We enjoyed this fun but flawed game when we reviewed it a few months back, enough that we're willing to head back to the red planet and see what else is in store for us. Here's what our reviewer had to say about the original title: This game has great ideas and a beautiful presentation, but it needs some work. For the price tag it feels hollow, and the gameplay feels a bit lackluster. Although fun once you get the hang of it, being overloaded with options while having no tutorial makes it hard to enjoy this game without being 100% devoted to the genre of base building simulator.
The expansion, called Space Race, will focus on rival colonies and mission sponsors, pitting Earth's greatest countries and most powerful companies against each other as they compete for the limited resources available on Mars. You'll spend your time stealing key colonists and monopolizing crucial discoveries, while you fight to be first in colonizing all the goodness the hostile planet has in store.
Check out the features and the video below,
A Challenger Appears: Compete for milestones, already limited resources, and anomalies with several other AI colonies backed by rival sponsors attempting to set roots on Mars and vie to become this planet's superpower. You can trade with, respond to distress calls for, issue distress calls to, and even steal important colonists from these competitor colonies as you establish your territory on Mars.
Earth to Mars, repeat, Earth to Mars: No matter how deep in space you go, you gotta follow the money. Each sponsor comes with its own sets of Challenges to complete as you further their individual goals for colonization.
Represent the Dome Team: Each sponsor has their own unique vehicle and building that only their colonies can construct and take advantage of in their mission. Express the individuality of your space-faring conglomerate inside and out of your domes.
New Money, New Problems: Meet two new players in the fight for the final frontier. Japan and Brazil are now available as brand new mission sponsors and are ready to move heaven and Mars to make their mark!
Expect the Unexpected: Experience narrative events throughout your colonization process that help reveal the realities of life in the dome and challenge your management skills.
Surviving Mars: Space Race Plus also features the Marsvision Song Contest and Colony Design Set content packs for the colonizer who appreciates the finer things in life on Mars:
Human Music, I Like It: Mars hasn't killed the radio star (yet). With Marsvision Song Contest players get a new radio station featuring all the top pop songs from the sponsor countries. Bop along to some J-pop, Bollywood and more as you fend off mortal peril for you and your colonists!
Smarten Up Your Streets: Deck out your dome with 25 new buildings in the Colony Design Set to give a fresh look to your living, working, and playing quarters. Whether it's a Stirling Generator or a Spacebar, make sure you spruce up your space to be out of this world.
