As a child, Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! was the stuff of nightmares for me. Those big-brained aliens with their eerie gibberish language and relentless appetite for destruction had me cowering behind the sofa, terrified they’d descend from the skies and obliterate everything I held dear. Decades later, I’ve come to appreciate the film as a love letter to classic sci-fi and a bold adaptation of a controversial ‘60s trading card series. But back then, it was so terrifying that my parents hid the VHS tape on top of their wardrobe to keep my siblings and me from watching it.
Now, with the announcement of a new video game based on Mars Attacks!, I’m being pulled right back into that bizarre world. This time, it’s in the form of a theme park sim set on Mars, where the infamous green men force enslaved humans to toil for their twisted entertainment. Although still early in development, the game already promises a nostalgic and fun-filled experience.
“Don’t Run—We’re Your Friends! Embrace the Madness”
If you’re only familiar with the 1996 film, you might be surprised to learn that the original Topps trading card series from the 1960s was highly controversial for its time. Despite being marketed to children, the cards featured graphic scenes of violence and nudity, sparking outrage among parents and the public. The cards depicted a chilling story of a Martian invasion, where the aliens unleashed brutal destruction upon Earth. The images showed Martians setting golden retrievers on fire with flamethrowers, assaulting women in their homes, and using mutated insects to slowly take over the world.
Notes
Just a few weeks ago, I caught a special one-off screening of Mars Attacks! at a local cinema. With this recent viewing still fresh in my mind, the timing of the game announcement feels incredibly coincidental.
But humanity fought back. As the narrative unfolded, we embraced space travel, launching a counterattack on Mars to stop the alien menace once and for all. Though the story ends on a relatively positive note, what made Mars Attacks! truly unforgettable was its dark and gruesome portrayal of a Martian invasion, reflecting the societal fears of its time. As a kid, getting one of these trading cards with a stick of bubble gum was a thrill. I would beg my parents for more, eager to piece together the fragmented story with my friends. Back then, with limited entertainment options, these cards were everything. Going outside? Not a chance!
“ACK! ACK! ACK! Dive Into the Chaos of Mars Attacks!
The upcoming video game, Mars Attracts, was unveiled at Gamescom with a captivating CG trailer. It introduces a lone cowboy who wakes up on the desolate surface of Mars, only to find himself trapped in a grotesque extraterrestrial theme park. This bizarre zoo showcases individuals from various points in human history, all plucked from Earth and displayed as attractions. It seems that Martians visit this park to unwind between their invasions, adding a strange twist to their interplanetary escapad
Notes
The trading card game sparked so much controversy that Topps was eventually forced to stop production. As a result, original versions of these cards have become incredibly rare and highly sought after.
The trailer for Mars Attracts gives us a glimpse of the game’s features, including roller coasters, confectionery stands, and a twisted take on Mount Rushmore, where the iconic presidents are replaced by grotesque, veiny creatures. In the game, you’ll assume the role of a Martian CEO, tasked with building various attractions from human history with a focus on making humans miserable while delighting your fellow Martians. While the gameplay on the Steam page currently appears somewhat unpolished, the game is still in early development, with an early access release expected in 2025. There’s significant potential for this park simulation to offer a uniquely entertaining experience.
In the game, you’re encouraged to create realistic dioramas where captured humans feel as if they never left home, or you can choose specific groups or cultures to experiment on, watching their spontaneous reactions. Many attractions are constructed from body parts of unwilling test subjects, staying true to the dark humor of Mars Attacks! Personally, I love seeing the Martians strolling around without helmets, snapping photos like they’re on a cheerful family vacation. They hold brain-shaped balloons and eagerly queue up to witness the chaotic scenes of a capitalist genocide they’ve orchestrated.
Mars Attacks! once filled my nightmares with its dark and disturbing imagery, but now I can finally appreciate its clever, tongue-in-cheek brilliance in a new way—by creating my own theme park based on it.