WBG Score: 8/10
Player Count: 1-2
You’ll like this if you like: Solving increasingly difficult logic puzzles
Published by: Queensell
This is a free review copy of the game. See our review policy here.
This game looks just like any other game. And it has components just like any other game, but it plays very differently. This, as it says on the box, is a logic game. And if you think that is a small subtle difference to a usual board or card game, then fair enough. But I would say it sets it apart in a significant way. And I would go as far as to say that if you like logic puzzles, then you will love this. Adore it even. But if you are not a fan of logic puzzles, this will not be for you. The game will draw you in with its theme and components, but the gameplay may frustrate or even disappoint. But for fans of logic puzzles, this may well become one of your favourite games. I for one am addicted. So, with that said, let's get it to the table and see how it plays.
How To Set Up Mars Expedition: Sol 43 Logic Game
There are 43 unique missions in this game. For your first experience, it is strongly recommended to start with Sol 1 and work your way up from there. It will not only teach you the game in manageable bites, but it will also ramp up the difficulty in a way that you will become a master at this game, rather than become frustrated at the harder levels without having the necessary experience to solve them.
That said, if you have played this game a lot, feel free to take aby level to start with or play as a one-off mission.
Place your chosen Sol card face up in front of you next to the main game board. The card will show the components used in this mission, and the positioning for them on the main board. You can decipher this simply by looking at the symbols on the left and top of the main board. For example, in the below mission, Sol 4, you have a Base, Drone, and eight rocks. The Base is positioned on the row showing the Triangle, in the column with the shape half filled on the left hand side. Make sense? Let's do one more. The Drone starts on the second to bottom row on the second to last column, again, matching the symbol shown on the Sol 4 card. once you get a hang of this, set up for each level is very simple, and they all work like this. There will just be extra components in the later rounds. Mountains, Tornados, Gravitational Anomalies, Minerlas. All sorts.
Place all the necessary pieces out on the board and add either one or two Drones to the starting location depending on if you are playing single or two player. In solo, you are now ready to play. In a two-player game, you now must now shuffle the deck of cards and deal five to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in a pile next to the wind dice. You are now ready to play.
How To Play Mars Expedition: Sol 43 Logic Game
The game mostly works the same in solo or two-player mode, except that in a solo game, you are racing against the clock in terms of how many turns you can have. On the back of the setup card for the solo game you are playing, it will show the mission and how many turns you must achieve this mission in. In a two-player game, you still need to complete this mission, but turn numbers are not irrelevant; it is simply a race between the two players to see who can complete it first and gain the most points in doing so.
Missions range from simply getting back to base, as seen in the early Sols, to collecting minerals and substances, photographing specific locations, and navigating various weather and gravitational phenomena.
Players will take turns, with the white drone always moving first, to move their drone in order to complete the missions. In solo mode, simply move the drone until you either complete the mission or run out of turns. The drone always moves in the same S shape: one forward, one to the right or left, and one forward again. You can do this in any way you like, moving in any direction, but it must always be done in the S shape.
As the missions advance, you will encounter new rules, components, and factors that affect your movement and goals. I do not want to spoil it here as I think a big part of this game is experiencing that for yourself. But I will go as far as to say that certain things will move your drone for you as you advance the levels, and you need to really think carefully about how and where you move to complete the mission in the best way. This is a logic puzzle after all.
In a two-player game, the first player back to base scores one point. There are also points for collecting various artefacts, taking pictures, and taking the shortest flight during the game. You can track this by keeping a logbook, monitoring your moves. This is not essential, but key if you want to score like this in a two-player game and cannot keep count in your head.
You can play a single mission or a series, the complete set. As you get to the later levels, separate secondary boards are used to show close-up details of specific areas where your movement has new rules. All simply explained when you get there; again, I do not want to spoil that here.
Is It Fun? Mars Expedition: Sol 43 Logic Game
This is incredibly easy to review. If you like logic games, buy this. I think you will adore it. The theme is great fun and is used in a very clever and scientific way. The components all look great, and the development of the levels is perfect. They ramp up in difficulty in the perfect way, adding new things at the right time to keep things interesting and moving at the right pace. I adore the single-player mode that works just so well, and find the two-player game to be completely different, with obviously a lot more player interaction as you mess around with each other's plans. It makes for a very different experience. One that I personally do not like as much, as I want to focus on the most logical way through each level, and being messed around with is just frustrating! But it is fun, you just need to go into it with the right attitude.
If you do not like logic puzzles, this may come across as too similar level after level, and not inspiring enough to keep you coming back for more. But if that is the case, why did you buy a game with logic puzzle written on the front? But joking aside, I can see why this game would appeal to those of you who do not like games like this, the cover art is fantastic and it has a very intriguing theme. But do not look past the simple fact that this is a logic puzzle first and foremost.
I have very much enjoyed going through the SOL's one by one in single player. I have played only ten levels in two-player mode. In two-player, I would give this a 6. It is just too frustrating a game to play with people making you skip turns or moving their own Drone in a way you did not expect. It is very clever and works very well. It is just not for me. But I can see others enjoying that a lot. In solo mode, I adore this and have found great peace and solitude in working my way through the levels one by one. It is incredibly satisfying to get right and noodle your way through. I feel engaged as I play and smart and gratified when I complete a mission. Failing is fine. Set up and go again. And setup is a breeze once you get the hang of reading the symbols, which takes maybe one or two quick games. It is very intuitive.
As such, this is a simple recommendation. If you like logic puzzles and this theme interests you, buy this. If you don't, maybe this is not for you. I, for one, adore it.
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