Somewhere out there, one little robot is wandering through a vast world of machines called Machinarium. This point-and-click adventure game by Amanita Design will have you solving puzzle after puzzle as you explore the world and pocket various objects to aid you in your journey. To play this iOS version of the game, however, you’ll need an iPad 2.

Review
Machinarium is set in a steampunk city, and as with many such adventure games, there’s a story for you to seek out. A robot has been dumped in a scrapheap outside the city. Your first task is to reassemble him, by attaching his head to his body and giving him back all his limbs. Next comes his return to the city and the exciting adventure that follows.

In controlling the robot, you can not only direct it to walk (or climb) to certain areas with simple taps but also lengthen and shorten the robot’s torso by either swiping your finger up or down on it. This allows the robot to reach low or high areas otherwise out of reach. Of course, as with many other similar games, you can pick up objects, combine them, and use them. You’ll also be able to interact with other characters and items, such as control boxes that you can use to manipulate machinery.

The game consists of numerous puzzles, which aren’t always immediately intuitive. One hint is provided in each level. Sometimes, even though you do know what you need to do, figuring out how to do so is a process in itself. But if you get stuck somewhere despite viewing the hint, all is not lost. You can access a secret guidebook for each particular scene. To open this guidebook though, you’ll have to play a retro mini-game in which you’ll maneuver a key through a brick maze and evade jumping spiders, which you can shoot. Once you get the key to the keyhole, the guide for that level will open. All these hints and guidebook pages are depicted in comic book styled illustrations that you have to interpret.

Machinarium has amazing graphics complemented with beautiful music and an interesting story to discover. There are no voices in this game. In fact, there are barely any words. Everything, even the speech bubbles, are conveyed in pictures. Altogether, the little bits and pieces in Machinarium fall together to form one stunning world to step into, explore, and decipher.

Recommendation
Machinarium is most highly recommended for fans of point-and-click adventure games. Currently, it is available in the App Store for $4.99. If you don’t have an iPad 2, here’s one more reason to get one now.

Photos

Note: A promotional code was provided by the creator for use in this article.

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