Whispers of a Machine
Genres: Puzzle, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Point & Click, Story Rich, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 17-4-2019
Developer: Clifftop Games
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 6–10 h
Whispers of a Machine is a sci-fi Nordic noir point and click adventure from Clifftop Games, the studio behind Kathy Rain. You play Vera, a cybernetically augmented agent investigating murders in a small town where AI has been banned. Her augments let you scan, sense emotions and analyse evidence, and you shape her personality through your choices. It suits solo detective-adventure fans who like pixel art and a fully voiced story.
Steam reviews are very positive (about 93% of 1,420). Players like the post-AI setting, the music, and the fact that many puzzles have more than one solution depending on Vera's augments. Several call it a worthy follow-up to Kathy Rain and a modern take on classic quest games.
Critics found the town small and hard to explore, the characters flat, and the ending lacking a real climax. Expect around six to ten hours. It is often heavily discounted, which makes it an easy buy for point and click detective fans; if you need a big world to roam, look elsewhere.
Pros
- Cybernetic augments open several ways to solve the same puzzle
- Nordic noir murder case in a world where AI is banned
- Choices shape Vera's personality and the ending
Cons
- Small town with little room to explore
- Some players found the characters bland
- Ending lacks a strong climax
About
Whispers of a Machine is a Sci-Fi Nordic Noir that tells the story of Vera, a cybernetically augmented special agent tasked with investigating a string of murders. These brutal killings obscure a sinister truth, as Vera soon finds ties to a group of fanatics committed to creating an AI superintelligence — a pursuit outlawed for nearly a century.
Complicating things, a great loss from Vera's past comes back to haunt her, making her question her own sanity and everything she stands for.
As an agent of the Central Bureau, Vera is equipped with an advanced nano-substance called Blue. This rare and sought-after technology allows her to develop superhuman abilities adapted to her psychological mindset.
Choose your playstyle and utilize these augmentations to investigate, gather information, and solve puzzles with multiple solutions.
Will Vera’s unique blend of skills and intuition be enough to solve the case, or will she discover that things are more ambiguous than they seemed? In this emotionally gripping story with existential twists and multiple endings, Vera's actions will have monumental consequences not only for herself, but for all of humanity...
INVESTIGATION, AUGMENTED:
Will Vera approach situations with a more empathetic, analytical, or assertive style? Your choices will impact her augmentations and subsequent puzzle solutions.A POST-AI FUTURISTIC DYSTOPIA:
Immerse yourself in a realized world of beautifully hand-drawn pixel art design and gorgeous settings influenced by the Nordics.POINT-AND-CLICK INNOVATION:
A groundbreaking entry to the point-and-click adventure game genre by the experienced developers of Kathy Rain and The Samaritan Paradox.PROFESSIONALLY VOICED:
4,000+ lines of dialogue with full English voice acting, directed by Wadjet Eye Games' Dave Gilbert.
