Reviewed on: PC
Welcome stranger! Colonize Mars? Why not? Today we’re talking about Mars or die! A game that takes you (tries to) to the red planet.
Mars or Die! is a top-down shooter with RTS elements, with a cartoonish theme of colonizers heading to the red planet; nothing we haven’t seen in the Marvin the Martian cartoons.
Mars or Death!
The mission is simple, cliché and necessary: colonize Mars, get there and take control of the planet for the survival of your species. Like what the aliens try to do here on Earth in Hollywood action movies.
You are a soldier on the red planet and must obey your superiors’ orders, however absurd (idiotic) they may seem, and as they say, a mission given is a mission accomplished.
Your missions vary from hunting and gathering, mining, protecting structures, eliminating Martians and uncovering territory. All very well balanced, but nothing innovative.
You walk around, build the whole complex of structures vital for survival: mining, protective turrets, solar panels for power and machines that refill your oxygen; after farming the necessary resources, you start to explore the terrain, looking for new farms and facing the Martians (who are not green), with laser weapons and low difficulty, you quickly master the red giant little by little, a grand mission that in a few hours ends up becoming boring.
Marche!
The game’s aesthetic is pretty cool, characters so charismatic that they really wouldn’t lag behind famous Pixar characters; the Martians are cooler than our invader protagonists.
The war/invasion/colonization theme follows that 1930s American cinema war pattern, marching tunes and trumpets, videos celebrating and encouraging colonization; this would be the fun factor of the game and would give the game a personal identity. It tried, but something was missing. Maybe a more elaborate script.
All missions have a fun and at least functional introduction, which is a break from the monotonous missions.
The scenarios are quite generic, repetitive, and after about five screens you’ve mastered their patterns; the textures and finishing of the scenery are pretty good, but nothing special.
Sound
The game’s sound effects are well crafted and synchronized, nothing essential, but quite functional; the music fits the game’s story and theme. The strong point is the conversations and mission introductions by your commanders, which were well placed and came close to being memorable.
Verdict
It’s a fun and carefree game; for those who like the theme, a purchase may be considered, and/or always add it to your wishlist for, who knows, a future sale. The work from 34bigthings games shows an evolution in the studio, which is becoming a veteran, and every day it makes this writer more attentive to their next titles.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZcpSHHVjSg]
Fun: 4
Audiovisual: 4
Gameplay: 3
Max Xavier
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