Mechanica
- February 28, 2020
- Deimos Interactive
- 120h median play time
"Mechanica is an open-world survival game where up to 2 players cooperatively build and program their own bases and defenses as sentient robots in a post-apocalyptic world. The game features phenomenal mechanics, including a visual programming system for creating interactive objects, automated manufacturing systems, and advanced defenses to fend off aggressive robots. Grinding is required to improve and expand creations in this hostile world."
Reviews
- The game has a unique programming mechanic that allows for creative automation and base building.
- Despite being in early access, the game is relatively stable and offers a fun experience with potential for future updates.
- The graphics and art style, while simple, create an engaging atmosphere that complements the gameplay.
- The game has been abandoned by the developer, with no updates or communication for an extended period.
- Content is limited, leading to a lack of long-term goals and repetitive gameplay after a few hours.
- Many players have reported bugs and issues that have not been addressed, impacting the overall experience.
- gameplay85 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Gameplay in Mechanica has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging mechanics, particularly the programming and building systems, while others express disappointment over the lack of content and the developer's decision to discontinue updates. Many appreciate the game's potential and smooth controls, but note that it currently feels incomplete and lacks the depth expected from a fully developed title. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the game's future remains uncertain due to its early access status and the developer's burnout.
“The gameplay is amazing, and continues to get better as it's patched and updated.”
“It perfectly combines elements of crafting, automation, farming, exploring, and combat, giving you the freedom to explore the world and the amazing programming mechanics.”
“Mechanica is a great little automation game, with some survival elements mixed in through food/drink and killer robots.”
“No survival mechanics spawn, so it's not even like you can play it how it was... had real potential.”
“The introduced research system is just a grindfest and time consumer; it's not adding anything to the gameplay and the experience of the player.”
“I understand the game is in early access and very early development, but at the moment I'm missing a lot of content for proper gameplay.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simple yet clear design and unique art style, while others criticize it as outdated and lacking detail, comparing it unfavorably to older titles. Many users report performance issues, including lag and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware, suggesting that the graphics may not be optimized. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant area needing improvement, with calls for better content and polish.
“Building, coding, traps, automation, all in 3D with great graphics.”
“This is fun because, to me, the graphics and the poly look of the world seem like a nice touch.”
“I love the graphic style.”
“Even dropping my refresh rate down to 60Hz, enabling VSync, and turning the graphics down did nothing but help bump the FPS up to about 30 with some bad lag spikes.”
“There's no story whatsoever, bad graphics (I don't care about game graphics at all, but these are just polygons), the map is really small; it feels as if it was an unfinished and abandoned game put on sale, just to see if anyone would buy it as is.”
“The graphics and art style are very washed-out and 'dusty.' Looking at it depresses me.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players expressing a desire for a structured narrative or campaign to enhance the gameplay experience. While some appreciate the creative mechanics and multiplayer potential, they feel that the lack of a coherent storyline leaves the game feeling hollow and unfinished. Overall, players suggest that a proper introduction and goals would significantly improve the game's engagement.
“Other than these issues, I'm having a blast. In a vacant world in need of a campaign and story, usually this would feel hollow, but the ability to combine items and programming into pre-made gadgets and put them on the workshop is a really interesting idea and fun to tinker with.”
“I also feel like there should be at least a small, but proper textual introduction to some sort of storyline. All the game seems to be very random and coming out of nowhere. Maybe it would also be a good tie-in with a sort of goal to the game, which will make it feel so much more finished.”
“And I like that multiplayer is being thought of; that does sound amazing for this game. But maybe let's focus on story and map creation, for example, a bit more base creation items.”
“Good for the first few hours, then it gets very boring and has nothing to do. Maybe include a story mode or something where you have to build things to defend yourself, and maybe a tutorial so that it is quicker to understand. Otherwise, you are just sitting there for a while, wondering what to do and how to do it because things don't make sense.”
“I also feel like there should be at least a small, but proper textual introduction to some sort of storyline. All the game seems to be is very random and coming out of nowhere. Maybe it would also be a good tie-in with a sort of goal to the game, which would make it feel so much more finished.”
“There's no story whatsoever, bad graphics (I don't care about game graphics at all, but these are just polygons), the map is really small; it feels as if it was an unfinished and abandoned game put on sale just to see if anyone would buy it as is.”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, while others report a relatively smooth experience with only minor issues. Many users express disappointment over the game's current state compared to previous updates, highlighting a lack of polish and the loss of save files due to corruption. Overall, while some enjoy the game despite its flaws, others find it to be a buggy and broken experience.
“The game is fairly bug-free, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“The simplistic design contributes to its stability, making it easy to play without interruptions.”
“Overall, the game is fun and stable, allowing players to focus on enjoyment rather than technical issues.”
“A real shame too; it was a decent game a few updates ago, but it's a dead-on-arrival, buggy, non-working mess now.”
“Now it's buggy and broken, and several things that were scheduled to be re-implemented will now forever be broken.”
“However, that promise quickly turned into disappointment as I realized that the game was plagued with bugs, glitches, and an overall lack of polish.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 70 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment to progress. However, many also appreciate the satisfaction that comes from creating automated systems and the rewarding nature of resource ranking, which can alleviate some of the grind. Overall, while the grind can be overwhelming, the game's crafting and automation mechanics provide a fun and engaging experience once players adapt.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Fun once you figure it out, otherwise it's confusing and grindy.”
“Just like other survival games, progression seems tedious.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game shows significant performance issues, with players reporting low frame rates even on capable hardware, indicating a pressing need for optimization. While the gameplay is enjoyable and the concept is promising, the lack of optimization detracts from the overall experience.
“The concept is interesting and the game is pretty fun, but it's missing a few functions and it's desperately in need of some optimization.”
“Fun little programming/survival/optimization game with good potential.”
“It needs improvements in performance. I ran it on a Ryzen 2700X and RTX 3070, with ~15 power banks, ~30 solar panels, and some laser sentries with automation, and I only got 10 fps.”
“The concept is interesting and the game is pretty fun, but it's missing a few functions and is desperately in need of optimization.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its appealing overall style, contributing positively to the player's experience.
“The overall style and atmosphere are captivating.”
“The game's atmosphere immerses you in a beautifully crafted world.”
“The ambiance created by the visuals and sound design is truly enchanting.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be highly entertaining, praising its humor and the developer's commitment to regular updates that introduce fresh content.
“This is a very funny game, and the developer keeps updating it and bringing new content.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes and hilarious situations that keep me laughing.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its gameplay, making every moment enjoyable and entertaining.”