Mechanism
- July 19, 2018
- AlexGoodwin
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreThe lonely robot, he has no plans. His faith and soul is in you hands.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and a captivating atmosphere, showcasing impressive work for a solo developer.
- The puzzles are engaging and the character designs, especially the tiny robots, are adorable.
- The storytelling is intriguing, with a 'show don't tell' approach that leaves room for imagination.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with saving, disappearing items, and inconsistent camera controls.
- The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Many players find the lack of clear direction and guidance overwhelming, making it difficult to progress without external help.
- music30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as haunting and melancholic, effectively enhancing the moody atmosphere and overall experience. While many praise the sound design and soundtrack, some users report issues with glitches and repetitive beats that can detract from enjoyment. Overall, the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth, despite some technical shortcomings.
“The music evokes melancholy, the sound design in general is really well done, the art direction is fantastic, there are a lot of things to be proud of.”
“Moody, desolate and strangely enchanting, the game is a sombre experience with haunting music and a beautifully designed, albeit small, interlocking world.”
“The music, world, and atmosphere are worth the asking price alone, definitely worth checking out and I will be looking forward to what Alexander Goodwin comes up with in the future.”
“Whenever I adjust the sound effects and background music in the settings, they just apply for the session you play in.”
“And sometimes the music completely glitches and randomly stops.”
“Even the sound wasn't too great; after leaving the initial room, the synth-ish music started with this single repeated beat that started giving me a headache almost immediately.”
- story30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as intriguing yet ambiguous, relying heavily on visual storytelling and atmosphere rather than clear narrative guidance. Players often find themselves wandering without clear direction, which can detract from the experience, though many appreciate the meditative quality and subtlety of the storytelling. Overall, while the narrative may feel disconnected or difficult to grasp, it resonates well with those who enjoy a more atmospheric and interpretive approach to storytelling.
“The fact that one man alone made this game is incredible, and I think that the meditative and ambiguous mood and implication of story will resonate with people looking for the kind of atmosphere that is evident from the screenshots.”
“Storytelling and atmosphere are by far the best point of the game.”
“I have not played this game enough to say anything valid about the story, but so far it's just thrilling.”
“The story is pretty weird and not really connected.”
“You're immediately supposed to know what you're doing; there is not a single clue as to what the story is. You just have to wander aimlessly until you get to interact with something.”
“I get that it's a puzzle game, but the puzzle shouldn't be trying to figure out what the story is.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and unique visual style, with many players impressed by the stunning world design, especially considering it was created by a single developer. However, some users noted issues with animations and bugs that detracted from the experience, such as disappearing items and confusion over certain game elements. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, technical flaws and vague lore have left some players wanting more clarity and polish.
“The world looks really cool and the visuals are just stunning in general.”
“I was actually impressed to find these kinds of graphics made by one man.”
“- unique pretty graphics”
“Very poor graphics and blurry.”
“The bleak visuals and somber music lend to the sorry state the world is in, and the lore is left vague, mirroring the character's own cluelessness.”
“The graphics are disappointing and lack detail.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and meditative qualities, enhanced by a unique art style and evocative music. Many reviewers highlight the strong storytelling and emotional depth, although some note that technical issues can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making the game worth exploring.
“The music, world, and atmosphere are worth the asking price alone; definitely worth checking out, and I will be looking forward to what Alexander Goodwin comes up with in the future.”
“A very densely packed, atmospheric, depressing gem of a game.”
“The game's atmosphere is fantastic.”
“Its captivating, eerie atmosphere and music get swallowed whole by the game's own phlegm: mildly annoying-to-gamebreaking bugs.”
“The fact that one man alone made this game is incredible, but the meditative and ambiguous mood is overshadowed by the lack of polish in the overall atmosphere.”
“While the music, world, and atmosphere are initially engaging, they ultimately fall flat due to the game's numerous technical issues.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized due to numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Players report issues such as visual glitches, music interruptions, and critical item orientation problems, leading many to feel that the game feels unfinished and buggy. Overall, these stability issues significantly impact enjoyment and have resulted in negative feedback from users.
“The bugs and glitches just take out the fun for me right now.”
“I have to agree with the reviews below that the glitches are a somewhat problematic part of the game.”
“Glitches are also present, like incorrect orientation of picked items, which sometimes is critical.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring enjoyable core mechanics that can become repetitive, but marred by awkward camera angles and collision issues that hinder the experience. Players appreciate the game's ambiguous nature and interesting solutions, though many express frustration with moments of aimless wandering due to a lack of clarity. Additionally, the inclusion of a reset feature highlights the game's tendency to become chaotic when items are lost.
“The core gameplay is fun, albeit repetitive.”
“Interesting gameplay solutions.”
“Those are just trivial downsides and have nothing to do with the actual gameplay and the story, which are great.”
“The gameplay is where it just comes apart at the seams, and it is telling that one of the features is basically a reset state button for when the items get lost and the world gets really messed up.”
“I enjoyed the ambiguous nature of this game, but I think the moments I got stuck at may have been avoided with just a little bit more clarity. When I got stuck and was wandering around aimlessly, I started to be pulled from the world and became frustrated with some of the mechanics.”
“The camera angles are still really awkward, along with collision bleeding, which makes gameplay difficult in a bad way.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the character designs, indicating that the visual representation of the characters contributes positively to the overall character development experience. However, there is no specific mention of narrative or emotional growth in the characters themselves.
