Fort Solis Review

[Michael {United Critics}]

🎮Gameplay	7	Engaging yet sometimes monotonous exploration.
📷Graphics	9	Stunning visuals, especially the Martian landscape.
🎧Narration/Audio	8	Solid voice acting, but the script can feel forced.
😮Variety	6	Limited in terms of gameplay mechanics.
🎰Re-playability	5	Not much incentive to revisit after completion.
💲Price	7	Fair for the production value, but gameplay might not justify it for all.

📝Story/Plot without spoilers:

Set on the desolate landscape of Mars, Fort Solis drops you into the space boots of Jack Leary, a character reminiscent of classic action heroes but with a modern twist. The game revolves around the investigation of a distress call from a neighboring Mars outpost. The story, while promising a deep, thrilling narrative, often feels like it's treading water, with the character development between Jack and his colleague Jessica Appleton providing the most substance. Their dynamic adds a layer of humanity to the otherwise cold and mechanical setting.

🎮Gameplay:

Exploration and Atmosphere-
Fort Solis excels the walking simulator genre and creates an immersive exploration experience. Players are encouraged to thoroughly explore the Mars base, with each area revealing more about the overarching narrative and the mysteries of the facility. The game's pacing is deliberate, encouraging players to absorb the details of their surroundings. This slow exploration is punctuated by moments of tension, where the desolate and eerie atmosphere of Mars becomes almost a character in itself. This slow burn can be both a blessing and a curse - it builds atmosphere but can test the patience of players used to more dynamic action. Maybe an option of a slightly faster walk would have helped.

Interaction and Environmental Puzzles-
Interactivity is a key component of Fort Solis. Players interact with various objects and control panels within the base, each interaction meticulously animated to enhance realism. The environmental puzzles are cleverly designed, requiring players to pay close attention to the details of their surroundings. These puzzles are not just about finding the right item or code; they often involve understanding the lore and backstory of the base, making them an integral part of the storytelling. This attention to detail extends to video logs and other narrative elements, which are well-executed and contribute significantly to the game's immersive quality.

Narrative Integration in Gameplay-
The gameplay of Fort Solis is deeply intertwined with its narrative. Every aspect of the gameplay, from the exploration to the puzzles, serves to advance the story. The game avoids the trap of having gameplay and story feel disconnected; instead, they complement each other, with the gameplay mechanics enriching the narrative experience. The to-and-fro conversation between the characters sometimes can feel out of the place. Even in a tense situation they sometimes make unnecessary puns.

Quick-Time-Events (QTEs) and Difficulty-
Fort Solis includes quick time events that react to the player's actions and choices. These events can alter the course of the narrative or affect the gameplay, adding a layer of reactivity and unpredictability. But there are two main issues with them, one, sometimes they blend with the background and are hard to see; second, sometimes they appear in random situations where you would expect them the least. The lack of camera cuts and detailed animations for interactions, while impressive, can make the gameplay feel sluggish. The game does not feature traditional combat, which might disappoint some players, but it stays true to its narrative-focused experience.

Sound Design and Immersion-
The sound design in Fort Solis deserves special mention. The howling Martian winds, the creaking of the base under stress, and the occasional distant rumblings all contribute to an immersive and sometimes unsettling experience. The sound not only enhances the atmosphere but also plays a role in the gameplay, with certain audio cues being crucial for solving puzzles or indicating danger.

📷Graphics:

The visual presentation of "Fort Solis" is where the game truly shines. The Martian landscape is rendered with stunning detail, creating an immersive and believable environment. The realistic textures, lighting, and attention to detail in the facility design contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere.

📝Main Pros and Cons:

Pros-

• Impressive graphics and environmental design.
  
• Strong voice acting enhances the narrative.
  
• Captures the isolation and mystery of space exploration.

Cons-

• Story potential feels underutilized.
  
• QTEs are often more frustrating than engaging.
  
• Pacing issues affect overall engagement.

🏷️Tips to new players:

Patience is key in Fort Solis. Take your time to explore and interact with the environment, as rushing can lead to missing crucial elements. Be prepared for sudden QTEs, and don't get discouraged by initial failures.

✉️Miscellaneous Information:

Performance and Settings-
Players with mid-range PCs might need to adjust settings for optimal performance. The game can be demanding, so tweaking graphics settings can help reduce judder and improve the overall experience. I am on gtx1650 and it was a battle to run smoothly. Plus the initial crashes I faced whenever I clicked “Continue”.

Extras-
Fort Solis also rewards you for your exploration by unlocking stories of characters, collectibles and elements from the story like video logs, audio messages. So you can aim towards 100% the game.

😇Honest Rating:

Even with its downsides, Fort Solis is still a visually stunning and atmospherically rich game that offers an intriguing, albeit sometimes slow, exploration of isolation and survival on Mars. While it may not satisfy those looking for fast-paced action or a deeply complex narrative, it stands out for its environmental storytelling and strong audio-visual production. It's a decent choice for players interested in atmospheric, story-driven games.

Rating: 7/10

Reviewer: Guri
Chivalry is not dead.