Machinarium is a little gem of a game. I downloaded, played and completed it very quickly. It is one of the best point and click games I've played in a long time.

*What it is*

Developed and produced in 2009 by Amanita design. Machinarium is their first full length, point and click, one player, adventure game. I found this game by chance whilst scouring various game sites. looking for freebies. On reading the description of the game I decided this was a game I would enjoy and downloaded it. The game is for age 3+ although after playing it myself I think a young child would struggle with the different puzzles.

*A mechanical world*

The game is set in a special little mechanical world, you control a little metal fellow, who in the beginning you have to assemble in order to make your way through the various puzzles at each stage of the game. The game follows a story, which I think adds to the pleasure of the game, as your not left aimlessly wandering round for no reason. With each new stage comes a new problem/puzzle for you to work out, collecting items and rearranging things as you go through each stage of the game. Some of the puzzles are quite tricky and took me a while to work out, but no sooner had I realized what needed to be done, then I was off onto the next stage. The game gives you the option to save, load, change volume control, resume a previous game or start new and alter screen size. I found full screen to be the most effective accompanied by the eerie music and sound effects, you will find yourself totally absorbed in this lovely little game, as the game play is wonderfully smooth and runs like a dream.

*Visually stunning*

The game has beautiful backdrops and very clever graphics throughout, the mystical music and eerie sound effects just add to the pleasure of the game, you can easily lose yourself in this lovely little game, that I'm sure would keep you, as it did me, captivated for hours. While playing I came across lots of little mechanical characters, some were friendly some not so friendly. I'd say that this little game is a point and click adventure game at it's best. I was truly amazed at how good the game actually was and on playing the game, decided that I would indeed have paid for it if I'd had to, I think I got a real bargain here with this game and if you think it may be your thing, then I'd say go for it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

*No problems at all*

I didn't experience any glitches with the game or problems with downloading and installing. As it was a freebie from a free games download site, I was a little concerned that it may have arrived on my computer with some sort of unwanted virus, but no, all was well with my computer.

*Amanita Design*

Amanita design have their own website, they are a small independent game developing studio, who are based in the Czech Republic, on their website you can checkout other games and projects by them. I did this after playing Machinarium because I was eager to see what else they had done. They have a few short games and one or two other projects that they are working on.

Machinarium won an award for excellence in visual art at the independent game festival 2009 and once you see it for yourself you will indeed see why, the game in my opinion, is a fabulous work of art and worth checking out if only for the beautiful art work that has gone into it.

*Where from, how much and would I recommend?*

Although currently sold out on the Amazon website, they are currently selling a collectors edition for PC and MAC for VISTA / XP at the price of £10.97. But failing that I'm sure if you hunt around, you would manage to find it. Unfortunately the site from which I downloaded the game, seems to have ceased to exist.

So I think I can say I would 100% recommend this beautiful little game, it's a joy to play, a joy to listen to and best of all it's a joy just to look at. Machinarium gets 5 stars from me because I can't fault it.

Thank you for reading my review which is also posted on Ciao