you unlock more and more story paths while you discover new things and get confident with the world.”
“For the price value, the game is excellent value for money with amusing and engaging writing, interesting plot twists, and a well-developed core mystery that is genuinely fun to try and solve.”
“A small town full of mysteries and weird characters, with complex story progression and multiple crazy endings with a meta-narrative plot.”
“The game seemed to just want excuses to delve off into weird territory without making a cohesive story or reason to keep going.”
“My only gripe is possibly that the story doesn't neatly wrap up in the end.”
“The only technical issue I had with it is that no achievements ever unlock if you play in Linux, although I'll also say that the story is somewhat weaker than it first appears; it's never really explained what's actually going on or why, just escalates to a meta-narrative.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as a retro 8-bit soundtrack that, while catchy and enjoyable, may not be particularly memorable for some players. It effectively evolves with the game's narrative and environments, enhancing the overall experience, though some users suggest adjusting the volume due to its intensity. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to engage players and complement the game's humor and aesthetic.
“As I visited new areas, uncovered new stories, and as new time periods became available, the nature of the music developed, shaping the impact of the game.”
“The game will capture your imagination from the get-go and the music will have you bopping your head continuously with its catchy tunes.”
“The 8-bit soundtrack is, unfortunately, not that memorable.”
“The aesthetic and soundtrack are very retro (you'll probably want to turn your volume down a bit, though).”
“I had quite a few laughs throughout the game; I think one of the funniest things was when I criticized the soundtrack. I regretted that a few seconds later when the game just muted all sounds. I went back to maybe apologize and get my sounds back, but I later found out it was muted in the options screen.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are reminiscent of classic SNES and RPG Maker styles, featuring basic pixel art that complements the game's narrative without detracting from the experience. While some may find the visuals simplistic, they effectively enhance the retro aesthetic and atmosphere, making it a fitting choice for fans of graphical adventure games. Overall, the graphics serve as a charming backdrop to the engaging story and gameplay.
“The graphics are an amusing throwback to classic SNES gaming days that fit the topic surprisingly well, and the core gameplay of tracking down all the unconventional ways to end the 'Groundhog Day' loop is an amusing trek in itself, even as you get drawn into discovering the strange people who make up the town of Phobos.”
“The pixel graphics hook into the narrative quite well.”
“I would highly recommend it for those who like a graphical adventure game with an atmosphere and some twisty storytelling.”
“The graphics are a bit basic, but they don't get in the way of the story, which, while a bit confusing, is fun to follow through the continuous cycles. There is always a sensation that there's more to do even after completing the game.”
“The graphics are an amusing throwback to classic SNES gaming days that fit the topic surprisingly well. The core gameplay of tracking down all the unconventional ways to end the 'Groundhog Day' loop is an amusing trek in itself, even as you get drawn into discovering the strange people who make up the town of Phobos.”
“The aesthetic and soundtrack are very retro; you'll probably want to turn your volume down a bit, though.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, eschewing traditional RPG elements like grinding and combat in favor of a unique time-loop mechanic that encourages exploration and discovery. Quality-of-life features enhance the experience, allowing players to retain items between cycles and providing helpful hints without compromising challenge. The charming graphics and unconventional objectives contribute to a nostalgic yet fresh adventure that keeps players invested in the quirky world of Phobos.
“The game manages the difficult task of making gameplay compelling and even addictive without combat or XP or other video game tropes.”
“I also appreciate the many quality-of-life features in the game that they maybe didn't need but are what elevate the gameplay: you get to keep items between cycles, there's a very helpful hint system which helps you along without making it too easy, and when you die the game often lets you restart just before that happens, without making you play it all out again.”
“The graphics are RPG Maker-like, but the gameplay doesn't involve grinding, leveling up, skills, and other typical mechanics.”
“Neat gameplay that expands as the player 'frees' themselves.”
“The core gameplay of tracking down all the unconventional ways to end the 'Groundhog Day' loop is an amusing trek in itself, even as you get drawn into discovering the strange people who make up the town of Phobos.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, blending dark comedy with intriguing storytelling, and providing players with several laugh-out-loud moments. Users appreciate the cleverness of the humor, particularly in unexpected scenarios, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of solid comedic elements and engaging visuals contributes to its appeal, making it a memorable play.
“The humor is solid and the underlying story is interesting.”
“Mars Underground is a fairly short game filled with mysteries and dark humor.”
“It's got a great sense of humor, beautiful art, and a great soundtrack.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers a unique blend of non-linearity and repetitive cycles that enhance its replayability, allowing players to creatively explore different outcomes. While some users note limited overall replay value, the engaging experience and exploration of the town make it worthwhile to play at least once.
“Overall, it is a great game. It is fun to explore the town and figure out how to accomplish certain endings. While there may not be much replay value, it offers a great experience that I would recommend playing at least once.”
“The non-linearity and repetitiveness of the cycles (i.e. each time you go back in time) makes for a surprisingly replayable and creative sandbox experience.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game avoids traditional grinding mechanics often found in RPGs, opting instead for a more streamlined experience reminiscent of point-and-click adventures. This design choice allows for engaging gameplay without the burden of excessive leveling or skill management.
“The graphics are RPG Maker-like, but the gameplay lacks grinding, leveling up, and skills.”
“As a big fan of point-and-click adventures, I appreciate the similar style of gaming without the tediousness of grinding.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, particularly for its engaging graphical adventure elements and intricate storytelling that adds depth to the experience.
“I would highly recommend it for those who enjoy a graphical adventure game with a captivating atmosphere and some twisty storytelling.”
