Thursday, July 4, 2024

Search for a lost colony on Mars in "Deliver Us Mars" adventure game

Sequel to Deliver Us The Moon (2019), Deliver Us Mars (2023) is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure game set in mid-21st century when the ecosystem of Earth is close to extinction due to the effects of climate change. After a mysterious distress call from Mars, Earth’s youngest astronaut Kathy joins an expedition to recover the ARK colony ships stolen more than decade ago by the mysterious science-oriented organization Outward (Kathy's father Isaac is among the leaders of Outward).

Although the story of Deliver Us Mars is strictly linear and you as a player can't impact it, the story itself is well-written and interesting, revealing the truth about the fate of Outward colonists on Mars piece by piece. Some parts of the game felt like a true detective. The atmospheric visual and audial mood of the scenes complements the story well and the final act of Deliver Us Mars features one of the most compelling representations of a human colony on Mars in video games, feeling almost utopian.. especially comparing it to the dying Earth.

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Unfortunately, this aspect also leads to some frustration with the strictly linear nature of the game's storytelling - you can't change the main character's endgame decision, no matter how stupid you think it is. Another source of a frustration with the game for some players will be the clunky wall climbing mechanics. Regardless these small issues Deliver Us Mars is a must-play game for any Mars fan.

Visual recap of Deliver Us Mars' STORY

Be aware of heavy spoilers, revealing major story plots.
Even before getting to Mars the expedition is riddled with severe problems
Spaceship approaching Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Landing on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
Game's protagonist (main character) is Earth’s youngest astronaut Kathy searching for her father among the lost colonists on Mars
Astronaut on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
Kathy lands near an abandoned mining facility
Mining facility on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
Mining facility on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mining facility on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
One of three colonial ships also looks abandoned
Abandoned colonial spaceship on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Abandoned colonial spaceship on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
.. but the power core of the ship is still functional
Power core of colonial spaceship on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
During her search for the lost colonists Kathy will drive back and forth between several bases of the Outward
Mars exploration rover in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
One of the abandoned bases is covered with snow
Mars base during a snowstorm in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars base covered with snow in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
Kathy can discover several of NASA's Mars exploration rovers during her search
NASA's Opportunity rover in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
From the very beginning, the colonists were beset by various misfortunes and over time some of the colonists began to demand to return back to Earth
'Earth is our home' graffiti in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
The expedition uncovers increasingly horrifying facts about what happened to the colonists
Dead colonists in an abandoned colonial spaceship on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
But disagreements are also growing among the members of the expedition
Abandoned colonial spaceship on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
Eventually Kathy discovers some of the colonists managed to establish a vibrant colony under a geodesic dome, among them her father..
Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
They even have beehives to pollinate the plants growing in the dome
Beehives at Mars colony in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Mars colony under a dome in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game
But the storyline forces Kathy to sabotage the colony and leave it to get back to Earth
Leaving the Martian colony in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Leaving the Martian colony in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Domed colony on Mars in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

Spaceships going back to Earth in 'Deliver Us Mars' adventure game

More content from video games set on Mars HERE

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