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 engaging puzzles that provide a satisfying challenge, with many players enjoying the clever design and humor throughout.
- The graphics and overall presentation are praised, with many noting the impressive opening credits and immersive environments.
- Fans of the series appreciate the continuation of the story and character interactions, making it a worthwhile addition for those who enjoyed the previous games.
- Many players found the puzzles to be frustratingly difficult, with some mechanics feeling unintuitive and leading to frequent deaths without clear guidance.
- The game is criticized for its lack of checkpoints, forcing players to restart entire levels after dying, which can lead to a tedious experience.
- Some users reported technical issues, including bugs that affected gameplay and control responsiveness, detracting from the overall experience.
- story121 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its humor and character development, while others find it weaker and less memorable compared to previous installments. Many players appreciate the engaging narrative and the continuation of the overarching plot, but some criticize the pacing and the lack of depth in certain missions. Overall, the game is seen as a solid addition to the franchise, though it may not fully meet the expectations set by its predecessors.
“This franchise is honestly one of the best story-driven franchises I've ever seen, and it's the perfect balance of goofy humor and a really good story.”
“Amazing game, 10/10, great story, and amazing humor; I want the fourth game already.”
“The story, music, and feel are 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.”
- music23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its high quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, often likening it to a James Bond film soundtrack. Notable highlights include an engaging theme song by Haley Reinhart and a consistent ability to evoke the spy-thriller atmosphere. While some found the soundtrack less memorable compared to previous installments, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersion.
“You feel like you are trapped in a James Bond opening scene and the music is on par with the real deal too.”
“Great music and visuals that really hammer in the spy-thriller theme of the game and gets you ready for what to expect.”
“Seriously, huge props to the singers, composers, and writers of those songs because wow.”
“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.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding the puzzle mechanics unintuitive and frustrating, leading to early abandonment of the game. While a few appreciate the new mechanics and overall fun, many express disappointment over technical issues like freezing and a lack of innovation compared to previous installments. Overall, the gameplay experience varies significantly, with some enjoying the challenge and others feeling overwhelmed or hindered by the mechanics.
“Love the story, gameplay, puzzles.”
“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.”
“Pretty much every level has an unintuitive puzzle mechanic that had me stumped for way too long, to the point of having to look up guides.”
“Between levels lasting longer than they should and each one trying to juggle too many mechanics that don't mesh well together, I couldn't make it past level 4 without calling it quits.”
“I really wanted to like this game, 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 fixes I need.”
- humor14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in this franchise is praised for its perfect blend of goofy elements and engaging storytelling, maintaining a lighthearted tone throughout the spy-themed puzzles. While many players find the comedic aspects enjoyable and integral to the experience, some express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the fun, suggesting a shift in the humor's effectiveness in the latest installment. Overall, the series is celebrated for its entertaining and humorous approach, making players feel like super-spies while navigating its challenges.
“This franchise is honestly one of the best story-driven franchises I've ever seen, and it's the perfect balance of goofy humor and a really good story.”
“My favorite installment of the series so far; the addition of side objectives is so much fun and super hilarious.”
“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, which is already high.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are consistently praised for their vibrant style and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many noting significant improvements from previous installments. While some reviews mention that close-up details may not be the best, the visuals effectively complement the game's themes and storytelling. The combination of beautiful graphics, engaging puzzles, and a rich narrative contributes to a highly recommended experience.
“Very fun, challenging puzzles with amazing graphics and story.”
“Spy thriller action adventure story rich beautiful rich graphics and visuals.”
“Deeper puzzles, expanding the world, and great visuals make it an easy recommend.”
“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).”
- replayability7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, particularly for completionists who enjoy uncovering hidden challenges and collectibles. While some players note that the game may feel short for its price, the engaging puzzles and additional side missions provide ample motivation to revisit the experience.
“A bit short for the price, but fun and has good replay value.”
“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.”
“I found this to be the hardest of the three games. Some of the challenges in it, once I realized what I was missing, were pure groan, 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.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, expressing feelings of attachment to characters and experiences that evoke sadness and introspection. Many highlight the game's ability to immerse them in its narrative, leading to moments of joy and tears, while also noting a desire for further content to enhance their emotional engagement. Overall, the game successfully resonates on an emotional level, leaving players wanting more.
“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, made me cry a little because I got too attached to the antagonist. Very good game.”
“I was thoroughly charmed; every level made me feel excited when they described it and delivered on what I expected.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by users. Players also express frustration over the increased difficulty and lack of checkpoints, leading to repeated failures and the need 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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to lengthy cutscenes that interrupt gameplay, making it frustrating for those pursuing speedrun achievements. The need for extensive grinding is also highlighted, suggesting that it requires a significant time investment.
“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, as you have to sit through the same 2-minute long speech multiple times.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game itself is enjoyable, players have noted significant issues with the control settings for the Valve Index controller, indicating that the optimization appears to favor the Quest controller instead.
“The game is fantastic, but the control settings for the Valve Index controller need improvement; it seems like the optimization was primarily focused on the Quest controller.”
“The optimization of the game enhances the overall experience, making it smoother and more enjoyable.”
“I appreciate how the developers have prioritized optimization, resulting in better performance and responsiveness.”
“The game itself is great, but the control settings for the Valve Index controller are poorly optimized; it feels like they only focused on the Quest controller.”
“The optimization for different controllers is lacking, making it frustrating to play on anything other than the Quest.”
“While the game has potential, the optimization issues with the controls significantly detract from the overall experience.”
