This one's been out for a long time, but I never miss a chance to promote it as it's among my favorite games. Amanita Design, makers of Botanicula and the Samorost series, once again brought us something truly special when they made Machinarium.
Machinarium takes place on a world that is dead, except for robots. Perhaps all that is left of human mechanical creations which survived whatever cataclysm drove their creators extinct, these robots now have a bustling city and culture all their own.
Perhaps at first this strikes you as a depressing premise for a game, but it's not about us. It's about the robots. It's their time on the Earth now, and the're making the most of it. The city absolutely teems with activity, every individual robot going about its daily routine.
They play music to earn a living. They gamble. They go to church. They operate toll booths. Besides the captivating art, what makes the world of Machinarium so special is how alive it feels. How authentic and strangely believable.
Our intrepid hero, Josef the Robot, has a number of tricks up his sleeve. His body can extend upwards or contract downwards like a telescope. This ability is utilized in several puzzles. He can store things inside his mouth, and various other cute robot-appropriate tricks.
The characters designs are as standout as environmental design. Every robot is different and has its own appeal. Often they appear to be made out of recycled junk, like wrenches or old automobile parts.
At its core, Machinarium is a puzzle adventure game of the point and click variety. It is best played on a tablet, though playing with mouse control on a PC gives you more accuracy. The puzzles are tough but logical, and you're given a hint book which makes you beat a simple minigame to earn each hint.
This is a sensible way to discourage players from consulting the hint book as their first resort, any time the solution to a puzzle is not immediately obvious to them. I did become frustrated a few times, but that only increased my satisfaction upon determining the solution.
It will come more naturally to those players with an engineering mindset, as of course the puzzles typically revolve around repairing or manipulating machinery, with a few exceptions. One of those exceptions involves changing the time on a clock tower to cause different church services to occur.
Another involves growing plants in a greenhouse. Evidently, even in a city built out of machinery and inhabited by robots, some citizens still have a green thumb. It raises certain questions about how widespread plant life still is on this world, but makes for an excellent puzzle.
A great deal about this world is mysterious, and it never lets up. Most of your questions will never be answered, but it isn't about exploring the history of this world. There's a specific narrative at the fore, with Josef searching for his girlfriend Roberta who has been imprisoned in a tower.
Like any good narrative though, it's not as simple as it initially appears. While going about rescuing Roberta, Josef discovers an insidious plot to take control of the city from a sort of elder "brain bot" who is the rightful ruler.
Most of the difficulty I had was when the game would add new elements I didn't expect. Sneaking sections, or puzzles dependent upon timing and speed for example. But the more it tried to stop me, the more eager I became to press on, if only to see more of it.
This world is really intoxicating, and to this day I still want more of it. Amanita Design seems to have no intentions to make a sequel, which is gutting. They just keep making more Samorost games. Not to knock those, they're great too, but I specifically want more Machinarium.
It's one of those rare games you'll really treasure, both while you play it and long afterwards. I knew even after the first area that I was playing a true gem, and that I'd be depressed when it was over. I recall taking breaks to savor what I played, if only to make it last longer.
Everything about it is expertly crafted. It oozes polish and personality. It's available on damn near everything, so there's little excuse not to play it, especially given that the price is just $2.50 during the Summer sale. It's an amusing, adorable and fascinating adventure you won't soon forget.
I want to give it a 10 out of 10 but increasingly I wonder how meaningful numeric ratings even are for something this subjective. Sufficed to say it's unique, challenging and wonderful. You'd be depriving yourself if you passed this up.
With the Summer sale bringing the price down from $10 to $2.50 there's hardly a better time to pick it up. I'm prepared to guarantee you won't regret such a decision. Games like this don't come along every day.
Fascinating. We are headed to a mechanize, robotic world. Humans will be replaced and basically be dispensable. Brave new world. Seems to be a challenging game. Full of adventure and challenges. Seems like fun. Will check out,
You my friend , are a master at work
This game is really interesting, I've only played a demo but I had a friend who said it was very rewarding despite how difficult it is. The art style is really something special.
If you liked this, then you might like LIMBO as well.
Looks pretty decent :)
Oh my. I played this ! Wasn't easy though. Can't even remember if I finished it all the way trough...
Great articles as aways. I played this game long time ago and it's a great game.
Congratulations :)
Nice artwork! hmm a puzzle game seems pretty cool. I might have to try it out. : )
Yep, i already have it in my steam library. I pray that one day i will have time to play it!
I wonder have you ever considered (or already made) a review about something like "life is strange", or "undertale".. mm don't remember others now.
I am a Gamer, this is not my usual genre but its looks like a really solid indie game. The art style looks great, looks like the developers put a lot of emotion in this game. I might check it out on a lonely weekend :)
This is an absolutely fantastic game! It's really well designed!
The robots are too cute :)
Sounds good...Will see to buy it if I'll get it at 2$...
Thank for concept of the game
It's one of my favourite android games. Really had a great time playing it.
Afterwards I even regretted giving up too early sometimes and asking for the solution... guess I'm just a little to impatient sometimes.
I love, love, love the art style for this game, it looks so bleak and dark. Looks like a really fun game as well! I've got like $1.60 in my steam wallet, gonna try to get that up to $2.50 and pick it up!
This is my favorite game. Other favorites include Final Fantasy Tactics, Chrono Trigger, and Portal. THIS IS THE BEST ONE
It cost me like $20.
You all have no idea just how much a steal $2.50 is and also it is not whatsoever an indication of the quality.
This looks like an absolutely fantastic game and really well-thought-out and designed. I love the art direction here specifically. Gonna have to get it off of Steam here shortly so I don't miss the sale. :D
This reminds me of a game i played on playstation 2 called robots, never played this game though. Nice post
I don't know why but looking at the pictures - Little big planet came to my mind =) The robots are looking really cute
Hey, I remember this one. Right in the feelings.
Wow , these designs are really dope , never seen also this before ,but all looks really good. Very big work are under these designs. Cheers mate
I don't know why, but i can never get into these 2d platformers.
I need adventure, freedom!
These games are basically like watching a movie with your fingers.
It's not a platformer.
True, it's point and click. I put the majority of those games in the same category.
Kinda boring.
Except Divinity: Original Sin of course.
@thing-2 Damn bud $7.63!
That's more than my life story would probably make lol
Would love to play dis
boi...i remember that cursed level with chess game...boi oh boi... but this rusty style, the story.. it's available on tablets, so..
great post :)
thanks for sharing
Nice game
I like to play it .
Thanks brother for sharring
Looks good man
Looks great and a good time to buy as it's in the summer sale
great topic keep your great job ! Interesting post.
All photos reminds me about a cartoon but I forgot the name 😁
Iove the art style for this game!
The artwork in the game sort of reminds me of earthworm jim!
Damn the grafic was great on this one :)
I need to grab this, if the price is so down, it almost for free.
Thanks, for share this miracle with us. Def my eye on it!
The article was awesome, thanks for sharing .Follow and Upvote for ME and I'LL Follow , Upvote BACK !
➸ @steemitblogs