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.
Get on SteamIn 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.
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Reviews
- Charming art style and excellent voice acting that enhances the comedic elements of the game.
- 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, reminiscent of games like Day of the Tentacle.
- The game is relatively short, typically taking around 3-5 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some puzzles can feel a bit obscure or require backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- The humor may not resonate with everyone, with some jokes landing flat or feeling forced.
- humor386 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it witty, charming, and reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures like those from LucasArts. While some jokes may feel predictable or forced, the overall comedic tone, clever dialogue, and lighthearted scenarios contribute to an enjoyable experience that often elicits genuine laughter. However, a few players noted that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with some moments falling flat or feeling overly simplistic.
“In short, this is a hilarious and captivating journey through time, blending history and comedy into a zany adventure.”
“The humor is really funny, and so are most of the somewhat wacky solutions to the various puzzles - never take this game too seriously and do not think straight.”
“Kelvin and the Infamous Machine is a fun and funny point and click old school adventure game in the vein of the old Lucas Arts games.”
“It's got that cartoon movie style annoying nerdy character like 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).”
- story205 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Kelvin and the Infamous Machine" is characterized by its light-hearted, humorous tone, featuring quirky characters and a straightforward plot that often draws on familiar themes from other media. While some players appreciate the fun and amusing dialogue, others find the narrative lacking depth and memorability, with a predictable storyline and minimal character development. Overall, the game is seen as a casual, enjoyable experience rather than a profound storytelling venture, appealing primarily to fans of light-hearted point-and-click adventures.
“The main storyline ideas around famous guys from the past were quite clever.”
“I love the artwork, the story, and the humor.”
“The story is funny, the art is cute and quirky, and you can play without a guide; I just wish it was longer, maybe make a DLC with more time travel adventures!”
“This isn’t a story one will remember, in exactly the same way as 90% of those cartoons never stuck.”
“The story is flat like cheap sparkling wine, non-unique, with little to no development.”
“The plot is really basic, the jokes are not that fun, and some puzzles are pointless and hard to guess.”
- graphics140 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style and polished animations, reminiscent of classic 90s LucasArts titles. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as beautiful and fitting for the game's quirky tone, contributing to an enjoyable overall experience. However, a few critiques mention that some aspects of the graphics could be improved, with a couple of users finding them simplistic or rushed.
“The graphics are beautiful and the dialogues are witty and clever.”
“It's a delightful mix of brain-teasing and belly laughs, with visuals charming enough to make a grumpy cat dance.”
“One of the best adventure games of the recent times for sure - lovely graphics, inspired voice acting, funny script and logical puzzles - in short - amazing game - go buy and play it, damn it!”
“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-paste, like a flannel graph.”
“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.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kelvin and the Infamous Machine" is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure, featuring simple mechanics and a humorous narrative, though it is noted to be relatively short, typically lasting around 4 to 6 hours. While the game offers enjoyable puzzles and clever dialogue, some players found the mechanics repetitive and the walking speed slow, particularly during backtracking. Overall, it provides a fun experience but may not satisfy those seeking deep storytelling or complex puzzles.
“This game combines the all-known ancient 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.”
“I finished it in like 4 hours, so don't expect long gameplay, but for what it's worth, you are definitely getting the biggest bang for your buck.”
“The walking mechanic was also a little slow when there wasn't a scene change you could instant travel to, especially in areas where you have to backtrack frequently.”
“But it's quite short and expensive for the length of gameplay it offers.”
“Too funny-cheery-tongue-in-cheeky to not in fact be mostly annoying, doubly so due to the main issue this game has and which will cause you to hear the same lines over and over again: game mechanics rather than story being the driver, in the sense of you frequently not looking for objects to match to bits of story but vice versa for bits of story to match to randomly collected and/or combined objects.”
- music46 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as fitting and atmospheric, with a soundtrack that adapts to different eras, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some players noted a lack of memorable tunes and occasional silence, which detracted from the overall sound design. While the music is generally considered solid, it may not leave a lasting impression on all players.
“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.”
“What it lacks in sound design and music (there's one music credit, and his name rhymes with Bevin Baccalod) it makes up for in charming writing and surprisingly straightforward puzzle design.”
- stability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting no significant 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 some bugs that need addressing.
“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.”
“Also liked the art style; everything was very well done - no glitches or crashes.”
“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?).”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to unskippable cutscenes and dialogue, which prolongs gameplay unnecessarily. Many puzzles are described as frustrating and poorly designed, leading to a sense of monotony, although having a walkthrough can alleviate some of the tedium. Overall, while the game has its merits, the grinding elements detract from the overall experience.
“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.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has low replayability due to its short length and the nature of its puzzles, which primarily challenge players to think outside the box. While some users note a slight increase in replay value, particularly for achievements, the consensus is that it offers limited incentive for multiple playthroughs.
“There is also some replayability to the game, at least more so than normal with this kind of game.”
“Because the main challenge of solving the puzzles lies in thinking outside the box, the game has limited replay value.”
“No replayability.”
“There is replay value, but it's honestly really only for the achievements.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a whimsical and comedic tone, enhanced by its quirky graphics, humorous characters, and engaging story. The soft, subdued background music contributes to a wonderfully immersive experience, perfectly complementing the overall lighthearted vibe of the game.
“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.”
“Background music is soft and subdued, but it sounds wonderfully atmospheric.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the art and design while others criticize the lack of originality and depth in the characters themselves. Overall, the character design is visually appealing, but the development feels uninspired and fails to engage players meaningfully.
“Standing on the shoulders of giants, we tell bad jokes and produce uninspired character design.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, despite some economical production values. Players appreciate the lack of pressure and the overall enjoyable experience, highlighting the strong writing and voice acting as key strengths.
“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.”
- emotional2 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 failure to foster any meaningful emotional attachments or investment in the storyline. This deficiency suggests that the game is unlikely to be remembered as a classic.
