Invasion Machine
- February 26, 2020
- Pixel Machine
- 31h median play time
Get on Steam"Invasion Machine" is a pixelated, side-scrolling shooter game where players defend against an alien invasion. Utilize a variety of weapons and power-ups to fight through levels filled with unique enemies and bosses. With retro-inspired graphics and fast-paced action, it offers a challenging and engaging experience for fans of classic shoot 'em ups.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept that focuses on counter-insurgency gameplay, which is rarely seen in RTS games.
- There is a lot of potential for the game to evolve into something great, with interesting mechanics like hearts and minds interactions and troop management.
- The developer is responsive to community feedback and actively working on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including pathfinding issues and unresponsive AI, making it frustrating to play.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, which complicates gameplay and makes it difficult to manage units effectively.
- There is currently no save feature, forcing players to restart after each session, which can be tedious and discouraging.
- gameplay114 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title presents a unique counter-insurgency experience with innovative mechanics, such as civilian interactions and a "hearts and minds" system. However, it suffers from significant issues, including poor AI behavior, bugs, and a lack of depth and clarity in mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While the potential for a compelling game is evident, the current state is marred by technical problems and limited content, making it advisable to wait for further development before fully engaging.
“Amazing mechanics that keep you on your toes as you try to appease the locals and keep the peace, definitely worth a buy.”
“The game is in early development so it's a no pun intended trial by fire, that being said after almost an hour of gameplay, there seems to be endless things to do, with no real breakdown in game mechanics.”
“They have a long road ahead of them, but if they keep showing this game love, it could fill a nice little niche that I haven't seen in a game before and makes for a compelling gameplay loop.”
“The AI is laughably incompetent, with both enemies and allies behaving in completely nonsensical ways that destroy any semblance of tactical gameplay.”
“There’s no depth to the mechanics, no variety in the missions, and the story is virtually nonexistent.”
“The gameplay experience is so frustrating that after I played it and got back to YouTube, I could understand how much frustration the streamers are hiding and how they try to stick to working mechanics like creating a convoy.”
- story88 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being virtually nonexistent, with players noting a lack of depth and variety in missions. While there is a focus on managing relationships with local populations and conducting humanitarian operations, the overall narrative experience feels shallow and unengaging. Many users express a desire for a more structured campaign and deeper interactions with civilians to enhance the storytelling aspect.
“There's a focus on the mission on a larger level with the opinion of the locals and your command coming into play as you run humanitarian aid and establish a presence in the region, managing your rules of engagement and the impact your tactics have on the local population.”
“Where has this been all my life... this is the story of the men and women in day-to-day operations spreading a thin layer of democracy all over the Middle East.”
“Your actions have consequences and you will earn or lose reputation with your commanders and the local populace depending on how effectively you are carrying out your missions.”
“There’s no depth to the mechanics, no variety in the missions, and the story is virtually nonexistent.”
“Sometimes missions cannot be completed as people don't live in the house you are supposed to send an interpreter to, and there's no way to automate the distribution of aid to a town.”
“Another potential issue I have noticed is that after playing a new game for a particularly long period of time, no new missions are generated and it is stuck on general search and destroy.”
- stability60 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, making it feel unfinished and clunky, which significantly hinders gameplay. While players acknowledge its potential and express hope for future updates, the overall consensus is that it is not yet stable enough for a fully enjoyable experience. As an early access title, it is expected to have these issues, but many reviewers recommend waiting for further development before diving in.
“The concept is awesome and I would love to see them build upon this, but the UI and the gameplay are very buggy and unrefined.”
“Buggy mess that struggles to perform basic functions.”
“This is the most basic, buggy, and undeveloped early access I have ever tried; if you cannot put up with that, do not get it at this point in time.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the overall visual appeal and some specific effects like shooting smoke. However, there are significant concerns about performance issues, including low framerates and bugs, which detract from the experience. While some users find the graphics satisfactory, others criticize them as subpar, particularly in the context of the game's potential and early access status.
“The graphics are good; the graphics of shooting smoke and overall appearance are beautiful.”
“Graphics are good, sound is on point, and it's an interesting premise.”
“It is visually appealing with graphics options included.”
“The graphics are terrible.”
“I can handle simple, low-poly graphics; some of my favorite games are low-poly, but this - I can't.”
“This is more of a personal dealbreaker, since Unity and fancy graphics tech is a recipe for disaster in my experience.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is currently lacking, with users reporting significant performance issues, a buggy user interface, and poorly optimized AI pathfinding. While some players have noticed improvements, these are often attributed to personal hardware upgrades rather than game updates. Overall, there is a consensus that addressing these optimization concerns could greatly enhance the game's potential.
“Overall commands by keyboard should be optimized and designed more intuitively.”
“Optimization can always be done.”
“The UI is horrible and it has a noticeable impact on performance.”
“This ranges from a buggy UI to poorly optimized pathfinding in the AI.”
“Has a great deal of potential if the bugs, UI, and optimization are ironed out.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, particularly when managing large numbers of troops and performing repetitive tasks like corpse collection. Many suggest that implementing automatic or simpler commands could alleviate some of the monotony and improve the overall experience.
“It gets very tedious and becomes a headache very quickly.”
“The ROE system needs automatic and/or simpler commands for tedious tasks like corpse collection, and the bug fix for social work doesn't automate for me like, for example, delivering items to civilians.”
“When you have a lot of troops on the ground, the gameplay gets a bit tedious, but manageable.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is reminiscent of the uplifting themes found in high school musicals, suggesting a hopeful and fresh beginning. Users express a desire for the soundtrack to set a positive tone and enhance the overall experience.
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game currently has high replay value, with potential for even greater replayability in the future if the developer continues to support and update it. Many players express their commitment to the game, suggesting that they believe in its long-term value.
“The replay value is very high.”
“I didn't refund to support the developer, and I believe it will eventually have enough replayability to be worth the price tag.”
“I only didn't refund to support the dev, plus if he/she doesn't abandon it, it will eventually have enough replayability to be worth the price tag.”
“Replay value is very high.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as exploitative, with multiple users labeling it a "total cash grab."
“This game is a total cash grab.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs, such as traffic halting unexpectedly and amusing ragdoll physics, which contribute to a chaotic yet entertaining experience. Despite these flaws, players find a hidden charm that adds to the overall enjoyment.
“There are a lot of bugs; from traffic stopping for no reason and creating gridlock that eventually cripples the game, to some hilarious ragdoll mechanics. But for all of that, there's a real gem under the grime.”
