Time Bandit – Part 1: Appendages of the Machine | Game Brain

Time Bandit – Part 1: Appendages of the Machine Game Cover

About

In "Time Bandit – Part 1: Appendages of the Machine," players manage resources and solve puzzles at a slowed pace in a real-time adventure game. As they collect time crystals, they must decide whether to give them to the company or keep them, all while suspecting a dark secret. The game continues to progress even when not being played, requiring careful time management.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Time Bandit – Part 1: Appendages of the Machine screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Time Bandit offers a unique gameplay experience that blends real-time mechanics with puzzle-solving, encouraging players to think about their actions and time management in a thoughtful way.
The game features well-designed puzzles and engaging writing, creating an interesting atmosphere that keeps players invested and pondering even when they're not actively playing.
It allows for short play sessions, making it easy to fit into daily life, and the mix of genres provides a refreshing take on traditional gameplay mechanics.

The game is rough around the edges, with unpolished elements and performance issues, such as frame rate drops and limited audio quality.
Some players may find the slow pacing and real-time mechanics frustrating, as actions can take a long time to complete, which may not appeal to everyone.
The story and character interactions can feel shallow or underdeveloped, leaving some players disappointed with the overall narrative experience.

gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
9%
The gameplay of "Time Bandit" is a unique blend of idle, sokoban, stealth, and bullet hell mechanics, wrapped in a narrative about capitalism and time management. While the core gameplay loop is lengthy and may not appeal to everyone, many players find enjoyment in the routine tasks of setting up and building within the game. The real-time mechanics and atmospheric elements add depth, though some feel the investment required may not justify the gameplay experience offered.
- “Time Bandit is a clever game mixing idle, Sokoban, stealth, and even some bullet hell mechanics, all wrapped in a story about capitalism and the use of our time under it.”
- “The real-time mechanics are some of the most interesting recontextualizations of the mode of play I've seen, and the few cutscenes that are here are all very fun.”
- “Weird and atmospheric, it melds a bunch of disparate gameplay types into a very compelling game.”
- “The time it asks you to invest, however, does not seem worth the gameplay it offers.”
- “If you like the moment-to-moment gameplay and just like pushing the boxes around, then have fun, but it was always sort of a means to more plot or to unlock more places to do stuff for me. Unfortunately, what you see is what you get; there's not much hidden beyond your character getting work shifts.”
- “As much as I'd love to talk to you about the whole experience and the story, as it stands I've played for 3-4 days and I've only just started chapter one, as the game is very true to its message of 'real-time gameplay.'”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The story of "Time Bandit" explores themes of capitalism and the use of time, presented through a mix of gameplay mechanics. While it offers an interesting narrative framework, some players find the writing preachy and the plot underdeveloped, with limited foreshadowing and a lack of significant story progression in the early chapters. Overall, there is a desire for more depth and diversity in the storytelling as the game continues to unfold.
- “Time Bandit is a clever game mixing idle, Sokoban, stealth, and even some bullet hell mechanics, all wrapped in a story about capitalism and the use of our time under it.”
- “Time Bandit is currently part 1 of an unknown number of chapters, but I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes and pushing as many boxes as it takes to get there.”
- “The writing sometimes comes off as preachy (the radio is literally a talking head simulator), and there's very little foreshadowing for the game's one boss, but it does tell an interesting story with unique gameplay to frame it.”
- “Was not expecting it to end where it did or for the game to have as little story as it had when it had this big Metal Gear Solid vibe.”
- “Felt like there was either gonna be a boss fight or a big cutscene with some dialogue and the plot thickens or something, but nah, it's pretty nothing.”
- “If you like the moment-to-moment gameplay and just like pushing the boxes around, then have fun, but it was always sort of a means to more plot or to unlock more places to do stuff for me. Unfortunately, what you see is what you get; there's not much hidden beyond your character getting work shifts.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game features a limited selection, with simplistic "voice acting" primarily consisting of grunts, yet it complements the gameplay well, providing a cute and chill atmosphere. The real-time format enhances the experience, as different soundtracks correspond to various times of the day, although this aspect may not appeal to all players. Overall, while the music may be rough around the edges, it adds a unique charm to the game.
- “Or don't, and just move boxes at a chill pace while you bop along to the cute music.”
- “The real-time format of the game doesn't sound very appealing to some gamers, but this game was built with this heavily in mind. There are different soundtracks for each time of the day, and the sun moves according to the time of the day, all in real time.”
- “It's definitely rough around the edges with limited music and 'voice acting' that's just grunting, but I'm excited to see what comes next.”
- “The real-time format of the game doesn't sound very appealing to some gamers, but this game was built with this heavily in mind; there are different soundtracks for each time of the day, the sun moves according to the time of the day, all in real time.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for being unique and intriguing, effectively blending various gameplay styles to create a compelling experience. Reviewers highlight its weirdness and the captivating ambiance that enhances overall engagement.
- “Weird and atmospheric, melds a bunch of disparate gameplay types into a very compelling game.”
- “Neat game with really interesting atmosphere.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The graphics are capped at 1080p despite 1440p support, but this limitation is not seen as a significant drawback due to the game's unique low-poly PS1 aesthetic, which features quirky character designs like a protagonist with T-rex arms and minimal facial expressions.
- “The game features 1440p support, although it's capped at 1080p. This isn't a huge issue considering the unique art style.”
- “Sneaking around as a protagonist with T-Rex arms and one facial expression, all presented in a charming low-poly PS1 aesthetic, is quite an experience.”
- “The game's graphics embrace a nostalgic low-poly PS1 aesthetic, which adds a quirky charm to the overall experience.”
- “I mean sneaking around as a protagonist with T-Rex arms and one facial expression, all with a low poly PS1 aesthetic?”
- “1440p support is capped at 1080p, although it's not a huge issue considering the art style.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally stable but feels unpolished, indicating that it could benefit from additional refinement and testing to enhance the overall experience.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's optimization is lacking, as players report frequent frame drops due to excessive rendering of large areas, such as entire towns or significant portions of work sites, in a single view.
- “The game isn't optimized very well; it frequently renders too much at once (e.g., the entire town or a large portion of the worksite in one shot), causing frame drops.”
- “The game's optimization leaves much to be desired, as it often struggles with rendering too many elements simultaneously, leading to significant frame rate issues.”
- “Poor optimization is a major issue in this game, with frequent frame drops occurring when too much is rendered on screen at the same time.”