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 game features a fun, combo-based battle system that requires players to adapt their strategies based on enemy weaknesses.
- The character art and animations are well-designed, providing a visually appealing experience for an RPG Maker game.
- The soundtrack is engaging, with memorable themes that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The game suffers from a lack of character development and a predictable story, making it feel shallow and unengaging.
- Boss battles are frustratingly difficult due to excessive healing mechanics, leading to tedious and prolonged encounters.
- The game is limited by its low resolution and lack of options for customization, which detracts from the overall user experience.
- story43 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as decent but often lacks depth and memorability, with many reviewers noting its predictability and occasional confusion. While some appreciate the humor and character interactions, others find the plot to be generic and straightforward, lacking significant character development or complexity. Overall, it offers an entertaining experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate narrative.
“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.”
“Im not sure if it picks up at a certain point but currently the way that the storyline is going is incredibly drab.”
- music26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % 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 enjoyable, others are considered somewhat generic or varied in style, leading to a mixed perception of cohesion. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its ability to complement gameplay, featuring memorable battle themes and a dedicated music room for post-game listening.
“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.”
“All in all it's a good game with great music, fun battles and attacks, and lovely bits of pixel art.”
“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.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it predictable and grind-heavy, while others appreciate its interesting mechanics and combat system. Although the novelty of the gameplay may wear off, it offers a solid experience with unique battle mechanics that can be enjoyable, albeit with some difficulty spikes. Overall, it is seen as a simple and fun addition to the RPG genre, despite its shortcomings.
“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.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the original art and pleasant aesthetic typical of RPG Maker titles. While some reviews note a mix of custom and default graphics, the character designs and animations are highlighted as cute and well-executed. Overall, the visuals are considered appealing, especially for an indie RPG, despite not being cutting-edge.
“I think this is an RPG Maker game, but it has a lot of original graphics and they look really good.”
“The art is pleasant and the overall aesthetic is easy on the eyes.”
“The character animations are excellently done and the artwork is superb.”
“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, 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?)”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with frequent monster encounters and low drop rates making farming feel like a chore. While some enjoy the combo system and optional grinding for weapon upgrades, many feel that the necessity to grind for parts detracts from the overall experience. However, hardcore grinding for levels is not essential, as mastering the combat mechanics can help players progress without excessive grinding.
“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.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by witty dialogue and humorous skits, with many players appreciating the blend of traditional cringe humor and clever character interactions. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's engaging story and enjoyable experience.
“Funny dialogue between characters.”
“10/10 story (the dialogues are just amazingly funny).”
“A wonderful JRPG game that I missed, has great humor, story, and everything in it.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with players expressing frustration over the shallow storytelling and minimal growth throughout the game. While the character designs and pixel art are praised for their quality and expressiveness, they do not compensate for the overall underwhelming narrative depth compared to other short RPGs.
“Character designs and pixel art are of good quality, and the characters themselves are expressive enough visually to keep a scene's mood intact.”
“Halfway through, I found out there was no character development, and I was struggling to understand why I was still playing.”
“The game is too short; character development is not quite there.”
“There are other short RPGs out there that pack more story and character development into a similar amount of time.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users feel that the game lacks sufficient replayability, rating it around 6/10, primarily due to the absence of achievements that could introduce additional challenges and incentives for replaying.
“Some achievements would have been nice; they would have added additional challenges and increased replayability.”
“The game offers a solid replayability factor, keeping players engaged with new experiences each time.”
“Replayability is high due to the variety of choices and outcomes available in each playthrough.”
“Some achievements would have been nice; they would have added additional challenges and improved replayability.”
“6/10 replayability.”
