Publisher QUByte Interctive this week announced that their up and coming Metroidvania title ‘MARS 2120’ has gone gold, meaning that the game is content complete and ready to ship. A release date is expected to be announced soon, and MARS 2120 will launch on PC via Steam (currently in Early Access), the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles when the time comes.
Dubbed the “Brasilian Metroid Dread”, MARS 2120 is QUByte’s most ambitious project to date, developed by a team of six over the course of five years. These are a group of people who are passionate about the exploration, mystery and adventure that the iconic Metroidvanias have brought to players over time. The result is a “declaration of love for the genre” by a team that grew up playing and learning about it. In addition, MARS 2120 also proved to be a milestone for the studio itself in an effort to learn and work, for the first time, with the Unreal engine.
The size of the project and its implicit significance for a studio used to working on smaller, less complex projects on a day-to-day basis, due to the effort and challenge, ended up earning a documentary about the development process. The documentary “Journey to Mars” will be unveiled in June and already has a teaser released (which you can watch below!). In it, the team talks about the inspirations for the game, the challenges and the paths they took to try to make a fair and beautiful tribute to the beloved Metroidvania genre.
In MARS 2120, humanity has successfully colonized various planets in our solar system, allowing people to escape an increasingly grim situation on Earth. After the UN receives a worrying distress call from Mars, it’s up to Sergeant Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte and an elite team of space marines to answer the call and rescue the first colony.
To get to them, you’ll have to traverse a harsh landscape. fighting unusual and mysterious foes using a mix of ranged and melee attacks alongside very useful special elemental skills. How you dispatch your enemies is up to you, with the game offering players a non-linear approach to combat as well as exploration.
Inspired by pioneers of the genre such as Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, MARS 2120 is an action packed Metroidvania that offers a intense combat experience alongside cinematic flair.
MARS 2120 has a strong sci-fi setting, addressing current themes such as space exploration, genetic modification, and artificial intelligence. Developed using Unreal Engine, the game aims to deliver an immersive experience, with modern visuals and gameplay mechanics that stand out from other titles in the genre. The game has several accessibility options (visual, audio, gameplay) so players can customize the experience to their needs.
Unleash your power through a combination of melee and ranged attacks in real time. Acquire and upgrade your combat skills and techniques as you progress through the game. Do you want to experiment with different melee combos or eliminate enemies from a distance? The choice is yours! Explore different ways of defeating your enemies, discover their weaknesses, and survive!
Game features
- 2.5D side-scrolling action-adventure
- Rewarding combat and character progression
- Unique mix of ranged and melee combat
- Non-Linear Exploration
- Cinematic / Immersive experience
- High Replayability
- Campaign duration 8-10 hours
- Wide range of accessibility options
Have a gander at the trailer and screenshots below for more details on MARS 2120. The game was originally set to launch on the 28th of March, but has since been pushed back later into 2024.
