In recent years, the line between Indie and AAA games has blurred considerably. Fort Solis may well be one of the most glaring examples of this to date. Developed by Fallen Leaf, a team of just over 20 people and harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5.2, the game could stand beside any recent blockbuster title and not look out of place. But looks can be deceiving. Does the game come together as a whole? Let’s break it down.
One thing you’ll notice pretty early on, is how cinematic Fort Solis is. The entire game is done in one continuous shot and at times you really have to sit back and admire the work that has gone into making that vision a reality. Immersion has clearly been on the forefront of the developers mind, and you definitely feel that throughout.
Gameplay in Fort Solis will feel instantly familiar to fans of Quantic Dream and Supermassive titles like Detroit Become Human, Until Dawn and more. The level of interactivity has been toned down a little, with items being picked up and doors being opened using a single button press instead of mimicking a pattern with the analog stick. I didn’t mind this change though, and it never made me feel less immersed.
There are quick time events, although again these are more limited than in games of a similar ilk. I may be speaking out of turn here, as I wasn’t able to test this with every QTE sequence, but in several that I did, there was no negative consequence to missing a prompt. Your character may visibly struggle more in the moment, but there was no fail state or alternate branching path that the story went in if you failed to complete the QTE.
There is no way to run or even walk fast, so all exploration is done at a bit of a plodding pace. This will definitely be an issue for some players, but I really felt it added to the atmosphere of the world and helped build tension in key moments. Some of that would have been lost with the added speed. However, with a second run to clean up the remaining trophies almost certainly required unless you use a guide, it would have been nice to add this feature in for subsequent playthroughs.
As I said earlier, the game is built on Unreal Engine 5.2 and as such it really looks great from start to finish. Full motion capture ensures that characters move with an incredible amount of realism. So much effort has also gone into each object you can interact with in the world. Speaking of the world – while the map in full isn’t huge, it is highly detailed. New areas are constantly opening up as you progress the story as well, keeping things fresh and the tension high.
Roger Clark (Arthur in Red Dead Redemption 2), Troy Baker (everyone in everything) and Julia Brown (making her gaming debut) all put in superb performances. Picking a standout isn’t easy, but Julia’s work as Jessica Appleton, especially in the early parts of the game where she can regularly be heard over comms trying to assist Jack (Roger Clark) were a real highlight. The conversations between the two feel so genuine and really went a long way to investing you in both the world and the story that is unfolding.
The story is something I haven’t mentioned at all so far and that is not by accident. While there are gameplay elements to Fort Solis, the game is largely a walking simulator and the narrative is far and away the biggest hook. As such, I don’t even want to approach spoiler territory.
What I will say though, is that you begin the game as Jack Leary, who is stationed on Mars. He responds to a mysterious distress signal at Fort Solis, but when he arrives he finds the base eerily quiet. It is up to you to explore the base and uncover the truth about what has happened. The game is broken up into four chapters. Each of which last around an hour, although your timing may vary depending on how much you explore. I found the story thrilling and engaging throughout, with an ending that paid off. Something that isn’t nearly common enough these days.
In closing, what we have here is a short, but memorable adventure. The world has been crafted with excellent attention to detail harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5.2 and the small cast deliver believable, memorable performances. If you are a fan of games that put narrative at the forefront, then Fort Solis is an easy recommendation.
-Craig