Submachine Review

Submachine (One, Extended), created by Mateusz J. Skutnik
Flash game, can be found at: http://www.freegameplayer.com/games/submachine/

Rating: Everyone. Probably 10+ because its a puzzle(ing) game.

Submachine is a creepy-soundtracked point-and-click puzzle game, very much like the cult-like Myst and Riven games. You start in a tan-gold-brown colored room, listening to weird, shiver-down-your-spine inducing music. All you can see is a ladder, two doorways, and what looks to be like an equipment bar.

Just like Myst, you have no idea what you have to do or need to collect or anything. Just start guessing, collecting clues, and puzzling. Also, you collect pieces of paper with seemingly random information that suggests the person who wrote them isn't exactly sane/normal.

Once you start, you can click on doorways, switches, ladders, baubles, etc. and hear different sound effects and animations, or just nothing. If you click an item you need, you instantly pick it up. You can then later drag tools from your equipment (right of your screen) and drag it to where you think it goes. [As you can see here]

NEVER give up, this game takes patience and odd-ways of thinking, but persistence and creativity really pays off. Also, there is a lot of backtracking involved. Basically, if you're familiar with Myst, then you'll be ahead of the pack in playing this game. At least you know what to expect. Kinda.


As you slowly gather clues, have a very sharp eye for hidden clues and almost the mindset of a crazy person: Where to cleverly hide clues in the open? There is also the hintings at a sequel: A picture in one of the rooms is a lighthouse, with the words "Sub_2" at the bottom.

Once everything is collected, fixed, turned, switched, charged, and ready, and you are at the end of your wits and patience has run out, you are able to use a teleport device, which is shaped like a glass donut on a pedastal. I won't give away the ending, go play it!

The music really adds to the overall feel of the game and keeps you edgy, almost expecting a run-in with a monster or something to try and kill you. (Not that kind of game, trust me.) The graphics are also cartoony, almost cel-shaded, but also helps maintain the air of the game. The extended version has more rooms, and arranged in a very different way, so make sure you know which version you are playing.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who has played (and like, or has been hooked on) the Myst and Riven games for the PC. Once you're done, you really want to play some more, and you can, sicne some of the details and ways to solve certain things change (like numbers to passwords, etc.) which keeps you on your toes; but thank Gaia that there's a second one to sate the thirst for point-and-click!

4.5/5

Next time: Submachine 2!