This review was originally written on 09/24/2018.

Technical Information

Developer: Fakt Software
Publisher: Viva Media
Release Date: October 1st, 2005

If you played the classic The Incredible Machine on MS-DOS, you’ll surely love this re-imagining.

Your objective is to create functional machines using physics and thinking critically to pass each level. Each machine has a specific goal, such as turning all the lights on in a certain area of the screen or making the basketball hit a specific target.

Final Thoughts – Analyzing the game as a whole

Graphics and UI

Even though it’s an old game from the early 2000s, I find the aesthetic uncomfortable. There isn’t much variety in backgrounds, which ends up bringing a sense of repetition as you progress through the game.
Another thing that bothered me was the blue lines that appear above the object when it’s selected. Not only is the blue super flashy and attention-grabbing, but it also blends with the options that appear around the object, making it a bit harder to visualize.

The UI and HUD are functional, easy to understand, but aesthetically speaking, they’re quite ugly.
The “machine” vibe is very reinforced, even though there are puzzles that use simple materials and don’t remind us of anything modern/futuristic.
A slightly cleaner visual would have worked better in my opinion.

Soundtrack and Sound Effects

You can select the music that will play in the background, but unfortunately, there aren’t many options.

Gameplay

You use your mouse to drag objects around, but you can also use keyboard controls to rotate some pieces.
At first, it’s not very intuitive that if you leave your mouse hovering over an object, interaction options appear with it.

The early levels are easy, meant to acclimate the player to the game’s mechanics. As you progress, however, you’ll face increasingly complex challenges, including items that are more and less useful, which are only provided for you to get confused.

The game also features a mode where you can create your own machines, just for fun. Personally, I don’t see much appeal in this gameplay mode, but for those who enjoy brainstorming their own ideas, it’s possible to create some interesting stuff.

Replayability and Game Retention

With the increasing difficulty of each level, it becomes very hard not to want to play again. Additionally, it’s an excellent option for casual play, and before you realize it, several minutes will have passed.