PC REVIEW | Mashina

This might be one of those reviews where I overuse the word ‘whimsy’ because Mashina has it in spades. It is one of those games I might have ordinarily overlooked, but I am very glad I was given the opportunity to write this review about it. You play a wee robot called Mashina who wants to help her fellow robots create a better world, so she goes off on adventures, digging her way through the underground to find materials to give to the others to upgrade herself and her community. Ok, so let’s dig down to the fine details and see what Mashina has to offer.

Things I liked!

• Graphics | Mashina is graphically amazing, created using stop motion and so many scraps and bits and pieces that it felt like something I would have watched in my childhood as a TV show, reminiscent of things like Button Moon and Finger Bobs (these might be shows that were mainly over here in the UK). This gave a sense of magic and whimsicality to the game, which was just a delight to witness as you play. The amount of time and effort that must have been put into creating this world is mind-boggling to me. Kudos to the creators for making such a cute world out of things that might otherwise be discarded.

• Voice Acting and Sound | The music and sounds in Mashina are so strangely alien with a hint of the eighties to them. It makes the game feel like another world, but one that poses no danger to you but still has that little hint of uncanny just beneath the surface. This is a world where humans don’t belong but is still peaceful in its own way. The voice acting is really well performed as well, giving a sense of character to each of the robots as you meet and talk to them. I’m so happy that this game didn’t use AI and used real voices to give the robots life.
  
• Gameplay | Exploring the underground and drilling for materials never feels unwelcome; you feel a sense of accomplishment when you discover new friends and build new items to help you complete your tasks. I think that the feeling of peacefulness even as you use Bomby Boys to excavate larger areas is what draws me to continue playing this game; that and the tasks you are given have a purpose, and you do feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete them. If cosy games are your thing, then I would say that Mashina allows you to just relax and enjoy yourself with its unassuming gameplay.

Mixed & disliked!

• Length of game | I know narrative-based games aren’t meant to last forever, but Mashina just feels like it has more to say; there could be so many more paths you could take or companions to discover. But I understand that all good things must come to an end. I do hope, however, that the creators of Mashina bring out some DLC or perhaps an endless mode where you can continue to dig and explore for as long as you want to.

CONCLUSION

Score: 78/100

I dug deep into the underground and uncovered a world of trash that can also be quite adorable. Mashina embodies a true trash-to-treasure concept, evident in both its design and the game’s lore. The game offers not only enjoyable gameplay and appealing graphics but also a charming message about companionship and community, which evokes fond memories of my childhood. The only real issue I have with Mashina is the length; it needs to have more to do, and the characters need to be able to tell more of their story. Part of me wonders if this is a game the Wombles would have made if they were game designers (another British kids’ show). All in all, Mashina is a whimsical adventure that can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.