Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler-
- July 28, 2015
- Denneko Yuugi
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler-", the Esthanatelle Order maintains control of the world with the help of the Planet Tree's energy. After the excavation of relics from the "Old World", known as "Attributes", the Halbern Machinery Academy is established for research. When the Academy gains independence and begins to govern a large part of the world, the story follows Cram trained as an S-Rank Mechanician, uncovering the secrets of this world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The combat system is engaging and features a unique combo mechanic that adds depth to battles.
- The character art and animations are well-designed, providing a visually appealing experience.
- The music is enjoyable, with well-composed tracks that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The game suffers from a lack of character development and a predictable story that fails to engage players.
- Boss battles are frustratingly difficult due to excessive healing mechanics, leading to tedious grinding.
- The game runs in a low resolution (640x480) with no options for fullscreen, making it visually unappealing on modern displays.
- story86 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as decent but lacks depth and memorability, often relying on familiar tropes and predictable elements. While some players appreciate the humor and character interactions, others find the narrative confusing and shallow, with insufficient character backstory. Overall, it offers an entertaining experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a complex or immersive storyline.
“The story of the game is good and well presented and keeps interesting from start to finish.”
“The game is beautiful, and the storyline is in-depth, and the characters have rapport with one another to a degree.”
“A wonderful JRPG game that I missed, has great humor, story, and everything in it.”
“The story really has no substance to it.”
“The story is hard to follow at times, thanks to 'releasing network seals', 'phase-space singularity', and other such etherbabble.”
“My only real complaints are that the story can be kinda confusing and the early game is a little too easy.”
- music52 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its quality and thematic relevance, with many reviewers noting that it enhances the overall experience. While some tracks are described as catchy and well-composed, others are seen as somewhat generic or inconsistent in style. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its variety, with standout themes for battles and dungeons, and players can enjoy the music further in a dedicated listening room after completing the game.
“Clearly a lot of thought and effort went into the soundtrack.”
“The music is also superb, from dynamic boss music to soothing overworld themes, complemented by interesting areas and enemies.”
“Great music from the moment you start playing.”
“Some of the tunes are good, like the main battle theme and the final dungeon theme, but overall the soundtrack is all over the place.”
“I don't mean that they're bad, just that there is quite a bit of variation to the point that they don't feel like they belong on the same soundtrack.”
“Standard JRPG music, nothing obnoxious so far, but nothing amazing either.”
- gameplay44 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it predictable and grind-heavy, particularly due to a lack of engaging battles until late in the game. While the combat mechanics are noted for their interesting chaining system and some unique elements, many feel that the novelty wears off quickly and that enemy encounters lack depth. Overall, the game offers a simple and fun experience, but suffers from spiky difficulty and repetitive design.
“The concept is fairly easy, with an interesting battle mechanic allowing you to chain your attacks for maximum damage.”
“If you want a game that's simple, fun, and has some interesting fight mechanics, then this game is a fun and quick addition to your library for a relatively low cost.”
“The combat system is a nice change for most RPG Maker titles, showing that the devs took their time to script the interface and the combat mechanics.”
“This equates to a huge amount of boring grinding just to play more of the same gameplay.”
“And the gameplay well and truly is as predictable as they come - a tutorial dungeon, then a dungeon broken into 4 sub dungeons, and a final dungeon at the end.”
“Enemies have no unique mechanics, everything is just for show and it all feels very poorly executed.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, primarily developed using RPG Maker, are generally well-received, featuring original and cute character art that enhances the overall aesthetic. While some reviews note a mix of custom and RTP graphics, many players appreciate the effort put into the visuals, describing them as pleasant and reminiscent of classic JRPGs. Overall, the art style is considered charming, though it may not meet modern standards.
“I think this is an RPG Maker game, but it has a lot of original graphics and they look really good.”
“The character animations are excellently done and the artwork is superb.”
“Enjoying it up to now - it's not a fancy, next-gen game - but it has noticeable, genuine effort put into it, and likable visuals.”
“The character art and unique systems are super cute and well-designed, but the game itself is a weird mish-mash of custom graphics and RTP.”
“A typical RPG Maker fare: extremely anime plot and characters, and terrible graphics, but with the added bonus of obnoxious voice acting during battles.”
“5/10 graphics (well it's not modern graphics, but so what?)”
- grinding18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling like a chore due to slow animations and frequent monster encounters. While some grinding is necessary for weapon upgrades and materials, hardcore level grinding is not essential, as mastering the combo system is more crucial for success against bosses. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable, but the grind may detract from the gameplay for some.
“This equates to a huge amount of boring grinding just to play more of the same gameplay.”
“Money is useless other than that one accessory - there are no weapons to buy (there is upgrading but it's based on a huge amount of grinding for parts).”
“But if you decide to explore, farm, or backtrack, you'll be bombarded with monsters so often the combat becomes tedious.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny character dialogues and humorous skits, with many reviewers praising the comedic elements as a standout feature. While some cringe humor, particularly involving the male lead, is noted, the overall comedic writing is described as exceptionally entertaining, contributing to a highly rated story.
“10/10 story (the dialogues are just amazingly funny)”
“The music and audio are great, the characters are mostly interesting with some humor throughout, and the graphics are very good for an RPG Maker game.”
“A wonderful JRPG game that I missed, has a great humor story and everything in it.”
- character development8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with players expressing frustration over the brevity and superficiality of the narrative. While the character designs and pixel art are praised for their quality and expressiveness, they do not compensate for the absence of deeper storytelling or character growth. Many users feel that other short RPGs offer more substantial character development within a similar timeframe.
“Character designs and pixel art are of good quality (within the confines of the engine), and the characters themselves are expressive enough visually to keep a scene's mood intact.”
“So halfway through, finding out there was no character development, I was struggling to understand why I was still playing.”
“Too short; character development is not quite there.”
“There are other short RPGs out there which pack more story and/or character development into a similar amount of time.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game lacks additional challenges, such as achievements, which could enhance its replayability. As a result, the overall replayability rating is around 6/10, indicating a moderate level of interest in replaying the game.
“Some achievements would have been nice; they would have added additional challenges and increased replayability.”
“Replayability is decent, but I feel it could be improved with more challenges.”
“The game has a solid replayability factor, but additional achievements would enhance the experience.”
“Some achievements would have been nice; they would have added some additional challenges for replayability.”
“6/10 replayability”
