Mars Attracts is a fresh and unusual theme park simulation based on the cult film Mars Attacks! from 1996 directed by Tim Burton. The film then offered a grotesquely funny depiction of the Martian invasion of Earth, and now, nearly three decades later, its spirit has been brought back in video game form. Instead of the expected action adventure or shooter, we got a management sim that combines black humor, grotesqueness and satire with the proven formula of tycoon games. The result is a title that manages to surprise even those who thought they had already seen everything in this genre.
From the first moment, it is clear that the game takes the atmosphere of the film and transfers it to an interactive environment. The visual style is full of cartoons and a bit retro, with bright colors and models reminiscent of comic book characters from the 60s and 70s. The Martians are still those small, mean, caricature characters with staring eyes, while the humans are depicted almost as props, meant for exposure, torture and experimentation. This creates a contrast between the fun tone of the park and the sad fates that await the human prisoners, which is also the main thread of the game: humor arises from the grotesque.
The gameplay is based on building and managing a theme park, but unlike the usual simulations where the goal is to entertain people, here you are building facilities for the Martians. Visitors to your park want attractions that include abducted earthlings from different historical periods. So you can have Romans, knights, cowboys or modern tourists, all placed in spaces adapted to their age. If you give people the right furniture and food, they will be more obedient and less likely to run away. No prava zabava počinje kada ih uključite u eksperimente, od bizarnog spajanja s drugim životinjama pa sve do rastavljanja tijela koja služe kao oblik istraživanja.
The research and development system is one of the most interesting elements of the game. Experiments on humans produce knowledge in three categories: biology, chemistry and physics. You then use that knowledge to unlock new attractions, shops and decorations. Dissections, which end in the death of abducted earthlings, provide special resources that open up additional possibilities in the park. Thus, every progress in the game is literally paid for by the suffering of your prisoners from the ground. This system is morbidly funny, but also cleverly integrated into the very core of the gameplay, because it gives a sense of progress and rewards experimentation.
Personnel management is also set as an important part of the game. Porters, scientists, and guards come with their own traits that can significantly affect efficiency. Some are faster in performing tasks, some ask for a lower salary, while some scientists are worth as two people, which makes it possible to carry out more demanding experiments with a smaller number of employees. Therefore, recruitment is not a mechanical task, but a strategic decision that directly affects the functioning of the park.
Of course, as in any game of this type, there are also everyday problems. Buildings fall into disrepair, stores empty quickly, and Martians expect constant maintenance and cleanliness. This means that the game requires a lot of micromanagement, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it provides additional challenge and depth, but on the other hand, it can become tiring because it requires constant attention. The AI of employees and visitors is not always the most reliable, so the porters sometimes do not fill the warehouses to the end, and the guards are late with interventions, which can be frustrating at crucial moments.
Conclusion:
Mars Attracts is an original and daring adaptation of the film Mars Attacks! which offers something rarely seen in simulation games, a combination of satire, grotesqueness and absurdity with well-known management mechanics. Although technically still imperfect, it already offers enough depth and content to keep fans of the genre occupied, while at the same time standing out for its uniqueness. For fans of the 1996 film, this is a real treat, while for tycoon fans
games attract an unusual approach and dark humor. If you like turning the genre on its head and aren't afraid of dark jokes, Mars Attracts is a title that deserves your attention and could become a cult classic over time.
A copy of the game was provided by the development studio Outlier for review purposes
