"Fort Solis" tested: A little space snack before "Starfield"

Domagoj Belancic

30.8.2023

Translation: machine translated

"Fort Solis" is an exciting psychological thriller in a futuristic space setting. The graphics and atmosphere are excellent. However, the slow pace of the game and its short duration could put off many sci-fi fans.

I'm on an abandoned research station on Mars. A muffled sound comes from somewhere. Was it the storm raging outside? Am I really alone here? I move cautiously through a narrow corridor to investigate the source of the noise. It is dark. My only source of light is a broken neon tube in the corridor. In the flickering light, I notice that the floor is covered in blood. Okay, I'm definitely not alone here.

I experience scenes like this non-stop in "Fort Solis". The space thriller takes me on a nerve-wracking adventure on the red planet. The game captivates me with its story, the oppressive atmosphere and the eerily beautiful graphics on the controller. Nevertheless, I cannot recommend it without reservation.

What is "Fort Solis" about?

I take on the role of Jack Leary, an engineer on Mars. Together with his work colleague Jessica, he is responsible for repairing research stations. During a repair mission, Jack receives an unusual distress call from the remote mining station Fort Solis. He decides to investigate the call for help and sets off in a Mars rover to the facility in question.

On arrival, it quickly becomes clear that something is wrong. The entire station is in lockdown. After a dangerous climb, I reach an emergency door that I can open with my high-tech tools. For the rest of the game, I explore the abandoned facility. My goal is to find out what happened in Fort Solis. Why is the station in lockdown? Why is there no trace of the crew? And what's with those bloodstains on the floor?

How does "Fort Solis" play?

Dark corridors. Bloodstained walls. Flickering lights. Visually, the game is sometimes reminiscent of the horror classic "Dead Space". However, you shouldn't expect action-packed gameplay with shooting. "Fort Solis" is a traditional walking simulator. The gameplay consists of 90 per cent walking around and looking at things.

In addition to items and clues lying around, I also find computer terminals with email messages and video logs on my discovery tour. Each additional clue gives me a small piece of the puzzle that helps me solve the mystery behind Fort Solis.

I can't explore the research station freely. "Fort Solis" is a linear game experience. At the beginning of my adventure, many doors remain locked. In the course of the investigation, I collect special keycards that give me access to previously closed areas. With this system, the game takes me by the hand and guides me efficiently through the story. The advantage of this is that I can't get lost and the pace of the story remains constant. Nevertheless, I would have liked a little more freedom.

When running around, the game could also have used more speed. Jack only moves very slowly through the research station. Really very slow. I can imagine that the slow walking pace could be a knock-out criterion for many players. Yes, "Fort Solis" is a walking simulator. But with Jack's leisurely stroll, the developer studio Fallen Leaf is going above and beyond.

Excellent acting and awesome graphics

Despite the slow pace of the game, I enjoyed exploring Fort Solis. This is partly due to the excellent acting performances. Jack is voiced by Roger Clark - best known as Arthur Morgan in "Red Dead Redemption II". On his rescue mission, he is connected by radio to his work colleague Jessica. She is played by the actress and singer Julia Brown. The constant back and forth between the two is fantastically written and performed. The conversations lighten up the action and add depth to the characters.

The performance of Troy Baker - known as Joel in "The Last of Us", among others - is also great cinema. He plays a grumpy doctor who I get to know through various video recordings.

The storytelling also benefits from the game's sometimes breathtaking graphics. "Fort Solis" was realised in the Unreal Engine 5. And it really flexes its muscles. The atmospheric lighting, the impressive particle effects and the incredibly detailed interiors create a dense atmosphere. The graphical splendour is all the more impressive when you consider that the game was developed in just two years with a team of 15 people.

However, the graphics are not quite perfect. Textures sometimes load very slowly on the PS5. Some objects are blurred as a result. In some places, the game also seems to have problems with the lighting. Especially in darker rooms with reddish light, shadows move back and forth strangely on reflective surfaces. This is annoying, but never took me out of the gaming experience.

A playable Netflix series?

"Fort Solis" is a very short game. According to the development studio, this was a conscious decision. They wanted to create a "playable Netflix series" that can be played in one go or enjoyed in individual episodes. The game is divided into four chapters, some of which end with nasty cliffhangers. I played through all the chapters in one go in about four hours. If you really want to see everything in the game, you can add another one to two hours of playing time.

Is that too short for a game? I don't think so. "Fort Solis" is not a full-price game. For around 30 francs or euros, I get an intense and well-told gaming experience. For me, the calculation works out. I'm even happy to be able to play a game that isn't over 50 hours long. Between the gigantic RPG blockbusters "Baldur's Gate III" and "Starfield", a little snack like this is just what I need.

Conclusion: A great snack for in between - as long as you get involved

"Fort Solis" is a very slow-paced game - even for a walking simulator. The gameplay doesn't offer much depth apart from running around and exploring. It is also very short with a playtime of four hours. Because of these points of criticism, I cannot recommend the title unconditionally. You need to know exactly what you're getting yourself into, otherwise you'll be disappointed and uninstall the game after a few minutes of play or leave negative Steam reviews in frustration.

I knew what I was getting into and had a lot of fun on my Mars excursion. The beautiful graphics, the exciting story and the brilliant acting performances won me over. The nice side effect: after the little space snack, I'm now really in the mood for a big space adventure - "Starfield" can come.

"Fort Solis" is available for PS5 and PC. The game will also be released for Mac at a later date.

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.

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