Nex Machina: Death Machine

 PC
Nex Machina: Death Machine Image
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

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  • Summary: Nex Machina is an intense arcade style twin-stick shooter from Housemarque. Taking hints from both Robotron and Smash TV, Nex Machina focuses on pure action, voxel destruction and competition in the distant, cablepunk themed future.

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Nex Machina - Co-Op Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Game Informer
    Aug 8, 2017
    93
    Immaculate level design, devilish enemy placement, and a steady but always punishing difficulty curve help Nex Machina stand head and shoulders above most competing shooters, not to mention the early arcade titles that inspired it, like Robotron: 2084. That’s meaningful, as Nex Machina was created in cooperation with Eugene Jarvis, one of the designers of that early classic game. Nex Machina is far deeper than first impressions might suggest, and can offer many hours of searing challenge, presuming you’re willing to face a little eye strain. Blinking is not encouraged.
  2. GameSpew
    Jun 19, 2017
    90
    Housemarque has done it again; Nex Machina is a brilliantly action-packed shooter that’s engrossing, addictive and absolutely sublime from start to finish.
  3. GameStar
    Jul 23, 2017
    88
    With Nex Machina, Housemarque managed to create a balancing act between retro and modern gaming, thanks to precise controls and impressive effects.
  4. SpazioGames
    Jun 20, 2017
    80
    Nex Machina is a fast paced cyberpunk twin stick shooter, a pure experience from the past, but unfortunately it doesn't last long.
  5. GameOver.gr
    Aug 29, 2017
    80
    Nex Machina is the quintessential top-down arcade shooter. It may seem simplistic on paper, but on screen is nothing less than a punishing, hectic and utterly enjoyable experience that will leave you exhausted even only after an hour of play.
  6. DarkZero
    Jul 13, 2017
    80
    Nex Machina is an great twin-stick shooter that stays close to the roots it has inherited from designer Eugene Jarvis to bring a modernise, hyper speed take on this classic genre. It does not try to reinvent the wheel, and its lack of online cooperative action is a disappointment, but it offers simple, exceptional controls and has enough going on within its mechanics that it never feels shallow. With beautiful voxel visuals, challenging gameplay and piercing colours, Nex Machina is a combination of striking graphics and addictive gameplay that never stops for a break. While it might not be the best twin-stick shooter in the past few years, there is no doubt that this is still another great arcade shooter from Housemarque’s ever growing library of quality shooters.
  7. The Overpowered Noobs
    Jun 21, 2017
    70
    Not all efforts in nostalgia end in success, but with Nex Machina, Housemarque has crafted a fast and fun twin-stick shooter with crisp visuals and challenging gameplay. Flawed only by a problematic mouse adaptation, Nex Machina is a solid execution of a gaming genre staple that promises long nights with guns blazing (instead of sleep).

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. jose-antonio-5
    Dec 28, 2017
    10
    Todo un homenaje a los arcades clásicos; sencillo, frenético, muy divertido y 100% habilidad además de una banda sonora de electrónica alTodo un homenaje a los arcades clásicos; sencillo, frenético, muy divertido y 100% habilidad además de una banda sonora de electrónica al estilo ochentero genial
    No seas un estúpido ignorante que valora un juego en función de las horas que dura y no por su calidad    … Expand
  2. MrJPrime
    May 13, 2022
    8
    Very enjoyable twitch twin stick shooter. Housemarque's particle effects are a sight to behold as always. Fun seeing how much of this workVery enjoyable twitch twin stick shooter. Housemarque's particle effects are a sight to behold as always. Fun seeing how much of this work went into their masterpiece (that I hate lol) Returnal. Variety of weapons to cater to your playstyle. Great game especially when you get it at a discount.… Expand
  4. zzZZZzzzzZZz
    Dec 6, 2017
    8
    Смачная аркада из прошлых времён выпущенная после барбершопа и с электронной сигаретой в зубах. Канонически сложная и суетливая аркаднаяСмачная аркада из прошлых времён выпущенная после барбершопа и с электронной сигаретой в зубах. Канонически сложная и суетливая аркадная машина (а последний босс, он трудный самый): откидывает все заигрывания с апгрейдами, обвесами из вторичого оружия, комбо и оставляет вас один на один с экшоном и таблицей достижений. Это также из тех редких, по нынешним временам, игр, которая с удовольствием вам покажет "Game Over" и даст пинка к первому уровню. Ностальгия прям.… Expand
  5. blunderfuljoe
    Sep 18, 2017
    7
    Nex Machina can only be described as a bullet-hell twin-stick shooter. This top-down shooter constantly fills the screen with enemies chargingNex Machina can only be described as a bullet-hell twin-stick shooter. This top-down shooter constantly fills the screen with enemies charging full speed at you while others sit back and take shots. You learn to weave in and out of fire while utilizing the dash to move through enemies unharmed. Predicting and being aware of visuals is key in this game. Each enemy has a different style of movement and different pattern of attack. One will lunge at you at a certain distance, one enemy continues to spin while shooting a constant stream of lasers, and another one completely disregards you to kill humans found on the map. Reading and learning firing patterns come innately as you continue playing the game. Each enemy will be seen multiple times through a stage and you learn their habits pretty quickly because if you don’t, you die. While you do this, there are specific side objectives available to help boost your score. There are a set amount of humans on each level of a stage. This mechanic is reminiscent of Resogun’s saving human mechanic. Saving the humans will increase your multiplier and thus increase your score. At the end of each stage, the game awards you with points based on how many humans you’ve saved along with bonus points from other secret objectives.

    There are different power-ups to pick up in the game. Enemies are known to drop them from time to time and they can also be found in the destructible environment in each level. These power-ups can be extremely useful from passive abilities like weapon spread and weapon range to rechargeable active abilities such as rockets. They are extremely helpful and make you feel powerful, but the biggest downside is how they are handled when you die.

    The music has to fit with the overall aesthetic of this kind of game and the soundtrack in Nex Machina does everything I could hope for. It's a blend between techno and trance music. The music keeps with the pace of the game well; there was never a moment when the music slowed down and neither did the game. I'm a fan of alternative rock and yet I couldn't help bob my head with the music. It does well to keep the player entranced to the screen while creating a rhythm that you can follow that helps you focus on the dodging the rain of bullets.

    Housemarque’s Nex Machina, takes a futuristic setting and makes exploding voxels exciting again. The game makes my palms sweat as my focus never wavers from the moment the game starts. With no time to think, the game continues fluidly from level to level and stage to stage. Visually, the game is another masterpiece in terms of what it does well. Bright visual colors and cues make it so that even when you are focused on the mayhem around you, you never miss what’s happening on another part of the level. Power-ups make the game easier as you progress through levels, but the overly punishing continue screen makes all your effort for naught. The variety of enemies per stage add more nuances and challenges that make each stage completely different from the one before. The game is only several hours long in a single playthrough of arcade mode, but the different challenges shown from the menu screen will provide many more hours of play. Go forth and watch as visuals bring you in and the gameplay keeps you playing.    … Expand
  6. RS132
    Dec 4, 2017
    0
    This game is held back by one truly stupid decision: there's no saving whatsoever. If you start the game in one sitting you either finish itThis game is held back by one truly stupid decision: there's no saving whatsoever. If you start the game in one sitting you either finish it in that sitting or start over completely next time. There is a "Single World" world mode that lets you start at a particular level, but beating a level in that mode does not unlock the next. I know they're going for an "arcade feel," but there's some things best left in the 80s. You're not asking me for quarters, you shouldn't ask me to start over every time I want to play. Hard Pass.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PC Game of 2017

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