Scars of Mars

Scars of Mars is a real-time tactical RPG, focused on instant decision-making, both during combat and exploration. It was developed and published by Acquire, known for Tenchu and Way of the Samurai.

Plot

The game is set in 2158, on Mars. We play as a special forces commander, tasked with evacuating the personnel of a research center which lost contact with the Earth.

Mechanics

Scars of Mars has us commanding a squad of four soldiers, one of its key mechanics being quick, strategic battles on 3x3 grids. All in-game choices must be made in real-time, requiring concentration and control over the battlefield. We must command our squadmates to attack, protect other units or use skills (such as healing), while constantly reacting to the enemies' actions.

Our soldiers can belong to different classes with different playstyles. Fighters are excellent in melee combat, wielding melee weapons and being able to charge at the enemies. Other classes include Berserker (high attack, low defense), Healer (support) and Sniper (slow, but deadly at range). We can customize our characters further by choosing equipment, researching new technology and crafting upgrades.

The stages are procedurally generated, making the game highly replayable. Each combat encounter or event drains our battery - to succeed, we must manage both our party and our battery levels.