Erina And The City Of Machines -

Erina and the City of Machines is not a revolution, but it is a lovingly crafted gem. It wears its inspirations (think Steamboy meets Portal meets Ni no Kuni ) on its sleeve while forging its own identity. Younger players will love the colorful world and Erina’s can-do attitude, while older players will appreciate the nuanced themes about labor, automation, and what makes a being "alive."

The game’s biggest strength is also its occasional weakness. The emphasis on non-violent puzzle-solving is brilliant, but around the mid-game (specifically the "Refinery Runoff" chapter), the logic leaps become obtuse. One puzzle involving redirecting steam pressure through three separate floors of a factory had me reaching for a guide – a rarity in modern game design. Combat, when it does occur (mostly against corrupted, virus-ridden machines), feels clunky compared to the fluid movement of the platforming sections. erina and the city of machines

Rating: 4.5/5