Random Video Game Review - Surviving Mars

Amongst all the news about Covid, Brexit, Trump and so forth, some of us forget that there are other things happening too. Companies buying other companies, people getting killed and arrested and other news that is worth our time just as long as it's not fake as a certain former US president would say. Going from that, it's felt like a long time since we last heard what's happening on Mars. For those of you not in the know, there have been reports that Mars could potentially be the first planet to have a human colony beyond Earth and lots of different space firms such as NASA are exploring that possibility. Now we have a game all about that so let's see if we truly can survive Mars:

The game Surviving Mars is a city building simulator that is modelled after real Martian data. The player chooses to sponsor one of a few nations with each one have varying differences and benefits. Then colonizing Mars begins with robotic drones and rovers who go about setting up Mars for humans. This involves things like setting up power and water infrastructures, domes, places of oxygen, landing pads and more. The main objective is to build a thriving colony on Mars while finding a balance between using resources from Earth and resources on Mars. Such things include setting up farms and much of what can be used can come from Earth or by researching technologies to have it all made up on Mars. But of course all this isn't without some kind of difficulty as the colonies you make are all subject to wars, plagues and rival organizations trying to destroy the paradise you may have made (amongst other things). Some rare objects such as metals can be sent back to Earth for profit and therefore be used to buy more things.

 

Paradox Interactive are widely known for their city building games and this game is no exception. I like the look of the game and of course it was always going to be a difficult one to play. Because unlike city building games set on Earth, Mars has those extra problems of oxygen and ensuring that nothing gets destroyed. But overall a solid game that does get people talking about the possibility of living and surviving on Mars even if many of us won't be around to see it happen (that is if it does happen). 9/10