Life on Mars: Genesis is a metroidvania that eventually made its way to the Sega Mega Drive in 2022 as a port of the PC remake. The project originally began on the MSX in 2015, followed by an expanded PC version in 2017, before receiving its 16-bit console adaptation. Visually, narratively, and atmospherically, it strongly echoes Super Metroid, placing the player in a hostile alien world filled with hidden passages and environmental storytelling.
Gameplay revolves around exploration, backtracking, and gradual ability upgrades that unlock previously inaccessible areas. The core metroidvania loop works well, encouraging players to uncover more of the map piece by piece. The game features two endings, with the “bad” one triggered if you fail the final timed escape sequence from a damaged ship — arguably the most difficult section in the entire experience, and noticeably harsher than the steady pacing that precedes it.
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