You’ll be surprised at just how diverse these puzzles are, especially when you consider the limitations involved with a one-skill, one-button gameplay style.
There are your standard pressure-pad puzzles and puzzles based around timing, while others have you stringing together a series of strategic steps. As you progress, you’ll tackle more elaborate and time-consuming puzzles, which isn’t too surprising. Anybody can press a button and make it work the key is using it correctly and at the right time. However, I will say that sometimes, I think it was due more to flawed design than my inability to find the solution.Īll you’ve got is a handy-dandy tractor beam with one function.
I’ve played lots of puzzle games in my day and I have to admit, there were several puzzles in this game that stumped me. Just remember that if you’re a novice in the world of puzzlers, this one may be a bit beyond your grasp. But in the case of niche games like Unmechanical, where the focus is squarely on puzzle-solving gameplay (and it’s not a pure adventure, like Myst or Monkey Island ), it doesn’t really bother me. I mean, even fighters have a plot, even if that plot is typically a joke.
This just leaves you, gliding along, trying to figure out what happened, and how to get out.įor the most part, I don’t like it when a game completely eliminates any semblance of plot and character development. These characters don’t stick around for very long, though you never get a chance to interact with any of them. The goal is to escape this foreboding landscape and as you travel, you’ll spot other robots who are facing the same challenges. It appears that a once-powerful civilization has crumbled and all that remains is an intimidating wasteland, albeit not without its little charms. It all centers on the protagonist, a bizarre robotic character, lost in a strange land filled with debris and detritus. The scenario is rather vague, as there’s virtually no defined story. It’s nothing to write home about but it paints a picture, and it’s a picture that most will find inviting. The audio and graphics are appropriately implemented for the sake of immersion, and they work together to create a game that quite simply makes one smile. There are those who may not embrace such an environment (it’s a little dark for me, for instance), but it remains a great accomplishment. The soundtrack works as well, helping to produce a singular environment that has its own appealing personality. The music fits snugly into the graphical style, as a mix of haunting, atmospheric effects accompany your puzzle-solving adventure.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, either it’s just pleasant to behold. The lighting and shading is indeed special but again, it’s all special on a smaller scale. It demands our attention due to a solid, attractive, original presentation as opposed to in-your-face special effects. It’s one of those games that, even though it isn’t a AAA blockbuster production, it still manages to draw the eye. The game benefits from beautiful textures throughout along with fantastic animation. Visually, Unmechanical is like a fantastical take on the industrial a lighter, more ethereal take on the steampunk concept. There are cases where we have to suffer through a few tedious, frustrating puzzles that leave us just plain irked, but the overall experience is a positive one. Plus, the visual presentation is inspired and those who appreciate a stiff challenge will relish the latter stages of the game.
Unmechanical: Extended Edition is an upgraded version of the 2012 PC hit and while it’s a pretty straightforward puzzler, it’s a well-designed one. Sometimes, it’s nice to kick back with a quirky little brain-buster and spend a few hours, considering and conquering.