Recent reviews by Boxgirl Gremlin

Finally a game that lets your traumatized character put all their abusers into the torment nexus from the hit novel "Don't Create The Torment Nexus".

Heart of the Machine has to be both one of the strangest and most compelling games I've ever played. It plays like a turn based RPG but with the scope of something like Per Aspera. However game seems designed to be difficult to actually "lose" instead opting for simply making you live with the consequences. The web of decisions tickles my brain in a way I didn't know it any game could, especially when the results start cascading into other playthroughs.

If you put in 0451 into a keypad enough times the game sends you hate mail.

Another entry into the category of "crunchy game with lots of buttons" genre that I've personally grown to like. The UX being obtuse actually works in the games favor most of the time, providing a feel that you're at an actual control panel. This is, of course, hampered by the fact that the game has a remarkably bad time on-boarding the player as to what buttons do what. The tutorials only do so much when a lot of the buttons are unlabeled.

The actual meat of engineering the mechs is honestly a little lackluster. This is especially apparent in the way the tech tree works. Lasers, for example, are unlocked before you can possibly get any sort of power generation for them. The flamethrower is thrown in haphazardly at the end of its tech line, which for such a mediocre weapon isn't exactly great. Most of the mechs in fact aren't actually viable without items from the back of the tech tree. This results in a lot of time with the mech sitting in storage and no way to use it.

Weapon variation is fine honestly. I'd really like some middle option between "Micro-missile" and "Davy Crockett" tho.

Overall even with the snags its worth a try at the price.

While the early game is quite grindy it slowly progresses into an entertaining sandbox with "hack and slash" elements. You can build the house the way you want it and go adventuring with your bow and sword. Pathways will open up for you, allowing you to customize your character based on playstyle and not simply on linear upgrades. Classes are there but there is no definite path to go on, just gear up with what suits you and go out to do things!

The one main gripe I have about this game is that once you get to hardmode, it's almost impossible to keep your world prestine. I wish that they made a way to protect it without grinding out a massive cavern below your house.