Inside the Gear

About

Inside the Gear is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Mykhail Konokh and was released on November 21, 2014. It received negative reviews from players.

A physics puzzle game like no other! You are inside the big old machine. There are rusty gears and shafts all around you, along with interactive objects such as planks and cubes. Use each object and place the wheel on the platform – easy!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

32%

Audience ScoreBased on 65 reviews

emotional1 positive mentions

music4 negative mentions

Challenging puzzles that require creative problem-solving.
Simple gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand.
Atmospheric graphics that create a unique environment.

Frustrating and glitchy physics that often lead to inconsistent results.
Awkward controls with no mouse or controller support, making gameplay cumbersome.
Lack of sound options and poor sound design that detracts from the experience.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and intuitive mechanics, but is marred by imprecise controls and frustrating sound design that detracts from the overall experience. Players often find themselves battling the game's mechanics rather than engaging in logical puzzle-solving, with many noting the oddness of solutions and poor physics. Overall, while the concept has potential, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a lackluster experience.
- “Intuitive, simple gameplay.”
- “Wasn't super fancy or anything, but the idea—the gameplay—was neat.”
- “Gameplay is very simple.”
- “The controls feel imprecise, and solving puzzles becomes more of a battle with the game’s mechanics than a test of logic.”
- “As per gameplay, the physics are really out of whack.”
- “The gameplay is just okay; the background is boring and the sounds are mute-worthy.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The music aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users noting the absence of music and the presence of annoying sound effects that cannot be muted. While some players appreciated the atmospheric quality of the ambient sounds, the lack of musical elements and options for sound customization left many feeling disappointed. Overall, the game's audio design is characterized by mechanical sounds rather than a musical score, which has not resonated well with the majority of players.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The game doesn't have music; it has mechanical sounds to really get you to feel like you are inside a machine (everyone's dream come true, I'm sure).”
- “Too many of the puzzles required pixel-perfect placements; the sound and music were terrible.”
- “[*] No music, only annoying sound effects that you can't mute on the menu.”
- “Terrible music / sounds.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users describing them as basic or even horrible, while others find them decent and atmospheric. Although the visuals are not particularly impressive, they are deemed sufficient for the game's context, albeit requiring significant resources for their simplicity. Overall, the lack of graphical options and a basic UI detracts from the experience.
- “The graphics are simple, but atmospheric and relatively consistent.”
- “Graphics aren't anything special, but they are good enough for this specific game and what it's doing.”
- “Graphically, the game is okay.”
- “The game’s UI and menus are basic or non-existent: there are no graphics options and no real tutorials or hints to help you along the way if you’re stuck.”
- “But it's impressive on one aspect at least: it requires incredible resources for such relatively weak visuals.”
- “- graphics is not that good at all”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by effective sound direction and ambient sounds, creating a fluid experience as players navigate through levels. While the graphics are simple, they contribute to a consistent and immersive environment, with mist and liquid elements adding to the overall ambiance, making the absence of music less noticeable.
- “The game features some great sound direction; the ways that the movements of your cog through the level affect the atmosphere are well designed and fluid.”
- “The graphics are simple, but atmospheric and relatively consistent.”
- “With the ambient sounds and the slowly moving gears in the background, surrounded by mist or in some kind of liquid, I can agree that the game is atmospheric, and I don't think the lack of music is that noticeable.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere is surprisingly dull and fails to evoke any emotions.”
- “I expected a rich and engaging atmosphere, but it ended up feeling lifeless and generic.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often resulting in frustrating trial and error due to non-deterministic physics. However, successfully overcoming these challenges can lead to a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
- “The main criticism is that the physics feel too non-deterministic, which leads to tedious trial and error situations where I often find myself blaming the game.”
- “Grinding can be a bit tedious, but when you finally solve the level, it feels awesome.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Players experience a narrative that mirrors this theme through gameplay that tests their patience and problem-solving skills in navigating difficult mission objectives.
- “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or depth.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs or glitches, others have noted issues with buggy puzzles and unfinished physics. This suggests that stability may vary depending on individual gameplay experiences and skill levels.
- “The bad thing is that the puzzles and the physics feel buggy and unfinished.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game deeply moving, often evoking strong emotions that lead to tears, highlighting its powerful storytelling and character development.
- “It makes me want to cry.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers limited replayability, with a completion time of around 2.5 hours and no additional content such as achievements or incentives to revisit levels. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of engaging elements that would encourage them to play again.
- “It took me 2.5 hours to finish all the levels (I did get stuck twice and I wouldn't say I enjoyed those 2.5 hours), and there's no replay value, achievements, or anything really.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of different modes or challenges makes replaying feel pointless.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found no reason to revisit the game. The experience felt complete, but not in a good way.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers note that the game's optimization appears to be well-executed, with assets effectively programmed using blueprint techniques and optimized through z-brush, contributing to a smoother gameplay experience.
- “The game must have been programmed with blueprints and assets optimized using ZBrush, resulting in stunning visuals and smooth performance.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, ensuring that the game runs seamlessly even on lower-end hardware.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for a rich gaming experience without sacrificing frame rates or graphics quality.”
- “The game feels like it was programmed with blueprints, and the assets seem poorly optimized with ZBrush.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, making it clear that optimization was not a priority during development.”
- “The frame rate drops significantly in busy areas, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”