Game Review: The Enigma Machine

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox, PlayStation 4, PC


I'm no stranger to adventure games, but even I find The Enigma Machine to be a rather odd entry into the genre. It features both text-only and low-poly, first-person 3D segments, and plenty of sci-fi horror elements that tell one of the strangest stories I've ever encountered. It's out now on the XBox, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, and we're going to be taking a look at the Switch version today. As the name implies, this is quite the mysterious game, so let's dispense with all the intros and dive right in!

There are some parts of the plot of The Enigma Machine that still elude me even after completing it, but I'm going to do my best to lay out its story here. You play as a test user (Apparently called a RADE?) that's currently demoing a computer program known as DREAMSCAPE. The virtual world of DREAMSCAPE is meant to simulate the mind of an AI, and your guide throughout this journey is a program known as demOS. demOS doesn't remember too much about itself, but it tasks you to travel through the various levels of the DREAMSCAPE in order to recover the codes that might help it remember what series of events brought it to its current state. Seeing as you'll be going in and out of a virtual world, it may come as no surprised that the game is split between the distinct parts. All interaction with demOS is done via text-only interactions on a computer console, and you're given free rein to explore a series of 3D environments whenever you're in DREAMSCAPE. As mentioned earlier, each of DREAMSCAPE's worlds hide a code, and your goal is to figure out where they're hidden in each level. Finding the code and inputting it into demOS' console then progresses the story. While I don't want to reveal too much more about what's going on in-game for fear of dipping into spoiler territory, I will say that I found The Enigma Machine's storytelling to be one of its strongest aspects. There were other parts of the game that I was far less enthused about going through, but I always did so with the hope that the next story section would be compelling enough to make it all worth it. That always turned out to be the case thankfully, but I think that's as good a segue as any to move onto discussing gameplay.

Though it may sound like an odd comparison, I couldn't help but feel that The Enigma Machine reminded me a lot of how gameplay worked in the original Myst. This is mainly due to the open-ended puzzle solving sections of the 3D parts of the game, and also the reliance of messing with contraptions as opposed to managing a huge inventory system. These 3D segments are all in the first person, and you interact with objects using the shoulder buttons. Figuring out each level's puzzles can take you the long time, or you can simply breeze through them depending on how well you're able to figure out what is expected of you. Each level just sort of throws you in with no instructions, so solving each puzzle requires you to first learn what the puzzle even is. The levels don't really have a beginning or end to them, and you can leave them once you get what you want. You can even clear the entire game without partaking in any puzzle solving if you know the codes needed to progress. (As in by looking them up or remembering them from a previous playthrough.) Obviously skipping the entire game this way doesn't help you in the long run, but it is an option that's there. While I personally don't think any of the puzzles were particularly difficult to solve, I figured I'd drop that bit there just in case anyone is hopelessly stuck in some of the admittedly obtuse 3D exploration sections.

In the end the only thing that really matters in-game are your interactions with demOS. Sadly, it's these interactions that I feel are the weakest part of the game. Finding screenshots that I felt captured the game was the bane of my existence as they were all either filled with giant, jagged textures, or filled with tiny, glitchy text. Reading the dialogue (if you can call it that) from demOS is easy enough in the first half of the game, but things start to become nearly unreadable halfway through. Glitches occupy a lot of the screen, and bright lights blur out the font. This is all exacerbated when you see the in-game keyboard that you have to use. I understand the vibe the game was going for, but simply picking from on-screen options would've shaved minutes off the game time. Typing out "contamination" on a keyboard controlled by an analog stick, and also full of the same on-screen glitches, isn't my idea of fun. I played the entire game docked, but I imagine it would be nearly unreadable if one were to play it in Handheld Mode. Thankfully most of these sections are just reading, but it did make for a rather uneven experience.

Presentation-wise, I have to admit that The Enigma Machine is something of an acquired taste. The graphics in the 3D sections are low-poly models that remind me of the PS1-inspired survival horror games of Puppet Combo. I actually had to look up if this was one of their games when I first booted it up. Some might find a bit of nostalgia to the look and feel of the graphics, but they're not all perfect even within the context of their style. Textures constantly bleed into one another, and there are times when the lighting seems to be completely broken. The graphics work for the most part, but there are some sections that were just as buggy as the later demOS bits. I've already discussed those demOS sections of the game earlier, but I think the change in graphic style was a bit odd due to how different they are to the other parts of the game. A very 80s computer interface feels a bit odd when it's mixed with 90s-era 3D graphics. It makes one wonder who the game was made for. While I'm of the opinion that the game falls short of greatness visually, I do think it hit it out of the park when it comes to its sound design. This isn't a soundtrack that's going to have you run out and buy it as soon as you're done with the game, but it's one that perfectly sets and enhances the mood throughout the entire experience. Every single piece of sound works in tandem with the game, and I'll admit that there were some parts where a soundbite jump scared me.

The Enigma Machine is a rather short game at about 1-2 hours depending on how long it takes you to figure out some of its more difficult puzzles. You can even speedrun it a bit by simply inputting the codes right off the bat like I mentioned earlier. Though it's not going to be hold your attention for very long, I do think it's a rather great experience overall in spite of that. It's creepy, it tells its story in a very unique way, and it's a game that I don't see myself forgetting any time soon. It also comes in at a very affordable price of just $4.99. Rather than look at this as a standard gaming experience, I think of it more akin to watching an interactive movie that is priced with budget in mind. What genre of interactive movie it is though is probably a matter for further debate. It may not be the most accessible game out there, but it definitely is one of the most affordable.

Even though I have to admit that there are parts of The Enigma Machine that won't appeal to all players, I still have to say that I think it's a game worth picking up. It doesn't ask for much time or money, and there really isn't anything else like it. As long as you go in expecting some level of jank and wonkiness, you'll be fine. Grab it now on whatever platform you can, and get to solving the mystery behind demOS and DREAMSCAPE!

Check Out The Enigma Machine on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-enigma-machine-switch/

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Story: A
Gameplay: B-
Graphics: B
Music/Sound: A
Value: A

Overall: B+

Pros:
+ A unique take on the adventure game genre that mixes together an 80s-style computer interface and 90s-style 3D graphics.
+ One of the strangest stories I've seen in a while. Does not go at all where you're thinking.
+ Music and sound are totally spot on and create the perfect eerie atmosphere.
+ At just $4.99, this game feels like a steal.

Cons:
- The visuals in both sections of the game can be a bit of an eyesore at times.
- The clunky keyboards in the demOS segments, and the wonkiness of the 3D sections, make the entire game feel a bit jank.
- Can be fully cleared in about an hour, with very little reason to go back to it afterwards.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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