Retro Machina

 PlayStation 4
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1

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  1. kirrwed
    Jul 24, 2021
    9
    Retro Machina is one of the most refreshingly good games I've played in a while.

    Right off the bat, the art style and aesthetic is excellent. It captures a retro technology aesthetic from old science fiction of the 1940s-50s superbly. Many of the collectible posters and occasionally some of the screens are wallpaper worthy. The controls are generally sound. The protagonist robot    Retro Machina is one of the most refreshingly good games I've played in a while.

    Right off the bat, the art style and aesthetic is excellent. It captures a retro technology aesthetic from old science fiction of the 1940s-50s superbly. Many of the collectible posters and occasionally some of the screens are wallpaper worthy.

    The controls are generally sound. The protagonist robot moves fluidly and has a handy dodge. One gripe with the attack is the same I've had with other games, He's sort of in a "stunned" mode after certain swings, like he's still in the follow-through of the swing that leaves him unable to dodge or swing again, and this interval is not natural and a little long. There isn't a lot of jump-timing like a lot of "simpler" platform games utilize, so that was a relief too. This is isometric and there is some platform crossing, but nothing like trial and error obnoxious jump timing stuff.

    The variety of robot enemies is excellent and they each have unique attacks and movements. This also plays into the puzzle-aspect of the game, which is probably more prevalent than the battles. One of the cleverest parts of the game is deciding how to get past an area by remotely hijacking an enemy robot and having him cooperate with you to open gates, hit switches, or reach otherwise inaccessible areas. It makes for a large variety of puzzle combinations that a challenging but not ridiculous. Even within multi-enemy fights, there is some strategy required if you want to just attack and dodge everyone, or if you want to hijack one of them to fight along with you - and who you pick to hijack affects the fight. For instance, there are "healing" robots you might want to hijack first so he heals you instead of them. Or you might want to hijack a projectile enemy because the protagonist has no projectile attack.

    Another minor gripe is the map. It can get convoluted at times, particularly with the many levels and sublevels, and sometimes it's hard to tell which parts of the map are actual path or just walls or treelines because they made it all green. Also, the map doesn't precisely show you where you are - it places the icon in the "section" of the map where you are, but not which platform. It does add a bit to the challenge, but because the icon is so large, it also obscures parts of the map you want to see. Ultimately, once you decipher where you are, the game doesn't really leave you with no clue where to go. The only times I got confused are when I just missed where a keycard or door was marked on the map. You do need to zoom in all around it. One clever part of the map is that you can find some of the secret corridors or platforms only in the map and then in the game, you'll know to take a leap of faith off a ledge in a certain direction to find hidden loot.

    All in all, a great game. I think gamers who enjoy apocalyptic themes, puzzle solving, and even some of the 2-D scroller hits like Axiom Verge will much enjoy this.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. GameCritics
    Jul 13, 2021
    70
    Retro Machina is a game that diligently stays true to its title, putting on the table nothing more or less then what is implied with the opening menu. Unfortunately, the developers have kept too sharp a focus on the ‘retro’ aspect, and in failing to leverage the design improvements and innovations from recent years, the end result is an experience that feels far smaller and more limited than it should.
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  2. Checkpoint Gaming
    Jun 2, 2021
    70
    Retro Machina is a game that includes themes that have been explored countless times before, yet brings its own understanding and take of these views to the table. It is the care put into creating the game’s backstory and world that made me fall in love with this title and wonder just how horrible a world without humans would be.
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  3. PlayStation Country
    May 17, 2021
    70
    RetroMachina is a solid action puzzle game with vividly realised enemy designs, a great mind-control mechanic and beautiful art. A technical issue halted our playthrough prematurely, we just hope a patch resolves it.
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