Kelvin and the Infamous Machine
- July 20, 2016
- Blyts
- 4h median play time
Kelvin and the Infamous Machine is a fresh take on time travel, with a diverse cast of characters thrust into hilarious scenarios. The puzzles aren’t so difficult that they’re maddening, but just enough to feel rewarding when it all clicks into place. You’ll be laughing out loud or scratching your head, but you won’t ever be bored.
In Kelvin and the Infamous Machine, players help a hapless research assistant, Kelvin, who inadvertently interrupts famous scientists throughout history. They must fix the damage and prevent disastrous consequences using time-traveling technology. With point-and-click gameplay, players solve puzzles, interact with historical figures, and experience a witty, engaging storyline.
Reviews
- Charming art style and excellent voice acting that enhances the comedic elements.
- Engaging puzzles that are logical and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
- A light-hearted and humorous story that pays homage to classic point-and-click adventures.
- The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- Some puzzles can feel a bit obscure or require backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Occasional technical issues, such as crashes or slow character movement, can detract from the overall experience.
- humor192 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its clever, lighthearted, and sometimes silly dialogue reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures like "Monkey Island" and "Day of the Tentacle." While some found the humor predictable or hit-and-miss, the overall consensus is that it provides enjoyable moments and charming character interactions, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre. However, a few critiques mention that certain jokes fall flat or feel forced, indicating that the humor may not resonate with everyone.
“Humor abounds, from Leonardo da Vinci’s witty lines to the entire game’s comedic goldmine.”
“In short, this is a hilarious and captivating journey through time, blending history and comedy into a zany adventure.”
“The voice acting is excellent and talented, the puzzles are clever and logical, the art is beautiful, the side gags are hilarious, the script was inspired, really... everything.”
“It's got that cartoon movie style annoying nerdy character that's supposed to be funny or something.”
“Some forced and unfunny jokes.”
“Jokes not as funny (more like jokes not funny at all), goofy main character trying to save the universe, a female character that constantly criticizes him and doesn't believe in him, much easier puzzles (that takes the fun away from playing the game).”
- story102 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized as light-hearted and humorous, often drawing on familiar tropes and characters, which some players found charming while others deemed it predictable and lacking depth. While the dialogue and voice acting received praise for their comedic elements, many reviews noted that the overall narrative felt disposable and simplistic, with limited engagement and development. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers an enjoyable experience for those seeking a casual, fun adventure rather than a profound storytelling experience.
“The story is funny, the art is cute, and you can play without a guide. I just wish it was longer; maybe make a DLC with more time travel adventures!”
“The dialogue was genuinely funny and complemented the highly original storyline and characters.”
“Delightful game - a funny story that's terrifically written, has great voice acting, and challenging-but-not-impossible puzzles.”
“The story is flat like cheap sparkling wine, non-unique, with little to no development.”
“But if you're looking for some deep story and complicated mechanics/puzzles... then not that much.”
“The plot is really basic, the jokes are not that fun, and some puzzles are pointless and hard to guess.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for classic 90s point-and-click adventures, reminiscent of titles like "Monkey Island" and "Day of the Tentacle." Many reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork, polished animations, and vibrant color schemes, which enhance the overall fun and humor of the game. However, a few critiques mention that some graphics may appear simplistic or rushed, but overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's appeal.
“The art style is charming and Newton is so adorable!”
“The graphics are beautiful and the dialogues are witty and clever.”
“One of the best adventure games of recent times for sure - lovely graphics, inspired voice acting, funny script, and logical puzzles - in short - amazing game!”
“Ugly graphics, klunky gameplay, insultingly insipid storyline and 'humor.' I would like my money back on this mess.”
“The artwork seems rushed, and cut-and-pasty, like a flannelgraf.”
“I was originally put off a bit by the art style as it kind of reminds me of an old flash game that you can find anywhere on the net, but figured I'd give it a try.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure, featuring simple mechanics and a humorous tone, though it is often criticized for being short and lacking depth. Players appreciate the smoothness and clever settings, but some find the puzzles predictable and the backtracking tedious. Overall, while the game offers fun and nostalgia, it may not satisfy those seeking complex challenges or a lengthy experience.
“The game combines the classic feeling of real point-and-click adventure games with dozens of great jokes, funny gameplay, and genius puzzles.”
“On top of the dialogue, the gameplay was nice and smooth.”
“It's such a fun, creative puzzle game that almost makes me nostalgic with its mechanics.”
“In a couple of scenes, it was totally unclear that you could move further to the left or the right than the main screen, at least at certain times during the gameplay.”
“Too funny, cheery, and tongue-in-cheek to not be mostly annoying, doubly so due to the main issue this game has: game mechanics rather than story being the driver, meaning you frequently look for bits of story to match with randomly collected and/or combined objects.”
“The walking mechanic was also a little slow when there wasn't a scene change you could instantly travel to, especially in areas where you have to backtrack frequently.”
- music23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as a mix of charming and atmospheric, with a soundtrack that shifts to match different eras, enhancing the immersive experience. While some players appreciate the quirky and fitting tunes, others note a lack of memorable tracks and occasional silence, which detracts from the overall sound design. Overall, the music is seen as a solid complement to the game's art and narrative, though it may not leave a lasting impression.
“The soundtrack shifts with each era, making you feel like you're in a toga in ancient Rome or a jetpack in a futuristic utopia.”
“The quests are not super-complicated due to very limited locations and objects, but everything is nicely drawn and comes with fitting, quirky music.”
“Background music is soft and subdued, but it sounds wonderfully atmospheric.”
“I don't personally remember any music, despite having it at 100%.”
“Weak points: sound effects and music are mostly absent.”
“Good voice acting, ok puzzles, and a nice plot can't remedy the lack of good art, music, or mood.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting no glitches or crashes during gameplay. However, some players experienced issues with alt-tabbing and a black screen after the final credits, indicating that while the game is mostly stable, there are still occasional bugs that need addressing.
“Apart from that, I encountered no glitches or soft locks, and it worked smoothly even on my simple gear and mouse.”
“No glitches or crashes.”
“Rarely do I see one so completely bug-free, and it doesn't even come close to being the top 10 reasons why I like it.”
“Alt-tabbing between the game and other windows is buggy, and after closing the final credits, I just got a black screen and had to resort to the power button to shut down the PC.”
“Also, the game was buggy as can be (though it may be fixed now!).”
“I had no glitches or whatever; the only time I got stuck and had to look up stuff was at some point in chapter 3 (don't forget to talk to people you already have been talking to, eh?).”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to unskippable cutscenes and dialogue, as well as frustrating puzzles that detract from the overall experience. While some enjoy the point-and-click genre, many feel that the design of later levels is rushed and lacks engaging elements, making the grinding feel more laborious. Utilizing a walkthrough can alleviate some of the tedium, but the overall sentiment leans towards frustration.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The lack of a skip cutscene button and some unskippable dialogue make various sections tedious.”
“The latter levels feel a little tedious and poorly designed, but a decent point and click game regardless.”
“Some of the puzzles are pretty infuriating, and unfortunately there isn't enough color text like in the Daedalic adventures to make 'randomly try everything with everything' entertaining, but having a walkthrough at hand stops it from getting tedious.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has generally low replayability due to its short length and the nature of its puzzles, which require unique solutions that diminish with repeated play. While some players note a slight increase in replay value, primarily for achievements, it remains limited overall.
“There is also some replayability to the game, at least more so than normal with this kind of game.”
“It has low replayability and is quite short, but it's totally worth it.”
“Because the main challenge of solving the puzzles lies in thinking outside the box, the game has limited replay value.”
“There is replay value, but it's honestly really only for the achievements.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a whimsical and comedic tone, enhanced by quirky graphics, humorous characters, and a lighthearted story. The soft, subdued background music complements the overall vibe, creating an engaging and fun environment that aligns well with the game's wacky puzzle mechanics.
“A super fun, wacky puzzle game with some strange solutions, which complements the overall atmosphere.”
“Everything is fine: the graphics, the story, the atmosphere, the funny characters, and the humor.”
“As soon as the game starts, you understand what the atmosphere of the game will be: comedy.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback; while some users criticize it for being uninspired and relying on clichés, others appreciate the quality of the art and character design. Overall, the depth and originality of character development appear to be lacking.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I was hoping for a rich narrative, but the characters are one-dimensional and forgettable.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character progression left me feeling disengaged from the story.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay experience, despite some economical production values. Players appreciate the lack of pressure and the overall enjoyable brevity, which contributes to its charm.
“It plays without pressure or fear of failure, runs smoothly, and is thoroughly enjoyable in its brevity.”
“It is a fantastic, unassuming labor of love, occasionally betrayed by economical production values but constantly supported by stellar writing, talented vocal performance, and genuinely hilarious moments.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, as characters are described as "paper thin," leading to a lack of emotional attachment and investment in the storyline. This deficiency contributes to the perception that the game will not resonate as a timeless classic.