Machinarium demo impressions
October 9, 2009 | Arsen Nazaryan
What an adorable game! I mean really, a very well-thought out game with an insightful concept. Amanita’s actual website for the game, Machinarium.net, lists the explanation of the story as “A little robot who’s been thrown out to the scrap yard behind the city must return and confront the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his robot-girl friend.”
The puzzler is based in a robotic world in which you control a little robot that can expand or detract its body. There seems to be some dissonance in this universe as your robot is not being treated equally and more like a piece of junk. The catch is that you can only interact with what you’re closest to in the environment. You need not worry, however, as walking is allowed and–when added to the expanding/detracting attribute–the action of reaching objects is quite simple. You are also expected to combine different objects to complete objectives in order to get to the next level.
The demo left me asking questions and wanting more, but I believe it was a great preview of the game to come. The style of art employed as well as the method of communication (which is made up of just gibberish and gestures) allow for Machinarium to encompass the gamer. Also to aid you in your quest is a lovely hint icon. In any case, you can be sure that DIYgamer will have the review as soon as the game is released (October 16) and we give it a play!
I can’t wait for this game. I was able to watch people play it at PAX 09 (there was always a crowd waiting in front of me) and it looks like one of the best adventure games I’ve seen in a long time.
I’m with you on that one. It just seems very promising.
[...] week’s top ten sellers list on Impulse, Machinarium, Amanita Design’s robot adventure that has enchanted us over the last few weeks, was sitting right there in the seventh [...]