The video game “Surviving Mars: Below and Beyond”. How to survive on Mars
Below & Beyond is the next expansion for Surviving Mars, and the first for the game in over two years since 2019 Green Planet! During this time, we have thrown a lot of ideas on what it will be next for Surviving Mars. As we were brainstorming the content, one of the key questions popping into our heads wasn't, "What can we do?" but "Where can we go?" Once we focused on ways to expand players' horizons beyond the surface of Mars, the possibilities were suddenly endless.
I'd like to give you a quick breakdown of some of our favorite places, features and mechanisms that are added Surviving Mars together with Below & Beyond.
Since players have already mapped the surface of Mars, we have thought of other means of exploration - ways we can introduce the mystery and continue the feeling of discovery. Right off the bat, exploring caves and lava tubes is something that initially proved to be the perfect next step in colonization. Not only can players discover more about the Red Planet through exploration, but underground locations provide protection against certain surface dangers, such as meteors. However, your settlers can also fall victim to natural hazards such as collapses and even mental disorders that result from the long-term occupation of the tunnel, including the loss of sanity due to lack of sunlight.
One of my favorite features in Below & Beyond, and something that occurred to us early in development, was the idea of being able to mine passing asteroids. Asteroid mining creates an additional level of strategic play. Players who need to calculate the risk and reward of mining: stay on the asteroid longer to mine more resources, but risk staying too long and will lose colonists and tools when the asteroid leaves orbit. There is an autoload feature, which will automatically launch the rocket when the asteroid goes out of range, but the load weight limits mean that players will often not be able to bring back everything they have mined. Manually handling asteroids will reward most resources, but it requires more time and attention. It is rather the strategic conundrum and I am thrilled to see the different ways players approach it.
To unlock all of these exciting exploration features, we've added the Recon and Expansion research tree. This tree unlocks access to underground exploration and asteroids, as well as the tools you need to make those journeys, including all the fun things like reinforced vehicles, buildings, and upgrades. This not only simplifies the exploration process, but intertwines previously unrelated functions to expand the player's abilities.
Another feature we've added that helps build the intrigue and mystery of Mars is the Mini-Mysteries (we went pretty literal when it came to naming). These Mini-Mysteries are small series of missions that require the completion of objectives to unlock discoveries, technology, settlers, research points and other surprises. We felt these mysteries added another level to exploration and created more rewarding progress, rather than collecting materials or XP.
Well, that's it! We wanted to give you an overview of some of the features we're most excited about. Surviving Mars: Below & Beyond is now available on the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S.
Surviving Mars: Below and Beyond
The era of colonization is over and a new era of exploration has begun. You've just scratched the surface of Mars, now get ready to go below and beyond!
Main features
Back to basics - Expand your colony into caves and lava tubes below the surface. Players can use existing structures or specific underground buildings to build a base for exploration. Expand carefully, potential collapses can destroy everything.
Mine Your Own Business - Players can now go below the surface and beyond the red planet for resource mining. Build special rocket-propelled buildings to mine resources, including exotic minerals and data samples, on passing asteroids. Don't stay too long, or the asteroid will drift with your stuff!
Branching Paths - Recon and Expansion research trees unlock additional buildings, vehicles, upgrades, and rooms. They will also unlock asteroid mining and tunnel colonization.
Surviving Mars
Welcome home! The time has come to claim your right to the Red Planet and build the first functioning human colonies on Mars! All you need are supplies, oxygen, decades of training, sandstorm experience, and a purposeful attitude to discover the purpose of those strange black cubes that appeared out of nowhere. With a little tweaking, this place is going to be great!
Surviving Mars is a sci-fi city builder focused on colonizing Mars and surviving the process. Choose a space agency for resources and financial support before determining a location for your colony. Build domes and infrastructure, research new possibilities, and use drones to unlock more elaborate ways to shape and expand your settlement. Grow your own food, mine minerals or just chill out at the bar after a hard day's work. The most important thing, though, is to keep your colonists alive. Not an easy task on a strange new planet.
There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony's chances of survival as you unlock the mysteries of this alien world. You are ready? Mars is waiting for you.
Key Features:
Build a sustainable colony in space: Building on a planet unsuitable for human life challenges you to build an intelligent and functional colony. Bad planning isn't about traffic jams, it's about the survival of your settlers. You really don't want blackouts to occur in a city built in an oxygen-free place.
Individually Simulated Settlers: Each settler is a unique individual with problems and strengths that influence the needs and behavior of other settlers. Things can get really interesting if your leading scientists develop alcoholism after too many long nights in the lab.
· Futuristic Space Dome Construction: Retro-futuristic super structures housing settlers, factories and commercial buildings with their own “neighborhood personality”. Create colonies that value science above all else, while weary workers drink their paycheck at a local bar or attempt a utopia among the stars.
Mars Secrets Exploration: Inspired by classic science fiction by Asimov and Clarke, Surviving Mars hides many secrets. During each match, players can encounter one of Mars' individually created mysteries. Uncovering these secrets could bring great fortune or terrible ruin to your colony.
Randomized Research Tree: Combines static and random research through exploration, which allows for a different experience for each journey in the game. Gain new scientific discoveries by exploring the uncharted terrain of the surface of Mars.
Unique retro-futuristic aesthetic: a sleek, modern take on the brilliant futurism of the 60s. A time of exploration and adventure.
