Developers from the independent Dutch studio KeokeN Interactive brought us the sci-fi thriller Deliver Us the Moon in 2018. The game mainly focuses on atmosphere, story and logic puzzle solving. The subsequent success in reviews and in terms of sales proved that the mix was well received by the players.
Therefore, it is not surprising that in March of this year, the authors announced a sequel called Deliver Us Mars. From the title, you probably already guessed that in the second part we will be transported from the Moon to the planet Mars.
The future of the entire human race, on the brink of extinction, is once again at stake. After a mysterious distress call from Mars, as astronaut Kathy Johannson, you will take the Zephyr to the surface of the red planet, where you will try to unravel the whole mystery. It soon becomes clear that the mysterious organization Outward is behind everything, stealing the ships of the ARK colony, necessary for the survival of mankind.
At Gamescom, I tried one level that took me about 45 minutes to complete. From the initial presentation with which the developers presented the game, it was clear that Deliver Us Mars is a significantly more ambitious and technically advanced game compared to Deliver Us the Moon. On the visual side, I can highlight the animation and quality of the faces which is a level up from the previous installment thanks to the use of motion capture technology. It is the telling of the story in the form of cut-scenes instead of text messages that well illustrates the higher production values of the game.
Indeed, during the development of Deliver Us Mars, the studio itself has grown from ten developers working on Deliver Us the Moon to sixty people. In addition, unlike the original game, authors can count on the financial support of Frontier Foundry. The developers assured me during gameplay that the increase in budget and human resources would affect more than just the graphics and the way the story was told. Deliver Us Mars is expected to significantly increase play time compared to its predecessor. The game’s running time of around four hours was perhaps Deliver Us the Moon’s biggest weakness.
Regardless, Deliver Us Mars should remain a linear story-driven game with a strong focus on puzzles and environmental exploration. The logic transitions in the level I tested consisted mostly of puzzles that work with perspective and environment. To solve them correctly, it was necessary to study the environment in detail, which often revealed a possible solution. For example, scratches on the floor, imperceptible at first glance, revealed the place where the desired object should be placed, which then opened the door to the next passage.
I found the difficulty and time required to solve the individual puzzles reasonable. As long as their pattern isn’t too repetitive while playing, puzzle lovers will find something to enjoy. Unless you’re watching a story animation or solving a puzzle, you’ll probably be climbing some rock with ice axes in your hands. The authors have already presented the climbing mechanics in detail in previously published demos, so I was not surprised by their presence during the game.
However, I was surprised by their frequency and sophistication. It’s not just about crossing chasms or climbing high places. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the climbing game suddenly turns into a mixture of action-adventure and 3D platformer where you have to use your brain and fast fingers. In addition, within a few minutes, the authors presented me with several more options that develop climbing mechanics. This, for example, is the possibility of a quick descent or, conversely, a quick rebound, with which the character can quickly rise higher. A number of more ambitious AAA games can only quietly envy Deliver us Mars’ hard-working climbing mechanics.
I had the opportunity to try the game in the PC version both on the gamepad and on the keyboard. To be honest, I could control the game much better on the controller, especially when climbing. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try the PS5 version, which could have further enhanced the very good climbing experience through the implementation of the DualSense controller features.
Deliver Us Mars was one of the most pleasant surprises of all Gamescom for me. All three main pillars of the game in the form of storytelling, puzzle solving, and progression nicely complement each other and alternate at regular intervals. In addition, the overall impression is complemented by the mysterious atmosphere of an abandoned planet, where you are all alone. So, if you don’t need action-packed shootouts to be happy, and prefer a story with a focus on puzzles and environmental exploration, then Deliver Us Mars can pleasantly surprise and entertain you, just like me.
The only thing that chilled me a little during the gameplay was the kind of monotony of Mars itself, which probably does not offer much variability in the environment. Otherwise, though, I enjoyed playing the new game from KeoKen, which is probably best evidenced by the fact that I subsequently tried the game again right at the show floor where TikTok was at the booth to try it out.
Deliver Us Mars launches February 2, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Gamescom 2022 report on ZING.cz features Acer Nitro gaming laptops with processors up to Intel Core i7.
Source :Indian TV
