Machinarium Review

Machinarium is a puzzle-solving platform, in which the player controls a robot who can only interact with objects that are within it's reach.  It is a flash based game, with award winning graphics, designed by a Czech team of developers, Amanita, with their own money.  It was released for Mac and PC in 2009.  After a failed deal with Microsoft, the designers agreed to a publishing deal with Playstation network, and a release date for Nintendo's Wii is also in the works.

The game contains no dialogue.  Instead, Machinarium presents the player with 'thought bubbles' which depict clues, or relevant information necessary to complete the levels puzzles.  Once per level, the player may ask for a 'hint'.

Machinarium begins with our protagonist, a robot named Josef, being dumped onto a trash heap.  The first level involves Josef's attempt to reassemble himself.

Once this accomplished, Josef sets off for the big city.  Once inside the city, Josef must disrupt a plot by The Black Cap Brotherhood to destroy the city's tower.

Accordingto Wikipedia, "Machinarium was well-received on release; on the critic aggregate sites Game Rankings and Metacritic, the game has an average score of 84.78% and 85%, respectively.  It won the Excellence in Visual Art award at the 12th Annual Independent Games Festival and the Best Soundtrack award from PC Gamer in 2009. It was nominated for an Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction award by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences and a Milthon award in the 'Best Indie Game' category at the Paris Game Festival.  Gaming site Kotaku named it a runner-up for "PC Game of the Year 2009" along side Torchlight, losing to winner Empire: Total War.  Gamasutra, Gamerview and the Turkish site of Tom's Hardware all selected Machinarium as the 'Best Indie Game' of 2009.  AceGamez named Machinarium the 'Best Traditional Adventure Game' of 2009."

My own experience with the game was engrossing, and challenging.  The puzzles are complex, and the game's artistic style is unmatached.  The music is crucial and fantastic, as there is no dialogue, and if there is any criticism, it is probably in the otherwise simplistic sound design.  Overall, Machinarium is a very entertaining and worthwhile game.