Mars Saga is a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Origin Systems and published by Electronic Arts. Released in 1988, it was available for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC compatibles (DOS). The game is set on the colonized planet Mars, focusing on themes of corporate control, survival, and the discovery of ancient secrets.
Gameplay Mars Saga combines elements of exploration, resource management, and turn-based combat. Players assume the role of an indentured miner on Mars, tasked with fulfilling a contract by extracting ore. As the game progresses, the player uncovers a larger narrative involving alien artifacts, corporate espionage, and the fate of the Martian colonies.
Key gameplay features include:
- Exploration: Players navigate various locations across the Martian landscape, including mining tunnels, research facilities, and settlements. The world map allows travel between major points of interest.
- Resource Management: Survival on Mars requires careful management of oxygen, food, water, and money. These resources are consumed during travel and actions, and players must acquire them through mining, trading, or completing tasks.
- Combat: Encounters with hostile creatures (often mutated or engineered lifeforms) and robotic security take place in a turn-based system. Players use a variety of weapons and equipment, and character stats influence combat effectiveness.
- Character Progression: The protagonist gains experience and improves their abilities through successful completion of tasks, combat, and exploration. New equipment and upgrades can be purchased or found.
- Plot Progression: The narrative unfolds through interactions with non-player characters, deciphering clues, and investigating mysterious occurrences. The player's choices and actions often influence their reputation and access to new areas or information.
Plot The game begins with the player character, an individual burdened by debt, arriving on Mars to work as a miner for the powerful InterPlanetary Mining Corporation (IPM). Initially focused on the arduous task of extracting ore, the protagonist soon stumbles upon anomalies within the mining tunnels – remnants of an ancient, non-human civilization. This discovery draws the player into a complex web of corporate intrigue, scientific research, and the potential for a catastrophic environmental collapse on Mars. The overarching goal shifts from mere survival to uncovering the truth behind the alien artifacts and potentially saving the Martian colonies from destruction.
Development Mars Saga was developed by Origin Systems, a company known for its influential role-playing games such as the Ultima series and Wing Commander. The game shared some conceptual similarities and engine elements with Origin's earlier science fiction RPG, 2400 A.D. (1987), though it expanded upon its mechanics and narrative scope. Richard Garriott, co-founder of Origin, was credited as an executive producer.