Developer: Fallen Leaf, Black Drakkar Games
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Mac
Review system: PlayStation 5
For as long as humans have existed, Mars, our closest neighbor, has been a subject of mystery and intrigue. The red dot in the sky has looked vibrant and strange in appearance, holding its mysteries. Orson Wells’ War of the Worlds in 1921 made Mars the subject matter of a galactic war against Earth, and since then, mars has been the subject of many sci-fi interpretations. For the team at Fallen Leaf, Mars is the subject of a terrifying murder mystery, and it dares players to enter.
Fort Solis caught my attention at PAX East 2023 in its stunning cinematic presentation. The overall mystery was intriguing as well as something horrible has happened at the base. What that terror is is unknown. Having finally played the entire game from beginning to end, Fort Solis is an amazing performance of digital cinema that does old-fashioned horror right. While the experience is short, the experience is nonetheless incredible.
What Happened at Fort Solis
Mars. The not-to-distant future. Humans have made a solid habitation there for some time. At Fort Minor, Jessica Appleton and Jack Leary are going through the rounds of their jobs. As engineers, they continue to mine and research terraforming technologies and new ways to help ailing Earth. A distress signal echoes out. Jack and Jessica are close enough to hear it and Jack takes his rover to investigate. As a storm sweeps in, communication is limited, and being outdoors is dangerous. Jack is about to uncover a horrifying nightmare 250 million miles away from home.
Fort Solis is a cinematic adventure, relying more on the cinema part than being a game. However, the player has the input of moving the character through the entire base, going to different sections, and solving puzzles. Puzzles involve retrieving items, inputting codes, solving passwords, and resetting machinery. The character is equipped with a wrist-held device, a Multi Tool, that scans, learns, and stores information. This tool handles most of the tasks presented to players during Fort Solis but is essential to stitch the entire story together.
A Murder Mystery millions of miles away
The gameplay is limited, meaning the performance and story are the heart and soul of the experience. Fortunately, Fort Solis has stellar performances from a strong cast. Roger Clark is Jack Leary. Jack is that laid-back 9-5 engineer with a sense of humor and a Dad bod. He goes in, gets the job done, goes home, and repeats. Roger has a wide range of being a wise-cracking spaceman to one completely scared out of his mind. His performances and what we see are striking and worthy of praise.
The same can be said of Jessica Appleton acted by Julia Brown. Jessica is strong and determined but is human and filled with fear boiling to the surface. She gets an opportunity during Fort Solis and Julia does a tremendous job creating a determined protagonist. She and Jack have a wonderful chemistry together and it bounces off nicely, especially during the opening chapters of Fort Solis. It’s the kind of friend dynamic I wish we had more of during Fort Solis.
Cinematic Storytelling
Accompanying this is the malevolent Wyatt, played by prolific actor Troy Baker. Troy gives his impression of one who is slowly breaking under the surface of a stone-cold gaze. He is a tragic arc and one can’t help but feel sorry. Eventually, when things hit the fan, his performance is spot on. This is bolstered by the fact that the story focuses on older-fashioned horror aspects as opposed to relying on tropes.
Fort Solis has no guns or weapons. The focus is navigating the base, solving puzzles, and unveiling the mystery of what happened. This leaves a strong sensation of vulnerability and unpredictability to the entire experience. CInematically, Fort Solis feels like a movie that A24 would have produced. It’s focused but still epic in various ways. As for the story, I am pleased to see it lean heavily on mystery and plausible science as opposed to tropes.
The interior is inspired by the works of Alien with long corridors and industrial architecture. The suits are reminiscent of The Martian with Matt Damon. There is a clear, crisp artistic design here that further enhances the immersion. Even stepping outside during the Martian storm is striking as soil and dust blind players and all that can be seen are the vague lights in the distance. Visually, Fort Solis is one of the most striking games I’ve ever seen and the team should be commended.
My entire experience had me gripped. Without the usual tropes that come with Martian-themed content, I was left to ask myself what would happen next. Every clue was an exciting piece of the puzzle, and when the story began to click, it all hit the fan. it's remarkable and distinct amongst games in its genre.
Blanketed in Martian Dust
Fort Solis is a striking experience but not all is well on this Martian experience. The game is strictly a narrative experience. What you get with Fort Solis is a four to five-hour experience. Following the playthrough, players may observe art and collectibles attained during their journey. However, that is the maximum extent of content. There are 143 collectibles. Missing one means starting the game from the very beginning. A guide would have been helpful upon game completion.
Furthering this is the limitations in the gameplay. It would have been interesting to see Crafting and more puzzles in the gameplay. The antagonist, while intimidating and interesting, could have been more of a threat. Finally, a speedwalk button would have been beneficial to exploring the base.. These limitations do hold the game back, but what we get is a straightforward experience that is very unique to the genre and engrossing to play from beginning to end.
Storms don't last forever
While it's a one-and-done experience, Fort Solis is an extraordinary effort from such a small studio. The entire experience had me gripped the whole way through and its visual direction deserves nothing but applause. Its story, characters, and constant thrill make this one a special thrill ride worth going on.
Indie games are about pushing what is possible in the medium. For Fort Solis, this is a game that rethinks and pushes a new approach in the sci-fi horror genre. It's more grounded but still thrilling. It focuses on vulnerability and allows that to send unease and fear. More games need to be like Fort Solis and I hope that it's the start.
FORT SOLIS IS RECOMMENDED
Reviewed on PS5 thanks to a review key from the publisher.
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