Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking

About

"Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking" is an educational game that showcases various lockpicking mechanics from different games, aimed at game developers seeking to study past implementations. The game allows players to explore and experiment with these mechanics in a browsable, playable environment. It is available on Steam and includes features such as professional art, achievements, and leaderboards. Source code and a Unity project are available on GitHub.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking screenshot

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

A fantastic resource for game developers, providing insights into various lockpicking mechanics across different games.
The concept of an interactive exhibit showcasing lockpicking mechanics is intriguing and has potential for future expansions.
Offers a unique collection of minigames that highlight the evolution and implementation of lockpicking in gaming history.

The execution feels rough and unpolished, with issues like low mouse sensitivity and lack of comprehensive controls.
Many users find the game overpriced for the short playtime and limited content, feeling it lacks depth and challenge.
The presentation and organization of the content could use significant improvement to enhance the overall experience.

gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
79%
7%
The gameplay of "Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking" is primarily educational, serving as a resource for understanding and analyzing lockpicking mechanics across various games. While it offers a neat collection of simplified lockpicking puzzles, many users feel it lacks depth and polish, making it less engaging for those seeking a traditional gaming experience. Overall, it is recommended for game designers and enthusiasts interested in the evolution of game mechanics rather than for casual players looking for substantial gameplay.
- “Amazing resource for learning about how lockpicking is implemented, would love to see more installments with other mechanics being covered.”
- “This was both an excellent trip down memory lane and a fun way to engage with the theory and practice of game mechanics and design.”
- “It's very knowledgeable about the various mechanics used and is a great resource for anyone wanting to create their own lockpicking minigame and learn how to improve on past mechanics.”
- “The general implementation of locks and games is at a low level; this game is only meant to understand the mechanics (partially), not to feel the experience. Even the narrative part of the game is not as good as I thought it would be.”
- “While it purports to replicate the mechanics of the games that it studies, it instead implements a simplified version of the inputs used, creating versions that abandon the polished details of the original mechanics. For example, Oblivion's tumblers in the museum will always stick, and the high-skill, higher-risk method to rapidly pick locks in Thief 3: Deadly Shadows is notably absent.”
- “Basically, this would have been really good with a bit of extra polish in most areas, but as it is now, it's pretty hard to recommend it as a museum of mechanics if you are actually interested in learning from it.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are criticized for lacking polish and options, with users noting limited graphical settings and a general feeling of using basic Unity assets. Additionally, performance issues on certain machines and the absence of any soundtrack contribute to a less immersive experience. Overall, the game falls short in delivering a visually appealing and well-optimized experience.
- “The museum also does not run very well on my machine, and the options menu needs to include rebindable keys and extended graphics options besides resolution.”
- “No soundtrack (even a small ambient one), almost no graphic options (even for something as simple as v-sync), and the general feeling of being in front of a Unity asset... I get it, this game is aimed at game developers, but if you sell it for €8, just do the bare minimum in terms of polish.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music aspect of the game is notably lacking, with no soundtrack or ambient sounds present, which contributes to a sense of unpolished execution. Reviewers feel that even basic audio elements should have been included, especially given the game's price point.
- “There is no soundtrack at all, which makes the game feel empty and lifeless.”
- “The lack of any ambient music really detracts from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “Without a proper soundtrack, the game feels more like a tech demo than a finished product.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has been reported to have some stability issues, with users encountering bugs such as multiple locks opening simultaneously. While these glitches can be amusing, they indicate that the game may require further polishing to enhance overall stability.
- “The game is a bit buggy; I encountered a glitch when I was opening one of the immersive locks, and it opened three locks in a row - lol.”
- “I frequently experience crashes during gameplay, which really disrupts the experience.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I often get kicked out of the game unexpectedly.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is disrupted by an unnecessary reference to Kingdom Come: Deliverance and a mention of Gamergate, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience.
- “The unnecessary and unexpected jab at Kingdom Come: Deliverance and the Gamergate reference really breaks the atmosphere of the game.”