National Machine
- June 29, 2018
- Eric Sun
Get on Steam"National Machine" is a simulation strategy game where players build and manage their own national economy. They must make decisions on various aspects such as taxation, trade, and research, while dealing with challenging events and limited resources. The game features a complex economic model and allows players to experiment with different economic policies and systems.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept centered around producing wartime materials during World War II, which many players find intriguing.
- Recent updates have improved the user interface and added new mechanics, making the gameplay experience smoother and more engaging.
- Despite its rough edges, the sandbox mode offers hours of entertainment for players who enjoy factory-building and management games.
- The game lacks a proper tutorial and clear objectives, making it confusing for new players to understand how to progress.
- There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including problems with the user interface and transportation systems that hinder gameplay.
- Many players feel the game is unfinished and not worth the current price, with some comparing it unfavorably to more polished titles like Factorio.
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a complex system involving resource management and worker allocation, which adds depth to the experience. Players appreciate the unique setting of producing munitions during World War II, though the current sandbox-style lacks clear objectives and guidance. There is hope for future updates that could enhance gameplay mechanics and provide a more structured experience.
“I already have nearly an hour of gameplay for every dollar I spent, and will easily surpass.”
“The introduction of more mechanics, for example, energy and workers, adds a layer of complexity as now you're limited to how many workers you have. However, it's not an issue as the dormitories are cheap to build and upgrade.”
“I hope that the game does well and the developers continue to update it and add more interesting mechanics.”
“If you click around enough, you'll find yourself with a finite stockpile of questionably named resources which can be used for the production of munitions and vehicles. The game throws the same sordid lines of broken English along with other enigmatic explanations that somehow summarize a 'helper'. No tutorials are needed when conducting your own war machine.”
“Despite this, if the developers can stick with this game and give it more actual gameplay, particularly so the player has any idea of what to do with some sort of aim at least, Nation(al) Machine may become a decent product.”
“The introduction of more mechanics, such as energy and workers, adds a layer of complexity, but it's not an issue as the dormitories are cheap to build and upgrade.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for lacking a clear mission or progression system, leaving players without goals or context for the central theme of the "arms race." Reviewers express a desire for a more engaging narrative and improved user interface to enhance the overall experience.
“The game does not have a mission or progression system, let alone any demonstration of context in your 'arms race'; no goals, no aims, no progression: certainly no feel of the arms race that the game is centered on.”
“I believe the mission target should be more than this, and hope to see a better UI.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing significant issues such as unresponsive mouse controls and difficulty interacting with on-screen elements. However, others noted that recent updates have improved the overall visual experience and interface, making gameplay smoother.
“I wasn't getting stressed out trying to find things, and the inclusion of a few shortcuts and general interface improvements, along with a few graphical ones, have made the experience much smoother than before.”
“So let's start off with the fact that you can't click anything in the game. Even after changing the graphics settings, I spent a lot of time trying to get the mouse to work. I can't even play the game because the whole bottom of the screen is unresponsive. Everything is about 10 feet from the icon, so to click 'yes,' you have to move the mouse to the other side of the screen while the icon is on the other side. None of the settings helped. I bought this game not even 5 minutes ago, and I am getting my money back. Do not buy this game.”
“The graphics are disappointing and feel outdated. The textures are bland, and the overall visual presentation lacks polish. It feels like a game that was released years ago without any significant updates.”
“I expected much better graphics for a game released this year. The character models look stiff, and the environments are poorly designed. It really detracts from the overall experience.”
