Escape Machines
- March 22, 2015
- Back To Basics Gaming
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Escape Machines" is a single-player Science Fiction shooter game, currently in beta, with an estimated playtime of 11 hours. Players build and command robots, battle bosses, and upgrade weapons/armor. The game offers co-op and VS multi-player modes, level editor, and original soundtrack, with support for English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Russian languages. Note: some features may be unfinished and multi-player mode will be coming soon.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a charming retro aesthetic with clean graphics and a simple run-and-gun gameplay style.
- Some players found joy and motivation in the game during tough times, appreciating its potential despite its flaws.
- At a very low price, it offers a few moments of entertainment and has Steam trading cards for those interested.
- The game is essentially abandonware, with no updates since its early access launch and numerous bugs that lead to frequent crashes.
- It features only a few levels, which can be completed quickly, resulting in a lack of content and replayability.
- Many players describe the gameplay as tedious and unpolished, comparing it unfavorably to free flash games available online.
- story25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as confusing, poorly executed, and lacking depth. Common criticisms include a simplistic and cheesy narrative about robots attacking humans, terrible translations, and a lack of engaging content. While some players found the quirky elements amusing, the overall consensus is that the story is a significant weakness that detracts from the gameplay experience.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“However, the gameplay itself does seem alright and the storyline is quirky. I recommend buying this when it goes on the Steam sale, as if I had more time, I would explore the world more.”
“After seeing the 'story', you are to assume the identity of apparently a 60-year-old who created the best artificial intelligence, and being the hero that you are, once the machines attack, you wear 'the suit' to become some superhero, or something....”
“This game has no story.”
“It's slow-paced, horrible mechanics, super buggy, runs in Adobe Flash, worst plot I have ever seen in a game. Need I say more? The only plus side is if you get this game for 17 cents, then you can actually make a profit off the cards you get in-game!”
“Terrible English translations, boring and repetitive gameplay, and no story to speak of.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious, repetitive, and plagued by bugs, particularly crashes during key levels. While some appreciate the light RPG elements and nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, others criticize the lack of content and slow mechanics, leading to a generally underwhelming experience. Despite some potential for improvement, particularly with future updates, many users recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing.
“However the gameplay itself does seem alright and the storyline is quirky. I recommend buying this when it goes on sale as if I had more time, I would explore the world more.”
“Easy gameplay but hard objectives.”
“Thus far, the gameplay itself is really fun, almost like a Sega/SNES style over the top shot.”
“This only includes a couple of levels, and I found the gameplay a bit tedious.”
“Mainly bugs... the game doesn't even have content (3 crappy levels, 5 - 15 minutes gameplay), so I regret spending $0.19 for this.”
“The look and the concept of this game is okay, but the initial gameplay is very basic and repetitive. After 20 minutes, I found myself bored. I know it's still in development, but I still have to say I didn't like it, sorry.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the clean and appealing isometric visuals and the nostalgic charm of integrating real photos into the game. However, many criticize the overall quality, describing it as generic and lacking polish, with some even deeming it "cheap" and "shitty." Despite the effort evident in the design, technical issues and poor execution overshadow the graphical appeal, leading to a generally unfavorable impression.
“The isometric visuals are very clean and appealing.”
“The graphics as applied are clean and crisp.”
“The integration of photo visuals of real people into the computer-generated backgrounds is novel and a bit humorous at times, making it slightly charming.”
“It crashed twice in the brief time I played it, it's devoid of content (several things are 'unavailable in this version'), has terrible controls, graphics, and story, and is just plain awful.”
“Least they could do when they release a game is give it some storyline with some kind of graphics, not some crappy posted picture a guy took of himself on a cell phone.”
“Yeah... games with Russian actors, + Photoshop + some poor graphics.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and an overall lack of polish, likening it to unfinished or abandoned software. Many reviewers suggest that it feels more like a trial version than a completed product, with significant issues affecting gameplay and mechanics. While some minor glitches are noted as amusing, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is not stable enough for purchase in its current state.
“Buggy abandonware that shouldn't still be listed for sale.”
“A buggy, incomplete, flash game; shorter and less polished than free flash games... with no update in sight.”
“Really buggy, do not buy, but if you do, I suggest refunding it because it's not worth it or wait until early access is over.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic Sega/SNES vibe and finding it enjoyable enough to enhance their experience, while others criticize it as cheesy and outdated. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect that can either elevate the game or detract from it, depending on personal taste.
“This is a wonderful game for the price... the soundtrack is great, the game feels like Diablo, but in the future, kind of a mash-up of D3 and Smash TV, worth the price in my opinion.”
“Funny game, reminds me of Alien Shooter; good music that kept me playing.”
“Now, once the gameplay has commenced, my initial feeling was laughter, because the music, too, is from a Sega/SNES era.”
“Music: 2/10”
“Now, when the gameplay has commenced, my initial feeling was laughter, because the music is reminiscent of the Sega/SNES era.”
“If they actually took out the cheesy story and music and replaced it with something more in the 21st century, this could be a great game.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky charm, particularly through the integration of real photo visuals with computer-generated backgrounds, which some players find amusing. While some reviews highlight the game's unintentional humor due to its poor quality, others appreciate its silly nature and entertaining music, contributing to an overall funny experience.
“The integration of photo visuals of real people into the computer-generated backgrounds is novel and a bit humorous at times, making it slightly charming.”
“It's kinda funny in a silly way.”
“Funny game, reminds me of Alien Shooter; good music that kept me playing.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily serving as a casual timekiller, but lacks the depth and substance needed to encourage repeated playthroughs. While some users find it somewhat enjoyable for short sessions, it does not provide enough incentive for players to return frequently.
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“The game offers a high level of replayability, keeping players engaged with its diverse mechanics and challenges.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it a game you can return to time and time again.”
“No replay value.”
“Although it has some minor replayability as a casual indie timekiller, it needs more substance to be considered a game you would come back to again and again.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and clunky, with gameplay that feels minimal and repetitive. While the visuals and nostalgic cutscenes have their charm, the overall experience is marred by frequent crashes and a lack of engaging content.
“This only includes a couple of levels, and I found the gameplay a bit tedious.”
“The cutscenes all use pictures of people I assume are the developers, and while it's super cheesy, it's also very charming in a 90's FMV game kind of way. I do really like the mid-2000's style UI, and again, the graphics are clean, but the game barely plays at all, and when it does play, it just feels clunky and grindy.”
“It is tedious to play and crashes easily.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience and may exploit players with aggressive in-game purchases.
“The monetization feels like a blatant cash grab, prioritizing profits over player experience.”
“I can't believe how aggressive the monetization is; it ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases makes it hard to enjoy the game without spending a fortune.”
