Unmechanical
- August 8, 2012
- Talawa Games
- 2h median play time
Unmechanical Extended on a fundamental level fails to address the shortcomings of the original game, and even though the extended episode tries it's best to do something interesting, it's against the clock and the mechanics of the game. Extended isn't worth the asking price for what it offers, especially over the original version.
Get on Steam"Unmechanical is a single-player Science Fiction Arcade game with a good story, stellar game mechanics, and ingenious graphics. It offers over three hours of gameplay, featuring easy-to-learn controls and 30 unique puzzles in a fantastically atmospheric world. Immerse in its fabulous soundtrack and unmatched exploration experience as you uncover a dark secret on your journey to freedom."
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Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and atmospheric design that create an engaging environment.
- Clever and varied puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving without being overly frustrating.
- Simple controls and mechanics that allow for a relaxing gameplay experience.
- Very short playtime, typically around 2-4 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
- Some puzzles can feel tedious or overly simplistic, lacking depth in challenge.
- The game lacks a substantial storyline, which may disappoint players looking for narrative depth.
- gameplay140 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Unmechanical* is characterized by its simple mechanics, primarily involving movement and object manipulation, which allow for a satisfying puzzle-solving experience. While the game features a variety of physics-based puzzles that encourage exploration and logical thinking, some players find the puzzles can be overly simplistic or repetitive, leading to a mixed reception regarding their originality and challenge. Overall, the game is praised for its charming atmosphere, smooth controls, and engaging visuals, making it a pleasant, albeit short, puzzle adventure.
“Unmechanical is a physics-based puzzle game where you play as a robot that fell down a pipe into the unknown underground made of flesh, rock, and metal.”
“Unmechanical encourages exploration and outside-the-box thinking as it challenges you with a combination of traditional and environmental puzzles that test your memory and reflexes.”
“The gameplay and atmosphere is very relaxing.”
“Unmechanical is a mechanically sound game that unfortunately doesn't often push to do much with its mechanics.”
“Memory puzzles just become fiddly with the mechanics of the game, having to fly drunkenly between buttons and switches to put sequences in order.”
“The puzzles are lacking in numerous places, and have a tendency to be a little fiddly on account of the game's mechanics.”
- graphics89 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty, polish, and unique art style, often described as stunning and atmospheric. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of the Unreal Engine, resulting in impressive visuals that enhance the overall experience, despite some limitations in resolution support. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
“The visuals are amazing, the puzzles require some out of the box thinking, and you can just relax and enjoy the scenery as you journey.”
“Gorgeous lighting, a creative and evocative art style, and some very clever use of cinematography make moving through the dark mines a beautiful affair.”
“The graphics are outstanding and the sound design is minimalistic but it fits the overall design perfectly.”
“There's no support beyond HD graphics, which isn't acceptable today, unfortunately.”
“The menu system is quite basic and doesn’t cater for higher resolutions than 1080p or advanced graphics settings.”
“I feel the game would have worked a lot better with a stylized drawn 2D graphics (as I expected the game to be).”
- atmosphere49 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning design, often compared to titles like Machinarium and Limbo. Reviewers highlight the beautiful graphics, ambient music, and unique environmental settings that create a captivating experience, despite some criticism regarding the repetitiveness of environments and puzzle difficulty. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric puzzle games.
“A beautiful atmospheric puzzle game that, without much backstory, throws you head first into the weird underground world you must escape from.”
“The developers have managed to capture quite an excellent atmosphere throughout the game with a great selection of ambient sounds which at times border on actual music being played.”
“It’s a beautiful, atmospheric game where you explore a sculpted technological and organic world.”
“I'd recommend for the atmosphere alone if it were free, but the puzzles are almost always either nonsensical or tedious.”
“But if you don't take time to soak up the surroundings, the backgrounds, the atmosphere, and the music, you'll end up missing out on a lot.”
“The atmosphere was moody and the special effects, especially when you went underwater or into the dark, were an absolute delight and an outstanding use of the technology at hand (running on the impressive Unreal Engine).”
- story48 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely minimal and open to interpretation, with many players noting a lack of traditional narrative elements. While some appreciate the subtle and atmospheric storytelling conveyed through gameplay and environment, others find the plot threadbare and abrupt, leaving them wanting more. Overall, the experience is described as engaging and visually appealing, but those seeking a robust storyline may be disappointed.
“A beautiful atmospheric puzzle game that, without much backstory, throws you head first into the weird underground world you must escape from.”
“The story is left open to interpretation (just like all good art) and by the time you finish the game, you emerge with a sense of satisfaction at having completed your quest for freedom (or not, if you chose 'the other path'). The graphics are beautiful, charming, and original.”
“The story is told using gameplay; despite the fact that there is so little of it, it is emotional, meaningful, and engaging.”
“There is little in the way of a story; you are simply a small robot who was above ground and has been pulled below.”
“There's no resolution to what you see in the game, no explanation, nothing resembling a story beat.”
“Perhaps the storyline was the only thing that needed some improvement: we don't know who we are or why we are where we are; and the ending was also a letdown because it came too abruptly.”
- music40 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is well-composed, fitting the game's aesthetic and providing a relaxing backdrop that complements the puzzle mechanics. While some describe the music as forgettable, many appreciate its ability to create a charming and engaging atmosphere throughout the gameplay.
“The music was lovely and fit well with the game.”
“Great atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“Unmechanical is a casual and extremely relaxing game and the ambient music adds a lot to this, so it's the perfect game to grab a controller, sit back and enjoy some puzzling.”
“Performance was solid except for one place and the music was atmospheric and forgettable.”
“The soundtrack was mostly just ambient music but it did the job for the game itself.”
“But then I think that it's alright, because I gained the impression that the game places more emphasis on the great atmosphere created by the setting and music than on the actual puzzle challenges.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of well-designed puzzles and some that are deemed tedious or convoluted, leading to a potentially frustrating experience. While the atmosphere and graphics are praised, the repetitive nature of certain puzzles may detract from the enjoyment, especially if the gameplay extends over a long duration.
“I'd recommend for the atmosphere alone if it were free, but the puzzles are almost always either nonsensical or tedious.”
“Tldr: this is a physics lunar lander adventure in which you pull levers and interact with the environment to solve tedious puzzles to progress down a corridor.”
“With a game like this, I could maybe see it becoming tedious if it dragged on for 20 hours.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game has been criticized for being buggy and unfinished, with players encountering various glitches and physics issues that detract from the experience. While some minor bugs can be resolved with quick reloads, the prevalence of these issues has left many users feeling frustrated and disinclined to continue playing.
“The game runs smoothly without any bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any glitches or crashes.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; it never lags or freezes.”
“Tl;dr: buggy and unfinished.”
“I have not played such a design- and program-flawed buggy game in a long time.”
“Despite its brain-melting puzzle and breathtaking scenery, only 1 hour of gameplay (including DLC, which is full of glitches that somehow slipped through) doesn't make me want to try this game again, even just to unlock all the achievements.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization for the game is mixed; while performance is generally solid on most systems, Linux users report significant issues, including poor performance and resolution settings that reset upon starting the game, indicating a lack of effort in the Linux port.
“Performance was solid except for one place, and the music was atmospheric and forgettable.”
“Linux performance could be better, though.”
“Worst, if you attempt to change resolution to gain performance, it resets back when you start playing the game; definitely a low/no effort port for Linux.”
“Performance was solid except for one place and the music was atmospheric and forgettable.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through achievements, but overall, it is considered to lack significant replay value. While it excels in visuals and atmosphere, players feel that the puzzle mechanics do not encourage repeated playthroughs.
“Definitely a good quick puzzler, and the achievements add some replayability.”
“The variety of levels and challenges keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different strategies you can employ.”
“I will say that this game completely lacks replayability.”
“All in all, a great puzzle game that's lacking slightly in replay value but stands out in visuals and atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively conveys an emotional narrative through its unique gameplay mechanics, where players navigate a ball between electrified nails using magnets. Despite its minimalistic approach, the experience is described as meaningful and engaging, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
“The story is told using gameplay; despite the fact that there is so little of it, it is emotional, meaningful, and engaging.”
