I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine
- September 28, 2023
- Schell Games
Get on SteamI Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine is a spy-fi puzzle game where you must outwit your adversary, Dr. Roxana Prism, who thinks she can create a better agent. With new gadgets and custom disguises, race through six action-packed locales to protect the Agency and the world. Expect fast-paced missions that will test your advanced covert agent skills.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features creative puzzles with alternative solutions and optional challenges, maintaining the humor and charm of the series.
- The introduction and overall presentation are top-notch, with engaging music and voice acting that enhance the experience.
- The game offers a satisfying challenge with a variety of environments and gameplay mechanics, making it a fun addition to the franchise.
- Many players found the game to be more frustrating than previous entries, with an increase in instant deaths and unclear puzzle solutions.
- The lack of checkpoints and the need to repeat entire levels after dying can lead to a tedious experience.
- Technical issues, such as bugs and control problems, have been reported, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story226 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "I Expect You to Die 3" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its humor and engaging narrative that builds on previous installments, while others find it lackluster and underwhelming, particularly in comparison to earlier games. Many noted that the missions feel shorter and less impactful, with a few expressing disappointment in the villain's development and the overall plot progression. Despite these criticisms, several players appreciated the integration of story with gameplay, highlighting the fun and challenging puzzles that accompany the narrative.
“Love the story, gameplay, puzzles.”
“Amazing game, 10/10, great story, and amazing humor, I want the 4th game already.”
“The story, music, and feel is even stronger in this one and I'm getting genuinely invested in the world.”
“The story is bleh, the villain doesn't hold her own (especially not in comparison to John Juniper. Can't even remember her name) and the puzzles, while fun, are missing something, relying more on spectacle than interesting ideas.”
“The mechanics have really not gotten any better (if anything, they feel a bit worse but maybe that's just me), the story was lackluster, the gameplay was really more frustrating than the fun that was the original two games.”
“The story is much weaker than the last two and the ending is extremely unsatisfying.”
- music46 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its high quality and ability to enhance the spy-thriller atmosphere. The soundtrack features standout moments, including a notable song by Haley Reinhart, and is often compared to iconic James Bond themes. While some found the music less memorable in certain contexts, overall, it contributes significantly to the game's engaging experience.
“Great music and visuals that really hammer in the spy-thriller theme of the game and gets you ready for what to expect.”
“Amazing game, amazing story, amazing music.”
“The soundtrack is high quality but wasn't as memorable; the villain is kinda bland and, despite the stakes being high, the final mission didn't have that epic pizzazz that 1 and 2 had.”
“I also encountered more bugs in this game (such as loss of control even though the game appeared to be in focus or the end of level music being extremely loud).”
“You feel like you are trapped in a James Bond opening scene and the music is on par with the real deal too.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its mechanics, puzzles, and overall fun, while others criticize it for frustrating elements and technical issues like freezing and poor performance. Many feel that the game does not significantly improve upon its predecessors, and the introduction of new features, such as telekinesis, has been seen as underwhelming. Overall, while some enjoy the gameplay experience, others express disappointment and frustration, particularly regarding the game's stability and depth.
“The game runs smooth and overall gameplay is a lot of fun.”
“I love the gameplay, the puzzles, and the art; it's all awesome.”
“9/10 gameplay: if you liked the 2 previous ones, you'll like this one.”
“The mechanics have really not gotten any better (if anything, they feel a bit worse but maybe that's just me), the story was lackluster, the gameplay was really more frustrating than the fun that was in the original two games.”
“I really really wanted to like this game, and play it on stream like I have the other two games in the franchise, but every time I've tried I've been stuck with broken mechanics, game freezing, and more often than not my controls freezing up, forcing me to reboot my entire PC just to fix it. This game was not ready for launch, at least on Steam, and I doubt it will ever get the fix I need. If the update ever comes that fixes the framerate and controller freezing issues, I will change my review, but for now, I have to make this review negative.”
“However, we got a story revolving around the telekinesis gameplay feature, which I felt was very underwhelming as the telekinesis itself felt more like a retcon for being able to hoik items back to the player for better VR gameplay, and not a piece of vital information that could be used for a story setting, making this game's story feel more sidetracked compared to the first and second games.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many praising the vibrant and cartoonish style that complements the gameplay and story. While some reviews note that the graphics may not be the best up close, they effectively convey the intended humor and themes, particularly in the spy-thriller context. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant enhancement from previous installments, contributing to an engaging gaming experience.
“Very fun, challenging puzzles with amazing graphics and story.”
“Spy thriller action adventure story rich beautiful graphics and visuals.”
“From ieytd 1 to ieytd 2 there was a massive graphical improvement and ieytd 3 keeps that tradition alive.”
“To the cartoonish graphics and the challenging gameplay.”
“7/10 graphics: not the best up close but does the job.”
“Graphically, it's a decent game (in keeping with the humor and style they want to convey).”
- humor26 mentions
- 85 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The humor in "ieytd 3" is a standout feature, blending spy-themed elements with comedic moments that enhance the gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the fun and engaging humor, some express frustration with the game's mechanics, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game maintains a lighthearted tone, though it occasionally veers into frustrating territory, impacting the comedic flow.
“My favorite installment of the series so far, the addition of side objectives is so much fun and super hilarious.”
“Amazing game, 10/10, great story, and amazing humor, I want the 4th game already.”
“The game doesn't expect you to die, it wants you to die, and will take multiple opportunities to do so while laughing in your face about it, even going so far as to break itself just to ensure you cannot finish a level.”
“This game is the most antagonistic by far and it's just plain not funny anymore.”
“Then the controls do not work at all if the game window decides to move into the background for whatever reason, that is also not funny when it stops working all of a sudden and adds even more to the frustration level being already high.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for completionists, with numerous hidden challenges, side missions, and collectibles to discover. Players appreciate the satisfaction of overcoming difficult puzzles and the ongoing pursuit of hidden goals, making it a title that can be enjoyed multiple times. Overall, it is described as "infinitely replayable" due to its engaging content and surprises.
“These games are always super fun and have surprising replayability, especially if you're a completionist.”
“Another great VR puzzle game from Schell, with lots of jokes, hidden stuff, and extra challenges for replayability.”
“Like its predecessors, however, Cog in the Machine has replayability in the hunt for hidden goals in completed missions!”
“I found this to be the hardest of the 3 games... some of the challenges in it, once I realized what I was missing, were pure groans. But it was incredibly satisfying once I figured them out. For replayability, I still have a lot to get through in the side missions and collectibles, which I'm looking forward to.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have expressed a deep emotional connection to the game, often shedding tears and feeling a mix of joy and sadness upon completion. The narrative and character development, particularly with the antagonist, evoke strong feelings, prompting players to reflect on personal themes such as identity and attachment. Overall, the game successfully resonates on an emotional level, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
“This game was just what I needed right now, and I'm so sad that I finished it already. It was so fun, and I have to admit I did shed a tear.”
“Made me feel stupid, made me question my sexuality, and made me cry a little because I got too attached to the antagonist. Then they hit us with the scenes and stuff. Very good game!”
“I was thoroughly charmed; every level made me feel excited when they described it and delivered on what I expected.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Players also report an increased difficulty level, compounded by the absence of checkpoints, leading to frustrating gameplay where dying can result in having to restart entire levels.
“Very buggy!”
“The difficulty has been upped (expect to die not just a few times but just about every time you try anything other than the exact path the devs have plotted out for you), there's still no checkpoints to offer any kind of mercy (meaning yes, you can die on the last puzzle of a level and have to do the entire thing over again from the start), and now, just for fun, there's a whole host of glitches too.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to lengthy cutscenes that interrupt gameplay, making it frustrating when attempting speedrun achievements. The repetitive nature of these cutscenes can feel excessive, leading some to suggest that extensive grinding may require a significant time investment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The levels are all broken up by lengthy cutscenes which are not bad on their own, but become extremely tedious when trying for the speedrun achievements and you have to sit through the same 2-minute long speech multiple times.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is well-received overall, but it suffers from poor optimization for the Valve Index controller, as the controls seem to be primarily tailored for the Quest controller. This has led to frustration among players using the Index, highlighting a lack of attention to control settings for different hardware.
“The game is fantastic, but the control settings for the Valve Index controller need improvement; it seems they optimized the game primarily for the Quest controller.”
“The game is fantastic, but the control settings for the Valve Index controller need improvement; it seems they optimized the game primarily for the Quest controller.”
“The game is great, but it has very poor control settings on the Valve Index controller; they only optimized the game for the Quest controller.”
“The game is great, but it has very poor control settings on the Valve Index controller; they only optimized the game for the Quest controller.”
