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Whispers of a Machine Review: Augmented Investigation

Use your cybernetic augmentations to unravel the mystery behind a string of brutal murders in a point-and-click adventure game with some enjoyable twists on puzzle-solving.

Whispers of a Machine
Clifftop Games and Faravid Interactive
Price: $14.99
Platforms: PC (reviewed), iOS, Android
MonsterVine was provided with a PC code for review.

Whispers of a Machine is an interesting blend of genres: a noir mystery in a sci-fi world set after the near-destruction of humanity. Following the catastrophic “Collapse,” all forms of artificial intelligence have been outlawed. You play Vera Englund, a cybernetically augmented agent sent to investigate a recent murder in a small town. When you arrive, you learn a second murder has already occurred, and your investigation leads you toward a group devoted to creating an AI superintelligence.

The core gameplay is pretty standard for a point-and-click adventure game, with user-friendly features like the ability to see which items you can interact with, which I always appreciate. You’ll investigate objects in the environment, use items to solve puzzles, and talk to people for more information. A notebook gives you a list of all people and topics you can ask questions about, in addition to showing people items from your inventory. These familiar mechanics are fine, but the differences are where Whispers of a Machine really stands out. Vera’s augmentations add another set of tools to your arsenal, allowing you to use her capabilities as part of your investigation.

Despite taking place in a single town and featuring a fairly small cast, I never felt particularly attached to any of the characters except Vera herself, either.

Vera starts out with three augmentations: one that gives her temporary super-strength, one that lets you scan the area for evidence, and one that monitors people’s emotional reactions for any anomalies. The latter two in particular make the investigations feel fresh. After scanning a murder victim, for example, you can then search other areas for that person’s DNA. While questioning a witness, you might notice a sudden spike in anxiety that indicates they’re lying. Due to the game’s short length, I felt like these weren’t quite used to their fullest potential, but they added an interesting layer to investigations.

What makes Whispers of a Machine stand out even more is the way you unlock new augmentations. As you talk to other characters, you’ll be presented with a variety of dialogue choices. While these have no major impact on the story, they determine which augments you’ll have later on in the game. If you choose more assertive options, you’ll gain a different ability than if you favor analytical or empathetic options. This ties directly to how you solve certain puzzles. My first unlocked augmentation let me give people temporary short-term amnesia, which meant I approached puzzles differently than if I’d gained enhanced vision. This is one of the strongest parts of Whispers of a Machine, especially since it means you can encounter different puzzle solutions on subsequent playthroughs.

The story is pretty straightforward. It has a few twists along the way, although it didn’t delve as deeply into the moral quandaries surrounding AI as I expected it to. This was a little disappointing, since it left the world and story with unexplored potential. Despite taking place in a single town and featuring a fairly small cast, I never felt particularly attached to any of the characters except Vera herself, either. Solving the mystery and watching all the pieces come together was the most interesting part for me, and in the end, everything came together for a satisfying conclusion.

The Final Word
While it won’t take you more than a few hours and falters a little with its supporting cast, the unusual approach to puzzle-solving in Whispers of a Machine ensure there’s enough replay value to make a return worthwhile. It’s a decent choice if you want a sci-fi murder mystery, but the real draw here is the augmentation system and how it influences your investigation.

MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair

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