Machinarium is a charming, eye-catching throwback to the days of point-and-click games.
Cons: Slow movement; Occasional obtuse puzzle logic
A few years ago Pixar made a delightful movie called Wall-E. The main characters were silent, but this helped make them infinitely more charming than they likely would have been if they spoke. The best way to describe Machinarium is the game in the style of Wall-E.
Like Wall-E, the story Machinarium tells is a very simple one. You play as a little robot who wakes up in a scrap heap. You guide him into a town and help other robots with their various dilemmas. Throughout this experience, no word of dialogue is spoken, with the story instead presented by in-game actions and animated speech bubbles. What results a delightfully cute story that never ceases to put a smile on your face.
The actual gameplay revolves around solving puzzles in classic point-and-click format. You click to move the robot around and interact with the environment. Frequently you get items and have to use them to further interact with the environment. For the most part the puzzles are challenging, but logical, and when things are too tough, a generous hint system (play a mini-game and basically get the complete answer to a puzzle) helps to keep things moving.
It's a simple, but effective formula, though not one without its quirks. For one, the little robot moves way too slowly. When you are moving back and forth in an attempt to figure out a puzzle, this can be an issue, bringing the game's already slow pace to a near-halt. And as with a lot of older point-and-click games, the puzzles can rely on occasionally unusual logic, which makes things a tad bit frustrating. On the plus side, Machinarium's puzzles tend to be a little less illogical than most old point-and-click games.
Furthermore, the game's slick presentation helps smooth over a lot of the frustration. The art style in particular is extremely eye-catching. The rough shading lends a grimy look to the world, but otherwise all the robots are twisted in a sort of a cute, Burton-esque fashion. Without a doubt, it's one of the most unique art styles I've seen in a while, and the whole game greatly benefits from it. The music is also great, lending a sort of industrial ambience to the game's tone; it simultaneously keeps you calm and also reinforces the grimy, mechanical setting-no small feat indeed.
At 5-7 hours, Machinarium isn't a particularly long game and isn't likely to appeal to those who don't like point-and-click games. However, its charming presentation and excellent sense of style go a long way to making it a memorable experience worthy of every point-and-click fan's attention.