Building a theme park of captive humans and developing an industrial empire may not seem like a direct overlap, but that is precisely what we are doing today! I’m covering two games in today’s episode with the recent management sim Mars Attracts, and my long-delayed coverage of Rise of Industry 2. I will start with my good alien friends on Mars, as it is the more positive review of the two.
Mars Attracts
I always like management sims that delve into the wackier side of things, and Mars Attracts is right up there with the best of them. This is a seriously intriguing release by indie developer Outlier Games with a strong foundation in Early Access. Strong doesn’t mean it is perfect, of course, and I’ve had a lot of trouble regarding optimization during its first few weeks of launch, but I’ve had more fun with Mars Attracts than I expected.
In a unique twist on traditional theme park simulators, players assume the role of Martians who build amusement parks on Mars, abducting individuals from various points in Earth’s history to display them for curious extraterrestrial visitors. In this scenario, humans are not the audience; they are the exhibits. Think something like Planet Zoo, but instead of animals, you capture humans. That sounds like my idea of a good theme park. It’s probably just as well that I’m not in charge of anything like that. Ahem. Moving on.
Most of the gameplay is what you might expect from a management sim such as this, and Mars Attracts focuses on designing and managing your park, which involves constructing rides, amenities, and staff facilities while addressing the unique challenges of keeping the captive humans from Earth in check. Abducted people come from different eras, such as ancient Rome or the Wild West, with distinct personalities and needs. I like the time travel tech and not just because it’s downright hilarious. It’s fun to see a Roman sitting in the cage I built for him, eating from a dispenser.
There are consequences, of course. If the needs of small pets are unmet, they may become rebellious or attempt to escape. There’s more than just making human zoos. Players can conduct twisted experiments and probes on these humans to unlock new attractions or earn scientific rewards that expand the park’s offerings. Managing the park also requires classic management tasks, such as hiring staff, maintaining buildings, overseeing resource logistics, and balancing budgets with visitor satisfaction.
The Early Access launch has been relatively stable, and the developers plan to maintain it, introducing new maps, attractions, and gameplay systems while refining existing mechanics based on community feedback. My two main concerns with Mars Attracts so far are the heavy system requirements and the extensive amount of micromanagement that comes with the numerous mechanics.
This game runs incredibly hot, especially on laptops, and I’ve spoken to people who have experienced extremely high CPU temperatures while playing. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something to consider. Overall, however, Mars Attracts punches above its weight, and I am curious to see how this grisly theme park builder does in Early Access.
Rise of Industry 2
This project was heavily delayed, primarily due to technical issues. The first time I booted into Rise of Industry 2, I was treated to an incredible sight of a black screen before my laptop crashed completely. Not exactly what I call a good start! Sadly, this is one of those games that I struggled with on the technical side, which ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment of the experience. We’ll get to that.
I had been looking forward to Rise of Industry 2 for a while, as I had immensely enjoyed the original game. First impressions are everything with a game, particularly one that launches in Early Access. A different developer from the first game is behind the sequel, being SomaSim. Unfortunately, I am unable to recommend the game at this time. Things have improved since launch, with a smattering of bug-fixing patches and larger content updates. However, some strange design choices, combined with a poor first impression, have soured the game for me. There is a lot of depth to this management game, so it’s not all bad news. I wish the release weren’t so buggy.
I’ll start off with the good. Despite all the crashes and glitches I experienced, I ultimately found some enjoyment in Rise of Industry 2. First, I love the setting, which takes place in 1980s America, where every factory, contract, and business relationship holds significance. The game encourages you to see yourself as a budding industrialist, going from a zero-to-hero life, from making farms to managing sprawling complexes that convert raw materials into high-end consumer products like TVs, video game consoles, whiskey, and distilleries. There is an excellent sense of progression.
Next up, I appreciate the logistics on display. The contracts and logistics systems in the game are not just about production; they require you to deliver on time, maintain supply chains, manage imports and exports, and negotiate relationships with executives from other companies. Missing a delivery, failing to procure the right materials on time, or producing too slowly can damage your reputation and finances, creating palpable tension as you balance these demands.
There’s a pretty steep learning curve, although the tutorial is at least okay in teaching the basics. Mechanics related to contracts, reputation, supply shortages, and executive relations can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared. Finally, I’m not a fan of the interface. It’s messy, things pop up far too often, and there’s constant micromanagement that is worse when the game doesn’t adequately explain half its mechanics.
It’s been a rough time so far for Rise of Industry 2, and most of my time with the game came from navigating various crashes to the desktop, stuttering, and quests bugging out that forced me to reload saves. It’s hard to recommend this one when the original Rise of Industry feels like the better experience. However, hardcore management fans might find the setting and progression systems interesting enough to dig into.
