Unearthing Mars

About

Unearthing Mars is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Light Era Studio and was released on June 22, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Unearthing Mars is a virtual reality adventure game that takes players on an exhilarating journey to the Red Planet. Assuming the role of an astronaut, players explore Mars' stunning landscapes, uncover ancient mysteries, and engage in exciting exploration tasks. Through a blend of immersive storytelling, challenging puzzles, and breathtaking visuals, Unearthing Mars delivers a unique and thrilling VR experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

story12 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game offers a nice fictional mystery theme set on Mars, with engaging story elements and immersive graphics.
Controls are intuitive for puzzle-solving, and the environments are visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its short length, the game provides a unique VR experience that allows players to interact with the story and enjoy the Martian landscape.

The game suffers from technical issues, including poor voice acting, glitches, and frustrating movement mechanics, such as limited locomotion and teleportation.
The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, with abrupt transitions and a predictable storyline that may leave players wanting more.
Overall gameplay is considered weak, with many players feeling it resembles an extended tutorial rather than a fully developed game.

story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The story is described as a mysterious and engaging narrative that allows players to interact with the environment, though it suffers from a slow start and a predictable structure. While the latter half of the game picks up and offers memorable VR experiences, many reviewers felt the story had untapped potential and could have benefited from a longer runtime. Overall, it is seen as a unique, story-driven VR experience, despite some flaws in voice acting and pacing.
- “Engaging story.”
- “It's a guided narrative allowing you to experience the story as well as hear it.”
- “My only real complaint is that it could have been longer: the story had a lot of potential.”
- “Unfortunately, the writers of this story did not help her out.”
- “In fact, the story starts out very much by the numbers, then suddenly takes a turn into left field.”
- “There is no real purpose to go traversing the Mars landscape with specific missions being done anyhow.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
22%
14%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising them as impressive and immersive, particularly in VR experiences, while others express disappointment over lower resolution textures and occasional inconsistencies. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good, with some standout moments that enhance the experience, despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics and immersion.
- “Excellent simulation of landing, moving around on the red soil of Mars, with very good graphics.”
- “The graphics are among the best I've seen; you get a variety of controls, and the story is enough to keep your interest for the time it takes to get through it.”
- “The graphics of the 'War of the Worlds' waveshooter first level were truly breathtaking and among the best VR experiences I have had so far.”
- “The graphics are okay, but I was expecting better, higher resolution textures, etc.”
- “The visuals, while not great, still hold up in 2020.”
- “Ok, maybe I've bought an arcade shooter to show off VR graphics?”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels disjointed and lacks cohesion, often combining various mechanics in a way that detracts from the overall experience. While there are moments of decent puzzle-solving and impressive visuals, frustrating mechanics and limited movement options hinder immersion. Overall, the gameplay is considered weak, despite some engaging story elements that keep players interested at times.
- “From chapter 6 to 10, I felt the urge to know what's coming up next, and also a lot more gameplay merged in.”
- “This game has some really cool story, but also some weird play style in the gameplay.”
- “Gameplay: yes you have simulation, FPS, puzzle, etc., but in minimum doses.”
- “It seems at times like a series of disjointed ideas and gameplay mechanics just bolted together in order to produce a finished game.”
- “There are some impressive graphics at times along with some decent puzzle solving, but this is coupled with levels of frustrating game mechanics and poor movement options, with little thought to providing an immersive experience.”
- “Gameplay: yes, you have simulation, FPS, puzzle, etc., but in minimum doses.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound effects in the game are praised for enhancing the immersive experience, complementing its mysterious narrative and light puzzles. Reviewers note that the soundtrack aligns well with the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature, especially for those who appreciate story-driven VR experiences.
- “Music and sound effects are great, and if you can stick past the first half of the game and not go into it expecting an action-adventure game, it's a pretty decently put together, story-driven VR experience that is rare right now.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been criticized for lacking replayability, with users noting that it offers no meaningful decision-making opportunities, leading to a one-time experience.
- “No replay value and no decision making.”
- “No replay value and no decision making.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that players should expect typical early VR game glitches and a lack of free locomotion, suggesting that patience is necessary to fully enjoy the experience.
- “You should be prepared to be patient with the common glitches typical of early VR games and the lack of free locomotion in order to enjoy this experience.”
- “The game suffers from frequent crashes and stability issues that can disrupt gameplay.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is significantly undermined, with multiple users expressing that certain elements detract from the overall immersive experience.
- “That destroys the game atmosphere.”
- “That destroys the game atmosphere.”