Crazy Machines
- December 12, 2008
- Fakt Software
Get on Steam"Crazy Machines" is a physics-based puzzle game where players create intricate, Rube Goldberg-inspired machines to solve various challenges. With a wide range of parts and tools, players can let their creativity run wild as they build complex contraptions to accomplish simple tasks. The game features various levels with increasing difficulty, providing hours of entertainment for fans of logic and puzzle games.
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PC
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Reviews
- Offers a nostalgic experience for those who played it as kids, evoking fond memories and a sense of discovery.
- Engaging lateral thinking puzzles that encourage creativity and experimentation, making players feel like mad scientists.
- Simple visuals and satisfying sound effects enhance the overall enjoyment, providing a fun and humorous gameplay experience.
- The game suffers from outdated graphics and clunky controls, which can be frustrating for modern players.
- Difficulty spikes and uneven puzzle design can lead to confusion and trial-and-error gameplay that feels more luck-based than skill-based.
- Limited guidance and an annoying in-game character detract from the overall experience, making it hard to navigate some puzzles.
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered basic and dated, with many reviewers noting their age and repetitiveness. While some players find the visuals satisfactory for the puzzle-solving experience, others point out issues with the physics engine that can detract from gameplay. Overall, the graphics may not impress, but they do not significantly hinder the enjoyment of the game.
“The graphics are nice, if old and overly repetitively tiled.”
“Dated graphics aside, the game still is quite entertaining when trying to solve the logic puzzles.”
“This is why I love this puzzle game; it has simple graphics but funny logic!”
“Graphics are showing their age.”
“I would not even mind the outdated graphics, but the physics in the game is a bit buggy; you have to solve several problems 'outside the box' because things get caught due to the physics engine.”
“Quite entertaining, but dated graphics, clunky controls, and short.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its chaotic and unexpected outcomes, often leading to hilarious failures after players invest time in crafting intricate contraptions. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of brain-teasing mechanics with comedic elements, likening the experience to a kung fu movie filled with laughter and absurdity. However, some find the repetitive humor from certain characters to be a bit grating, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“You'll spend ages fine-tuning a contraption, only to see it all go hilariously wrong.”
“If you want a game that tickles your brain and your funny bone, it's an absolute must-try.”
“[They continue playing 'Crazy Machines,' each attempting to outdo the others with increasingly bizarre and humorous contraptions. Laughter and chaos ensue, providing a fun break from their usual adventures.] 😄🎢”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of casual puzzle-solving and complex mechanical engineering, requiring players to grasp various physics-based mechanics to progress. While some mechanics are criticized for being poorly implemented, the game offers enjoyable sandbox building and challenging puzzles that can be rewarding once mastered. For a more modern experience in this subgenre, players are recommended to try "Crazy Machines 3."
“I found that once I conceptualized every aspect of the mechanics, I could breeze through most of the obstacle-like levels that have some funny yet odd goals.”
“This is a really fun game with both sandbox building of inventions and very difficult puzzle gameplay in challenge mode.”
“Recommend going to Crazy Machines 3 for modern gameplay in this subgenre.”
“Expecting casual puzzles, I ended up with a crash course in mechanical engineering.”
“A lot of the physics-based mechanics are bad.”
“I found that once I conceptualized every aspect of the mechanics, I could breeze through most of the 'obstacle' levels that have some funny yet odd goals.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's music features an exciting intro that sets a positive tone, with players particularly enjoying the upbeat melody of the third track available in the options. While the music selection may not match the charm of previous titles in the series, it still enhances the puzzle-solving experience, although some users noted confusion regarding the availability of new tracks. Overall, the music contributes to the game's entertainment value, despite some limitations in variety.
“The exciting intro music gets my hopes up.”
“The *ding* of a successfully solved puzzle is music to my ears.”
“Really, game music 3 is the best one; I immediately choose this, great upbeat melody.”
“There are only 3 music tracks you can choose in the options, but the game keeps repeating only one of them all the time.”
“I have no idea how and when new challenges and two new music tracks were added; maybe they were patched or came bundled with a new version of the game. There is really no information on the internet about them.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by a buggy physics engine, leading to issues such as objects getting stuck and unreliable magnet mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience.
“I would not even mind the outdated graphics, but the physics in the game are a bit buggy. You have to solve several problems 'outside the box' because things get caught due to the physics engine.”
“As people have mentioned before, the magnets are buggy as hell.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and disappointing, with many expressing that it detracts from the overall experience. Despite low pricing, the lack of engaging gameplay and poor execution lead to a sense of regret over the investment.
“As someone who has a certain degree of nostalgia for the incredible machine, and none whatsoever for crazy machines, I found this a disappointing and tedious experience. Performance, execution, and presentation were all hideous. Even having paid the princely sum of 69p for this and a bundle of other CM games over at Fanatical, I'm not convinced it was a worthwhile investment. I'll go play Tim in DOSBox for a bit instead.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for its poor performance, execution, and presentation, leading to a disappointing experience for players. Despite a low price point, many feel it does not offer sufficient value, with some preferring to revisit older titles instead.
“As someone who has a certain degree of nostalgia for The Incredible Machine, and none whatsoever for Crazy Machines, I found this a disappointing and tedious experience. Performance, execution, and presentation were all hideous. Even having paid the princely sum of 69p for this and a bundle of other CM games over at Fanatical, I'm not convinced it was a worthwhile investment. I'll go play Tim in DOSBox for a bit instead.”
