Mars 2120

We commend Mars 2120 for what it does do well. It gets a few things right: the general aesthetic is on point, the ambient music is pleasant, and some of the upgrades you’ll pick up in your journey are pretty cool. But failing to nail the basic traits that make a Metroidvania means that we can't recommend this one.

Mars 2120 is a very interesting and fun experience, featuring beautiful graphics and innovative gameplay elements, although some are too innovative to be easily understood by the player.

Mars 2120 is an action-adventure game offering a classic Metroidvania experience. Set in a Martian colony, players take on the role of Sgt. Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte, navigating through a series of challenges to uncover the mysteries of the colony. Mars 2120 has its moments, particularly in its exploration and upgrade mechanics. However, it falls short in control, storytelling and enemy design, making it a solid but not exceptional entry in the Metroidvania genre.

Some interesting ideas attempt to revitalize a more cinematic and grand style in a metroidvania that stumbles where it matters most: gameplay.

MARS 2120 has some great ideas and executes them well, but the lack of story and some technical issues on the Nintendo Switch sadly hold back the rest of the experience. That being said, the soundtrack is great, the combat works well and some of the visuals are stunning, so there will be a market for any metroidvania fans who enjoy these elements of the genre!

Mars 2120 is an engaging game that features fast action-exploration backed by awesome controls. Its repetitive enemies and weak soundtrack hold it back. Good for genre fans, but far from exceptional.

It's not enough to invoke the sacred monsters of the metroidvania genre to make a good game, and MARS 2120 is proof. QUByte Entertainment's game is a disaster across the board, with weak narrative, flawed gameplay, and outdated technical aspects.

Mars 2120 is a title that suffers from very serious shortcomings in every respect. Its gameplay is dreadful, and the glance and optimization do not help. Its narrative side is nonexistent; the basic story is simple and does not capture in the least.

A Metroidvania where you can feel the effort to make it good, but just has too many rough edges to stand out among titans

While the effort that went into creating Mars 2120 can certainly be praised, this is not the kind of game that you would easily recommend to friends. It's never bad or outright awful, mind you, and playing it is a fairly easy-going experience. But at the same time, low enemy variety, poor bosses, generic story and uneven optimization means that this game will stay very far from the top of the charts.