9.4.2010

- Graphics: Superb hand drawn graphics with the kind of loving attention to detail which have made the games of Amanita Design famous. Quite an astonishingly gorgeous use of flash that you wouldn't notice (except if you right click you only get the context menu!).- Characterisation: Simply crafted and instantly recognisable character types. The charm oozes out of them despite lack of dialogue, even the "bad guys" have something endearing about them!- User Interface: Clear and minimal with very little fussiness - however having to go to the edge of the screen to make the inventory appear every time you need to collect an item gets rather frustrating. I'm sure you'll discover why. The hints system can help,and it's probably a good thing that there aren't any clues as to how to go about opening the walk-through book which is generously available for times when it all gets too much- Gameplay: Before I say any more, I must point out that it is clear a whole load of love and dedication has gone into making the game work just so and all decisions on how to make it play must have been thoroughly considered. It is such a joy to figure the puzzles out and when you make things work it can give a real buzz.(Disclaimer: apologies for all the detail following, this is a minor point and should not spoil your overall enjoyment)It is just unfortunate that some of the finer points have been over complicated. Being used to point and click games, one would expect once you see a relevant item to collect or interact with, a simple click or verb selection would do the trick followed by a quick follow up to take/move/talk to it/them. Call me lazy, but not being able to tell whether you can interact with something until you're right next to it does make parts of the game unnecessarily tedious. Don't get me wrong, as a whole, the steady pace of walking around doesn't bug me, I'm not as impatient as I once was, zooming around "Myst Revelation" with the lightning bolt tool (which missed out vital clues sometimes too), I just don't think we should have to toddle across the screen to look at an object just for our friendly bot to shake his head disappointedly. Also, I like the nice touch of being able to grow and shrink to reach, but when we're moving across the screen it would be nice to automatically reset to the right height to walk as efficiently as possible when there's no call for the change in height. I can think of at least a few puzzles where speed was needed and adjusting the character's height was far too fiddly.Music: To end on a high note (boom, boom) Tomás Dvo'ák's (aka Floex, also look up his album on here) score is an absolute delight and just as good to listen to for its own merits, therefore this pack is quite a wonderful collectors item and I wish it had been available outside of Germany when I first bought it online!Conclusion: A game you will treasure (unfortunately not with a playing duration as long as I would have hoped) and want to go back to plenty of times, a good thing that it is now available physically to take full advantage of its beautiful design.

29.11.2010

No wonder this game received awards for its artwork, which is beautifully executed (see the demo on the game developer's Web site machinarium.net, where you can also experience some of the atmospheric soundtrack). The soundtrack (which you get on a bonus CD with the Collector's Edition) is super too, and I listen to the soundtrack and bonus tracks quite often while I'm working or relaxing at my PC.The game itself is good fun. Some parts are easier than others, but overall it is enjoyable and keeps you thinking as you solve various puzzles and wander around the drab, mechanised landscape of Machine City. It's not at all fast moving, though, so if you're looking for fast action and thrills then look elsewhere.

8.3.2010

This adventure game is a beautiful thing, with stunning hand-drawn backgrounds, brilliantly detailed characters, and a fantastic soundtrack (included with the special edition on a bonus CD). It is astonishing how funny and moving a game with no dialogue can be. The puzzles are challenging but there is a great hint-system for when you are stuck, as well as a mini arcade-style game which, when completed, will give you the walkthrough for the relevant section. The walkthrough is also included in the package as a booklet, but really the fun is, as in every classic adventure game, all about trying to figure out the crazy logic of the game's world.

25.6.2011

Machinarium is a simple point and click, Flash based puzzle game which means it will run on the most basic of computers. Simple does not mean bad or boring. Machinarium is charming, funny and it parts quite tricky to solve. I haven't quite got to the end yet but it's something you could complete in a weekend or play a few scenes a day and still get enjoyment out of it. The robot is on a mission to rescue his girlfriend and save the city. If you leave him doing nothing for too long, you'll start to see his memories appear in thought bubbles above his head and they really are quite sweet. He also quite likes to dance!There's no dialogue but it has an original soundtrack that comes with the collector's edition on a separate CD.

23.3.2010

I have just finished Machinerium. What a fantastic experience.First off, the packaging. The edition I got comes with a printed walkthrough book, a music CD, concept art and the game. I cannot fault this.The game itself was captivating from puzzle one. Utterly charming and beautiful the characters convey so much emotion and the music is really well done. A glance at the IGN review for this game suggests that the game is far too difficult. I play all games on normal difficulty and have no problem accepting that I am no super brain when it comes to puzzles, but the puzzles in this game were totally logical and while often challenging, nothing that a logical mind will baulk at!

22.12.2010

Machinarium is an old skool point and click adventure in the style of Monkey Island and the like.The game tells the tale of a little robot called Josef who has been dumped in the wilderness by gangsters who have kidnapped his girlfriend. You have to traverse across several screens full of puzzles and quests to get her back and thwart the evil robots.Like Braid what sets this apart from the crowd is the spectacular artistic direction and story telling. Everything from the little touches in the animation (Like the way Josef slides down banisters, or dreams about his girlfriend when you leave him to his own devices ) to the wonderful scribbley line drawings that take the place of dialogue screams attention to detail.The puzzles are tricky,

12.9.2011

I loved this. I actually downloaded the title from the makers themselves so can't comment on this boxed edition, just the game. The graphics are stunning and truly imaginative, the little guy you play leaves a lot to be desired but his surroundings are beautiful, intricate and mesmerising. The game consists of a series of puzzles that need solving, some easier than others and though this is described as a "Point and Click" there's so much more to it than that.If you want to shoot zombies or armies don't bother with this, if you like a fantastically illustrated backdrop and a bit of a challenge then go for it, it's worth it.

12.3.2010

To paraphrase Cornelius Celsus, Machinarium is the Art of Educated Guessing. Yes, art.This indie gem is a definite affirmation to the question whether PC gaming is an art-form. In recent years the genre has strayed towards the-latest-hardware-demanding yet vapid eye-candy. So when a slow and moody game comes along, on that can run in almost any machine and offers subtle fan, we tend to underestimate it.This is a logic puzzle-adventure. Sometimes the puzzles are easy. Sometimes you get lucky. And sometime you get stuck and you shall need hints or even the level walkthrough contained in a locked book that opens with a mini-game. However,

30.12.2011

I've never usually been interested in point and click games but when I seen this it immediately caught my eye. I've just bought it and already love it.The art is what makes it so unique - it's as if your playing the game on a drawing - and the concept is wonderfully weird. I find myself wanting to play more just to see some of the other areas in the game.While I love to play fast-paced games, occasionally I like to be able to sit down with something slow and steady that makes me think, and Machinarium, being a puzzle game, is exactly that. As I've just started playing it I can't tell you how long the game lasts but either way its unique and quirky concept is a nice thing to play through because

7.5.2011

My favourite adventure game so far.The whole concept reminds me of old Czechoslovakian and Polish cartoons I used to watch when I was a kid,like "Bolek and Lolek".It shares the same philosophy of sketches and body language instead of dialogues.Smart and humorous.If you loved the rusty colours of "The triplets of Belleville",you're going to love this,too.These guys have put a lot of imagination and work on the scenery.The riddles are mind-teasing,but not impossible to figure out(like some of the Myst series),since they follow common sense.Even if you get stuck,you won't mind it,because of the relaxing Ambient and Jazz-like music.The only thing that made me a little sad was its duration:Too

15.7.2010

I have just finished playing Machinarium and have thoroughly enjoyed it!It is only a Flash game but don't let that put you off - even though the graphics aren't the best out there it is still very interactive and the concept and artwork are very quirky and cool.Although there is nothing particularly unsuitable for children in this game, it is perhaps a little bit difficult for young'uns - I FREQUENTLY had to refer to the walkthrough when I got stuck! This wasn't really a problem for me though and didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the game.A lot of the mini games and puzzles which you need to solve throughout the game are quite challenging and some are similar to the non-verbal reasoning questions you would find on an IQ test.

11.1.2013

I got this but no artbook of concept art or A3 poster, I got music CD/Game CD and walkthrough! I Feel burned but Amazon very kindly refunded me so what can I say, be careful buying this as the descrption is totally wrong. There is no A3 poster or concept art book.....plus I have found the game has save slots so I save. Shutdown game. Restart game another time and Start A new Game NO resume game option so I have to start the game again, I got a game that doesnt save, only a portion of collectors stuff, cost nothing but considering buying another is a joke. Will I be able to save my game? Will I get what is desribed? I wish the seller I bought it from gave me some info or amazon,

13.6.2010

I only ever played Machinarium out of curiousity when i saw the trailer as it was portraying a point and click adventure game using querky hand-drawn artwork and ambient music. Im so glad i took the time to follow this curiousity as this is a brilliant and clever approach to the genre whitout having to listen to reams and reams of dialogue or asking npcs questions. In fact throughout the whole game there are no words or dialogue which makes it sooo cool. It just uses animated thought bubbles showing how u need to solve the puzzles. The puzzles are awesome and i found myself in awe how they came up with some of them.

20.3.2010

I've just bought the Machinarium CE version and well I was amazed of how fun to play was this game. Made by less then 5 people, the attention to detail, sound and story is amazing, this is why I couldn't wait to get my hand on the CE version of the game. I wanted to thank the guys that made this game, as I think it's a great game and I enjoyed it far more then I've figured at start. The game is simple, move the robot, do things and solve problems. All in a very original background, allmost all hand drawings, allmost a picture in every second. But a great story, a fun to help robot and a funny story to listen to :) I hope you will enjoy the game, it's worth it!

24.10.2010

I have never reviewed anything on Amazon, but having just finished this beautiful game, I feel compelled to post a short review. I've played computer adventure games since they first started and were just text-based. This is one of, if not the, best one I have ever played. Utterly enchanting, loveable, enthralling, with just the right level of difficulty so you can progress relatively easily but with a few tricky puzzles thrown in. The game design is lovely and works beautifully, with a cute little robot as your main character. My only criticism of the game would be length - we finished it quite quickly and would've loved more. Roll on Machinarium 2!

Machinarium: Collector's Edition (PC/Mac) - Reviews

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