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In this cluttered, often overbearing world of video games, it is sometimes hard to imagine how anything unique and charming could be borne out of a medium that is sustained by sequels and clones.
Since its announcement, Machinarium has seen a host of Samorost faithfuls cling to every new press release or screenshot, and with good reason. Amanita Design has given us a diamond amongst a wealth of petty gems – even if it is a small one.
As soon as you start up Machinarium you will realize that this is not your average title. With only a single button on the main menu, you have no choice but to begin a new game in an entirely foreign land.
The hand drawn backgrounds and quirky machinery will hypnotize you with their beauty and depth, and there is nothing quite like immersing in a world that has been tenderly crafted.
Machinarium’s development took more than three years and was completed by a mere band of seven Czech developers; this game was a labor of love. With a budget of only $1,000, and an unorthodox twist on the puzzle genre, it is plain to see that this title would never have been picked up by a big publisher on proposal alone.
This point-and-click adventure will divide gamers from the moment you take control of the nameless protagonist. There are a couple of helpful hints to get you on your way, including a single hint for each puzzle, and a “use-only-if-you-must” walkthrough book. Other than that, though, you are left to your own devices to figure out what, when, where, and most importantly: why?
No background, no dialogue, and no clear purpose may frighten some gamers, but isn’t that what gaming is all about? A journey, a discovery, a new way to play games? Machinarium is what The Neverhood it intended to be.
As you progress through the levels, you will be fed tidbits of your character’s past through simple, yet elegant, thought-bubble flashbacks. Even without any dialogue, you will have no trouble understanding what has happened, and why you are doing what you are doing.
There are the standard bad guys, the escape vehicle, and of course, the damsel in distress, but the story is told in a way that is never dreary or mundane. Instead, there is something hauntingly beautiful about the way everything in Machinarium connects, and it ultimately drives you forward.
Amanita has managed to counter the flaw that most point-and-click puzzle games have by inserting both the Tip and Walkthrough features. Every single gamer will be playing Machinarium on the same “difficulty”, but how long it takes to complete, or how much satisfaction you wish to glean from the product is entirely up to you. Tips are presented in a thought-bubble format that will, more often than not, give you an idea of what you are supposed to do.
If you are an impatient gamer, however, or simply stuck, then you may decide to use the Walkthrough feature that will give you a step-by-step guide to completing each level. Don’t get too excited though; the developers have upped the frustration levels for anyone wishing to use the Walkthrough by forcing gamers to play through a repetitive, retro mini-game each and every time they wish to cheat.
There is a downside to this game, however, and I truly felt let down when I discovered it: length. For the first couple of hours, you will be adventuring through labyrinthine settings that all seem to be tangled amongst one another. You would hardly believe that the entire game could be so small or the story so short.
At only six or so hours in length – depending on how you choose to complete each puzzle – Machinarium is a victim of its own intricacy. There is so much detail put into every facet of the game that it seems like Amanita simply couldn’t make it any longer. There is no doubt that the story ties itself up nicely, but I did get the feeling that I had passed over a few important pieces in my character’s tale.
Despite this fact, there is nothing that should deter you from picking up this game. What Machinarium offers is so incredibly distinctive that its length becomes a minor flaw, giving you the chance to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the workmanship involved.
There is nothing quite like Machinarium on the market at the moment. Not since The Neverhood, thirteen years ago, have I had my entire outlook on video games turned on its head. And if it’s another thirteen years before a game like Machinarium comes along, then at least I’ll know it was worth the wait.
| Rating | Category |
|---|---|
| 10.0 | Presentation There is no doubt that the world of Machinarium is remarkable. No two characters look alike, and the setting has the ability to evoke emotions like no other. For a story about machines, it feels remarkably human. |
| How does our scoring system work? | |
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| 9.5 | Gameplay Point-and-click is a genre that can never really evolve to a great extent, but Machinarium is able to give you enough challenges, story, and creativity to always feel intrigued. |
| 10.0 | Sound
Without dialogue, Amanita could have bombarded us with ridiculously “futuristic” music. Instead, they have managed to create a uniquely audible experience that never feels contrived. |
| 7.5 | Longevity
It’s an enthralling ride while it lasts, but, ultimately, the game is far too short. You probably won’t be going back for round two for at least a few months, either. |
| 9.0 | Overall
Machinarium is one of the best games of the year. It stands as a pillar of excellence for all independent developers, and will undoubtedly be revered for years to come. |
DO WANT.
Co-sign. Looks great.
I started playing it for about an hour, and the only reason I stopped is because I had a massive migraine. It’s absolutely amazing, and reminds me of Goblins 3 old school adventure gameplay.
I love the Tim Burtonesque styling!
bought it, love it
I swear it’s on my to play list
Probably the best thing about this site is that you guys review unknown games. I am grabbing this asap.
@satsui
We try to review anything under the sun!
Awesome game, it may require a second play through by me.
I have GOT to play this game. Great review Simon
I’ve already played the game and loved it! It’s a shame about the short lenght though
… Well, I guess I just have to play it again…
When will we see Machinarium 2 ??? This one already got a place in my heart as one of the best games I’ve ever seen so far!
@N. Rodrigues
I’m not the biggest fan of sequels, especially with games like this. But let’s hope that the developers have plenty more ideas up their sleeves for future titles.
It’s an amazing game, truly.
It looks very impressive, I might see if a demo comes out before I buy it though.
“For a story about machines, it feels remarkably human.” So true.
Marvellous puzzles, adorable characters with laugh out loud funny quirks, haunting soundtrack, jaw-dropping visuals, gorgeous game!
What`s Machinarium 2?
It’s like every other game I have tried – I got stuck 2% of the way in. The difference here is that I can’t get past the help front end ‘game’ Total frustration.
It’s an adorable little game. The artwork is stunning, which is surprising considering the theme…machines in a machine world. Regardless, the game is beautiful.
My only complaint is with the old style mini-games. I play point and click games because I cannot play the other style of game that requires eye-hand coordination. I can’t get past the point where the little robot needs to earn two coins by playing the old style video games. I had no trouble with game number 2, which requires thinking to solve, but I can’t get past game number 1, where I have to shoot the little aliens without getting shot. I have a perceptual disability where I perceive things to be a fraction of an inch away from where they usually are…it’s annoying in real life because I walk into doorframes, lol, but in the game world it means I can’t win those shooting style games no matter how hard I try. I simply cannot judge how close the bullets are to me properly, nor aim properly on such a small scale. I wish the makers of point and click games would allow a cheat to get past puzzles like this. I can’t finish the game.
@kat12. Use your left and right arrows on your keyboard. use mouse click ONLY to fire. kill all but one enemy on first screen. then just dodge the one enemy and shoot the ufo’s at the top(they’re worth more points). hope that helps.
@Kat12
That sucks, but like jruff said, try using your keyboard instead of your mouse. I played for several hours through this game before I realised that you can use your keyboard in the minigames as well. It makes those two retro machines at the end MUCH easier to complete.
Hope you finish the game soon!
Thank you J Ruff and Simon! It worked! I just kept shooting the big thing at the top until I got enough points to win; woohoo!
Kathy
Just beat the game, My girlfriend and i played through the whole thing together and it was a lot of fun. I hope there is a sequel coming out.!!!!
Loved it!!!
excellent game , one of the best
Excellent game!!!! AMAZING!!! INCREDIBLE!!! WAW!!! O.o
muita estratégia,muitos detalhes,muito bem feito..
jogo perfeito!!
One of the best games i´ve had ever played! And defenetliy, i played a lot!
this kind of gameplay ist amazing. Lookinng forward machinarium 2!!
This review is obtuse. It takes all the magic out of the game by over analyzing it. When it boils down to it all the complaints made by Simon Jones are all to do with the fact that the game is not like other games.
It’s not a game as much as a window into the imagination of a very talented artist. I recommend everyone play it especailly those who don’t normally play video games.
So… obviously you didn’t see the score is 9/10? This is a review, not an ass-kissing session. I took into account ALL facets of the game. I’m not here to suck up to the devs. They made a brilliant game – flawed, but brilliant.
Comment fail.
Hello,
those of you who enjoyed Machinarium soundtrack might be interested in hearing that Machinarium 14 song soundtrack will be released in February by Minority Records (www.minorityrecords.com) in an edition of 555 hand-numbered LPs, 405 copies on black and 150 on clear yellow copies. Minor changes have been made in the track list: in comparsion to the official OST, there is new song “By the Wall” included, and the samba song (Prague radio) was left out.
Each copy is signed by the author himself and contains three art reproductions by Adolf Lachman and coupon with a code to download both FLAC and MP3 versions of the songs, including the bonus EP.
You can pre-order your copy now at Minority Records website (http://www.minorityrecords.com) and your copy will ship on February 20th.
The is One of the most artistic games Ive ever played. Tnx for review. But I cant win the man in the bar. Would u mind helping me plz. I know how to play but he is so smart.
@Adrenaline
Unfortunately, it really is a matter of skill and luck. There’s no “cheat” per se that can help you win, but trust that you will win at some point. On my first run through it took me about a dozen tries before I won, while on my second playthrough I won on my first go.
Trust me, he WILL make a mistake. Your best bet is to place bolts far away from each other all over the board, so as the game progresses you will already have possible winning situations set up.
Best of luck, and don’t give up!