One of the benefits of having a small variety channel is you can just pick up a new game whenever the mood strikes you. Mars Horizon came out a few years back and the sequel is supposed to come out some time this year, but I got tired of waiting for more news from the folks at Auroch Digital so we’re just going to play the original now. Mars Horizon has you take charge of one of five space agencies in this alt-history sandbox, carving out your own path through the space race and setting your own research and exploration priorities with the ultimate goal of being the first to send humans to Mars.
Damn Soviets. Just once you suggest they might have a monopoly on all the good ideas about communism and they take it all personal. Despite not being nearly as far along as we are according to the game’s quasi-scoreboard, they’re trying to snipe multiple milestone missions from us. Such decadence will not go unanswered. We rolled a quirk on our vehicle for the Jupiter flyby that reversed optimal and suboptimal launch windows (2:21:05) — had that not happened, we could’ve launched before the Soviets. As it is, they get a two-month head start. And on the heels of that, we learn the Soviets are launching their Mars lander, as well, forcing us to push the envelope and launch early (2:23:50). Given all this, it’s not hard to look the other way when Moscow comes calling and asking for a joint mission to the moon. Sorry, Ivan — we’re washing our hair that launch window.
Amid all this, a surprise contender for new best friend emerges. Despite some early struggles in our relationship — definitely not caused by me not knowing cancelling joint missions damages relations — the Europeans come calling with multiple joint missions. A science-rich lunar rover mission (2:38:45) and a lucrative moon micrometeorite launch skyrocket our relationship from neutral to friendly, which not only gets them to pay more for joint missions but also provide us more science per month. Multiple factors drive down our Jupiter flyby’s launch reliability to 80 percent, but we get away with it and start chasing the Soviets on another milestone mission (3:10:30). We then catch a break, with our Mars lander rocket finishing just before the end of an optimal lunch window, letting us launch a full eight months ahead of the Soviets and enjoy the sight of our lander be the only one on Mars (4:50:30). If the Soviets want a space race, by Mao we’ll give them one. From the August 24, 2024, stream at https://www.twitch.tv/trooperbari/.
Lead a major space agency as you guide humanity to Mars in this strategy simulation game. Construct a base, design and build rockets, conduct missions throughout the Solar System, and write your own history of Space exploration. Created with support from the European Space Agency. https://store.steampowered.com/app/765810/Mars_Horizon/
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