Software:Nex Machina

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Short description: 2017 video game
Nex Machina
Developer(s)Housemarque
Publisher(s)Housemarque
Director(s)Harry Krueger
Producer(s)Jari Kantomaa
Programmer(s)Tero Tarkiainen
Artist(s)Mikko Sinisalo
Composer(s)Ari Pulkkinen
Platform(s)PlayStation 4, Windows
Release20 June 2017
Genre(s)Multi-directional shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Nex Machina is a 2017 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Housemarque. The game was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on 20 June 2017. It received positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

A player fighting off enemies while trying to save a human. Destroyed enemies explode into voxels.

Nex Machina is a twin-stick shoot 'em up video game played from a top-down perspective.[1][2] Players move through rooms shooting waves of enemies while attempting to save humans.[1] Power-ups and weapon upgrades are dispersed throughout levels.[1]

Development

Jarvis in 2016

Nex Machina was developed by Finnish video game studio Housemarque with designer Eugene Jarvis serving as a creative consultant.[3][1] Jarvis is known for his role in designing arcade shoot 'em ups such as Defender (1981), Software:Robotron: 2084 (1982), and Smash TV (1990).[1] At the 2014 D.I.C.E. Awards, Housemarque's founders Ilari Kuittinen and Harri Tikkanen met with Jarvis and asked him if he would be interested in collaborating on a game.[3] Jarvis' games, particularly Defender, was a source of inspiration for Housemarque's 2013 game Resogun.[4] For the design of Nex Machina, they combined elements from Jarvis' previous shoot 'em ups and Resogun.[3][1] The development team experimented with different setups for the game's firing mechanics.[4] They followed a different design philosophy than their 2016 game Alienation by choosing not to incorporate character progression systems in Nex Machina.[4]

Nex Machina is powered by a significantly enhanced version of the game engine and voxel technology that was used for Resogun.[4][3] The inclusion of a volumetric rendering technique known as Signed Distance Fields allows for a smooth transition between complex 3D meshes and voxel particles to give them more flexibility in how objects appear on the screen.[4] The studio dubbed their art style for the game as cablepunk—a darker take on cyberpunk.[3]

Release

Nex Machina was revealed at the PlayStation Experience in December 2016.[1] Housemarque signed a deal with Sony Interactive Entertainment to bring the game to the PlayStation 4.[3] In March 2017, Housemarque announced that the game will also be released for Windows.[5] Nex Machina was released on 20 June 2017;[6] it is Housemarque's first self-published game.[3] Housemarque is also considering creating a Nex Machina arcade cabinet with Jarvis' company Raw Thrills.[3]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 84/100[7]
(PS4) 88/100[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid9.5/10[9]
Edge9/10 [10]
GameSpot9/10[11]
PC Gamer (US)89/100[12]

Nex Machina received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[13]

Eurogamer ranked the game eighth on their list of the "Top 50 Games of 2017".[14]

Accolades

Nex Machina was nominated for "PlayStation Game of the Year" at the Golden Joystick Awards,[15] for "Best PC Game" in Destructoid's Game of the Year Awards 2017,[16] and for "Best Action Game" in IGN's Best of 2017 Awards.[17] It won the award for "Best Indie Action Game" in Game Informer's 2017 Action Game of the Year Awards.[18] It won "Big Screen Game of the Year 2017" and "Finnish Game of the Year 2017" in the Finnish Game Awards 2018,[19] and was also nominated for "Visual Design" and "Music Design" at the 2018 Develop Awards.[20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 McWhertor, Michael (7 December 2016). "Nex Machina is an explosive spiritual successor to Smash TV and Robotron". Polygon. http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/7/13878576/nex-machina-housemarque-ps4-gameplay-video. Retrieved 26 February 2017. 
  2. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (3 December 2016). "Housemarque and Eugene Jarvis reveal Nex Machina". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-12-03-housemarque-and-eugene-jarvis-reveal-nex-machina. Retrieved 26 February 2017. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Souppouris, Aaron (3 December 2016). "The follow-up to 'Resogun' is a Hail Mary for arcade shooters". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/03/nex-machina-housemarque-resogun-sequel-interview-preview/. Retrieved 26 February 2017. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Maxwell, Ben (March 2017). "Voxel Perfect". Edge (Future Publishing) (303): 69–75. ISSN 1350-1593. 
  5. ↑ Orry, James (14 March 2017). "Housemarque's Nex Machina is also coming to PC". VideoGamer.com. https://www.videogamer.com/news/housemarques-nex-machina-is-also-coming-to-pc. Retrieved 14 March 2017. 
  6. ↑ Phillips, Tom (19 May 2017). "Housemarque and Eugene Jarvis' Nex Machina has a release date". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-05-19-housemarque-and-eugene-jarvis-nex-machina-has-a-release-date. Retrieved 29 May 2017. 
  7. ↑ "Nex Mechina: Death Machine for PC". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nex-machina-death-machine/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved 30 March 2018. 
  8. ↑ "Nex Mechina: Death Machine for PS4". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nex-machina-death-machine/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. Retrieved 30 March 2018. 
  9. ↑ Devore, Jordan (23 June 2017). "Review: Nex Machina". https://www.destructoid.com/review-nex-machina-444465.phtml. Retrieved 30 March 2018. 
  10. ↑ "Nex Machina". Edge (Future) (309): 104–106. September 2017. ISSN 1350-1593. 
  11. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (21 June 2017). "Nex Machina Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nex-machina-review/1900-6416704/. Retrieved 30 March 2018. 
  12. ↑ Schilling, Chris (29 June 2017). "Nex Machina Review". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/nex-machina-review/. Retrieved 30 March 2017. 
  13. ↑ "Nex Machina: Death Machine" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/nex-machina-death-machine/. 
  14. ↑ Eurogamer staff (30 December 2017). "Eurogamer's Top 50 Games of 2017: 10-1". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-30-eurogamers-top-50-games-of-2017-10-1. Retrieved 30 December 2017. 
  15. ↑ Gaito, Eri (13 November 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/. Retrieved 8 January 2018. 
  16. ↑ Carter, Chris (12 December 2017). "Nominees for Destructoid's Best PC Game of 2017". https://www.destructoid.com/nominees-for-destructoid-s-best-pc-game-of-2017-476291.phtml. Retrieved 8 January 2018. 
  17. ↑ "Best of 2017 Awards: Best Action Game". 20 December 2017. http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Action_Game. Retrieved 8 January 2018. 
  18. ↑ Miller, Matt (5 January 2018). "2017 Action Game Of The Year Awards (Page 3)". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/05/2017-action-game-of-the-year-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=3. Retrieved 8 January 2018. 
  19. ↑ "The Finnish Game Awards 2018 Winners". Neogames. 24 April 2018. http://www.neogames.fi/fga18winners/. Retrieved 30 April 2018. 
  20. ↑ MCV staff (21 May 2018). "Announcing the Develop Awards 2018 nominations shortlist". MCV. https://www.mcvuk.com/development/announcing-the-develop-awards-2018-nominations-shortlist. Retrieved 4 September 2018. 



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