I have nothing to do with Ben. He doesn't know I exist nor that I'm doing this tribute.
With that out of the way I beg you to try "The Machine".
The Machine
It's more of a society simulation than a game. It's like having a whole society in your pocket. Everything is your choice. It's more of a dissection of lives than a story. Your destiny will have an impact on the whole Machine. But as you make it to the end you have just begun. Now you can, and with all certainty want to, do it all again but with more knowledge.
It's a political satire with dark twists. As you roam around the Machine trying to fit in, climb up the ranks or sink to the bottom, you'll see all the different stages of social statuses, the wealth and poverty. In the subway everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder, making a tight spot just to avoid the homeless man at the other side of the train car.
There are a plethora of memorable characters. Whereever you go you'll find people that will make an inpact on you. Whether it's a sad path, bad path and/or successfull path you'll meet people you care for, feel bad for and laugh at.
The humor. It's satirical, it's dark, clever and it's plain, simple laugh out loud! It all starts with a classroom test that will determine your entire life. But you're late haven't studied. From there it just gets better, darker and funnier!
It's still a game! You have all the mini games to become a coper, working man or a "low-life" and in the arcade, if you can afford it, you can play timeless classic arcade games.
It's the graphics! Ben Jelter is a comic book author and artist. Which you see in the pixel art. He cares for the scenery, the characters and the story and it shows in the art. There's also an art museum with his actual pixel art, and it's amazing! He knows how to use the limited palette and amount of tiles per scene aswell as letting his characteristic art show!
It's the tamaguchi you didn't know you need.
Here is the link to a playable demo as well as the game page: https://benjelter.itch.io/the-machine
Now, if you like this game and want more he has also done some other amazing games! Here's my favourites:
- F.C.P - First contact protocol. A game where he cleverly let's the relationships dictate the story inside a spaceship on it's way to colonize another planet. https://benjelter.itch.io/first-contact-protocol
- Specimen 134. A "Stranger things"-like adventure with a BIG twist in the end! https://benjelter.itch.io/metamorphosis-collection
- Decline. A horror game about a female police approaching retirement and getting more and more paranoid. https://benjelter.itch.io/decline
(Specimen 134 and Decline is both a part of his "Metamorphosis Collection" where you get a short game called Opossum Country. Which is a great but for me too short game to include in the top spots).
Ben works a lot for the gameboy system and he truly is a master of it. The best part? You can buy the games on cartridges and play it on the actual console, if you get it before it's out of stock...
Sorry for all the edits and typos. My excuse is that I am Swedish.
