Mars Colony:Challenger

I want to recommend this game, I really do... but I can't!

So what is Mars Colony: Challenger? In concept, it's a simulation of assembling and maintaining a base on the surface of Mars with up to three other people where you work to supply your food, harvest resources to repair and maintain your fledgling base and try to survive in the bleak and stark beauty of the red planet. In practice... it's a concept trailer for the game the developers wanted to build with some nice mechanics but let down by bad UI, clunky controls and unfinished game content.

Many items still have their place-holder text from development in their descriptions, the textures are all over the place in terms of quality, the models are simplistic (and the player models are horrific, especially the hands), the sound design is quick, crude and badly normalised.... you get the idea.

If the idea of the game appeals to you, go play Moonbase Alpha. Its MC:C on the moon and done a lot better!

Don't Buy this -- no support and it crashes. I have got to a point that it will not allow me to continue forward, I cannot reset to overcome this issue and it is not a lack of knowing what to do. I have tried to start a new game with new everything and the issue that blocks me remains.... not worth a penny if they don't fix this.

The Dev released an updated version of this. However, instead of updating THIS, he gave it a new name and released it separately (Under a new name) to try and slime more money. Thus, this is officially abandoned.

Nice.

That's a big F-you to all that bought this game.

I really, really, REALLY want to like this game. I just cannot.

It's not the slow pace. That's fine. I like games that take a while to pick up steam. It's not the graphics. Yes, they're dated, but so be it, there's games from 10 years ago that I like to pick up and play.

It's the lack of a GAME. There is none. You are supposed to build a Mars base. So far, so good. Interesting, one would assume. But what it comes down to is "take this bunch of containers one by one and carry them inside", that means pick one up, walk (walk. What did you expect, running?) over to the airlock, find a place to put it down, walk back out to the hangard, pick another container up ... and repeat that 20 times). Then you have to put the right container in the right slot at the machines. They are labeled, don't worry, it's not like you have to think or anything. Then watch a progress bar move like a snail. From time to time it may "fail" and you get to click a button, but in general you sit there and watch a progress bar.

Thinking about it, you watch progress bars a lot in this game... it's like they made a game out of installing a game.

There is no decision making, no strategy, nothing you could possibly make "better" next time you try it. There simply is no room for any kind of, you know, PLAYING the game.

You work down a list of chores. And you don't even get paid for it.

I recommend it but only if you can get it at a low enough price as there are still a few annoying bugs. It's a borderline recommendation though as the crafting mechanics and rover repairs become tedious quite quickly .

Also it will probably only appeal to a certain type of person so you should play the demo first.

The good:
It's a slow paced survival game that does a reasonable job of capturing some of what it would be like to live and try and survive on Mars. A very unique survival experience that doesn't rely on zombies/dinos or some other form of being horribly murdered to create the survival expereience.

The Bad:
There are some bugs, the most annoying I encountered was when my dirt sample and drill samples stopped being recorded.
The gameplay is a little dry. Most of the time it consists of waiting for a green bar to fill. Which mostly works accept for the fabrication benches and the constant rover repairs. Which push it too far and it feels like needless time wasting instead of a gameplay abstraction.
The science is a little iffy in places. I'm not sure what's the point of the worms or mushrooms as you can only grow them once and I presume the worms would be part of the compost system and not kept seperately. Then there are the fish which seem to be the food eqivalent of a perpetual motion machine. I don't know if the worms, mushrooms, and fish were meant to be more fleshed out, but the gamedev ran out of time or what.

Processing of minerals seems out of place to the rest of the game in that it magically happens inside a machine. When all the other machines use equipment modules and are based on reality. In fact along with crafting chemical extraction/seperation could of made for interesting gameplay if it was more fleshed out, maybe with a puzzle element.

I have spent a few days playing the game and I enjoyed. It has a number of issues that many people have already documented. See the following post:

http://store.steampowered.com/recommended/recommendgame/277910

I have also found the ELS Module will sometimes have the buttons to enter it disappear in later phases of the game. While I have not needed the ELS it would be nice to have it function properly.

I have not figured out how to create additional nutrients for worms and mushrooms. It would also be very nice to be able to freeze and store meals for future use - kind of like MRE's. It would also be useuful to have someplace to store algae.

But it is clear since they moved on to a new Mars game that this game is now abandonded by Hyperkat. I can't in good concience recommend it. What a shame - it had real potential.

I have a love / hate relationship with this game. I love the concept but it could have been so much better if HyperKat games would get some help. The assets scream "one-man-job" with the sounds that you would mistake from something from 1995. So why do I still recommend it? Well its the only option out there of its kind. People that like sims and space, you might get your 10 dollars worth.

PROS:
>Unique experience
>Multiplayer

CONS:
>Poor asset quality
>Repetitive

Not much to say other than that.

This is not a game that everyone will like. There is no debating that, really. It is slow and requires you to really think about what you are doing.
But for people willing to put some work in, and have patience, this can be fun. Its mainly a "pick this up take it there" type game with a bit of micromanagment of health, oxygen and heat. There are little mini game type things which, once again, with attention are pretty easy. Oddly, though, this game can be really engrossing if you are not a person who craves fast paced type games, you may find that you become engrossed too.
What makes this game even more fun is the fact that there are basically three challenges (three different martian bases) each one harder than the other, providing new challenges.
I would also recommend this to anyone who played "Moon Base Alpha" and enjoyed it. It is along the same simulation lines as that. (With a fair bit more complexity)
Advice: Play a little single player, just to get an idea of how to do things. And then get a buddy and play together.

I am playing around 10 hours by now. (Mostly offline.) The game is exactly what I wished for: Slowly-paced realistic simulator of survival on a hostile planet without plasma guns, evil aliens and warp-engines. I love the system of devices, where each of them has some internal parts that have to be put together and can fail, and where every such device has its real unique function. The basic idea of the game is setting up the base, so do not be surprised there is not much objectives beyond that. The graphics is quite old-style and there are few bugs, but honestly, I am one of the guys who would play the game maybe even in text-mode if the idea was good. I definitely can recommend the game to space exploration geeks like myself, who do not look only for cool graphics and can appreciate the small well thought of details present in the game. The overall playability is very good, if you enjoy this style of games.

It's 10 bucks. it's something different. no monsters, no shooting. no flying. no magic. this game is for the times when you want something simple with a cool idea. like being the first poor chump to land on mars and set up everything useful for the guys that come on the next bus. I like this game.

I enjoyed this game way more than I thought I would. The graphics are not too fancy but the way the systems all seem to interconnect is very cool and there is something very peaceful and relaxing about being out there on Mars by yourself setting everything up. The learning curve is a little steep at first but once you accidentally suffocate or over expose yourself to radiation a few times you start to get the hang of things. I would highly recommend this game if you enjoy survival sims.

This is a fun little game detailing the realistic challenges of setting up a colony on Mars. It you enjoy sim games and games about colonizing and expanding, give this a try. I'd say, think Civ from the perspective of a worker, just not on a massive empire building scale.

After only 2 hours or so I have fallen in love with this game. Although I'm not a 100% fan of the rover controls (only because you have to click to switch between forward and reverse instead of just pressing F/S when you want to go forwards/backwards respectively) the rest of the game is designed very well. The graphics seem a tad behind the times (maybe 2005-2008) but do not take away from the 3D aspect or the gameplay.

The lack of a video on the store page initially took me to youtube to find out whether or not this was worth it. I watched a couple people play (and the audio was really distracting, since the in-game volume seems very low - I have to turn my speakers up higher than any other game to hear anything) and decided to give it a try myself. I'm so glad I did.

I admittedly have not played much to give a great description of later gameplay, but the initial setup of the base has been the best simulator experience I've ever had. The lack of a "run" function actually adds to the gameplay (in my opinion) since the gravity is less and you're wearing a heavy suit.

If you're having trouble with food/water, remember that there is a room in the base you can shut the door to and turn on an emergency oxygen feed so you can take off your helmet (Ctrl+T) and eat/drink. That threw me off my first play-through.

If you have not played this game, I highly recommend giving it a shot. Well worth the normal $10.00, but especially worth the $4 during the Steam Summer Sale. I do hope they expand upon this in the future, but am very happy with what is available now. Very stable, no glitches so far, and the flow of resources seems very refined from what I've played so far.

This game has a decent start, but there isn't much to do or explore outside the immediate area of the base. Also, the textures used are bland and "flat" as shown in the screenshots (as of 6/14/2014). As it stands, it doesn't offer a whole lot. I'm hopeful that with more work done with this title that I will be wrong and would enjoy this more.

Most of the reviews here would have you believe that this game is an absolute pile of garbage and should be skipped at all costs.
I recommend looking at a youtube video of some gameplay before making a descision.

When I saw this game at first, I was instantly interested, but severely discouraged by the negative reviews, and after watching a youtube video decided to buy the game.

The game is fun, challenging and engaging. Almost every aspect of the base itself is interactable in some way, and the emergent gameplay coming from environmental hazards, your friend eating all the rations, or perhaps even another player depressurizing the base make it a fun experience. You will complete many tasks during the setup of the base, including fixing comm towers, mining resources and eventually becoming completely self sufficient. The gameplay itself is solid, and very enjoyable. It is also quite realistic, and great for anybody interested in an RP game.

The only downside (for me at least) is that even though the graphics look like they were made before even Doom3, the game begins running horribly at around stage 4, making further progression impossible. Whilst this is likely due to my computer than the game itself, an update providing optimization would be great, or focusing on performance with your next game.

Gameplay: 9/10
Cost: 10/10

Note: Please send me a message if you want to try multiplayer.

Gameplay: At first I thought this game is a base building game but in actuality it is a task oriented game and very little in terms of bulding. You can make items and food but they are limited in variety. It's all about survival in it's simplest sense so don't expect a lot customability. In fact, base modules are added automatically every mission phase so you don't even get to build your modules. In terms of completeing missions, the game litterally throw you to the deepest end of the pool because you WILL be confused with what to do. However, in reality, the first 4 phases are actually pretty easy to pass that is if you spend the time reading the mission tutorial thoroughly and run through it a couple times. In fact the mission work orders don't need to be followed step-by-step as long as you know what has to be completed. Once you are at the fifth phase, things get a bit more interesting and you'll find yourself swamp with work while you are trying to keep yourself alive.

Critisim: Just as others have said with others interactions with objects is not very comprehensive such that it's purely point and click and you are done (although the work sequence does matters in terms of efficiency). The graphics are not top notch and there is no music (except ones you played yourself) but then again we all have seen worst. There are some game breaking bugs though like being unable to move if you didn't close a work screen before walking away, work stations disappear after a game reload, or unable to set an object if you have it on your hand while taking on or off your suit. If you figured out how to backup save states, then please tell me.

What I like: Despite getting the feeling that the game didn't achieve it's full potential, I do enjoy certain concepts of the game like farming and making the compartments livable. Also hidden amongst the simplicity of the gameplay is the complexity of survival as you constantly have to check your vital signs, the stats on your farm, your mining operations and your base life support system. If and when version 2 comes out which according to the developer would include some sandbox features, then this game would be a whole lot better.

Overall feeling: If you like task oriented game or generally want to get a feel of what a Mars would be like, I think this game is for you. If you want a sandbox game, then I probably wouldn't recommend this game.

The negative reviews very nearly put me off buying this game. But i thought "it's pretty cheap, i'll give it a whirl". I'm glad i did! Fans of minecraft and any kind of simulation game will LOVE this game. Seems hard at first, but once you get into it it's actually quite easy and enjoyable. Yes the graphics are a bit dated and yes I have seen one or two very slight bugs, but neither should put you off buying this game. I've been playing for the last 4 hours and every phase just gets more interesting. I also disagree with the comment "it will get boring if you are solo playing". I think this is absolutely fine for solo play, especially if you are the type of person that likes to do everything themselves :P highly recommend, 4 stars!

This game is NOT for people who want something to just jump into. Mars Colony: Challenger is a complex space station simulator that relies on a lot of knowledge to get the hang of things. You aren't given much to go on when they drop you into the first area, and it feels good to just experiment and try different things. This game is also NOT for people who just play single-player games. This game gets boring fast when you don't have people to interact with. Definitely a good game if you and a few friends all grab it and figure out how to do things together. This game screams cooperation, not competition, which is something that I really enjoy.

Being a new game, Mars Colony is very buggy. It was almost impossible for me to activate some consoles because you had to click on a very specific spot to activate it. The controls are a little messy and take a while to get used to. You don't have automatic free-look, and you must hold down the right-click mouse button or you'll be stuck in a static camera view. It's such a minor inconvenience, but it gets annoying fast and it's a pointless mechanic. The graphics, while not bad, are very outdated. This game looks like it came out in the early 2000s, not 2014, updating the graphics a bit would really make the game feel more alive.

Overall, not in the least a bad game, but it really needs a community to be fun. Again, the game looks very complicated in the beginning, but figuring out how to accomplish tasks is very rewarding. Anyone who buys this should play it with friends or find a group online.

My Rating: 7/10

I love games like this concept. Building, space, technical complexity. Sounds awesome right?

So Ya, I took a look expecting that old NASA one where you repair a moonbase (Moonbase Alpha I think?). So I wasn't expecting anything stellar... But, this game really looks like it was developed in 2001 one like others have said, then not finished, and uploaded on steam for a cash grab... after playing it for 30 min I'm feeling like an idiot for not trying the demo first.

It's a very promising idea, that looks like someone a long time ago really tried. And then gave up.

> Graphics are poor, and creative style is dated. Interaction very point and click. Thing just appear and vanish - NO physics.

> Sound is poor, repetitive. Phone dialing constantly?

> Instructions are poorly written and unclear. (Ie. supposed to set up atmosphere, pumps and other gear... But where? I go in the base and there's already gear setup? Where I am putting things? I click on un-setup gear and get options to configure it... There's a set button, it really means set-down... why can I get the gear that's here running... and on and on...)

> What finally did it in for me? Lag. I have a newer GPU with 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of system RAM on an i7 (system was built last october), this game was obviously written for a system much, much older.

I really wanted this to be awesome, but in the end, I screwed up... shoulda tried the demo. Oh well. Lesson learned. Let my example save you $10.

Short vid of gameplay, no review, just how it looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8YGZ3E-TPo&feature=youtu.be

This is more of a 1st impressions report, rather than a full review.

The mission in this game to to harness all the equipment you are given to make your habitat self sufficient, easyer said than done, You grow food, harvest minerals and basically survive, this is what i have found so far......

Ok.... Hmmmm, this game. I Really didn't know what i was getting into buying this game, after playing for 10 minutes i feel i have had a twisted pile of video game thrown at my feet, The visuals are not great, the doors make the door activation noise from doom ( the old ones) the movement is slow and the footfall noise is annoyingly fast, so it kinda makes you feel like an elf or something.

The interface is like one of a game from 2001 and the sound needs completely re-done ( the footstep sound whilst walking on a metal surface is going to send me into fits of rage)

Yet.... I feel intrigued to play this game for some odd reason, normally i would turn my nose up at this kind of game, but there is just something about it, like it wants you to figure what goes there and how that thing works, it is interesting ill give it that, and due to the fact i have only played it 10 minutes, i say give this game a go, it could have some awesome content ( somewhere)

This game has no real tutorial. and just throws you in the deep end, im 32 mins ingame and have no idea what the hell im supposed to do.

I read promises of growing ones own food, and mineral extraction, and making this tin box into a totally self sustained environment, so il keep going.... For now....

Ok getting the hang of it now, This is actually starting to become enjoyable, no other game has ever giving me a feeling of satisfaction when i finally manage to create a breathable atmosphere in my tin can.

The textures are crap, the player model is hilariously bad, But there is a good foundation here for something that might actually be a pretty damn good game. That is.... if they are even going to add more. SO im still going to recommend this as it has the groundwork done, and its a wild stab in a new direction for survival games.