Automaton Lung

The title itself suggests a machine going through the motions out of habit rather than necessity well after its expiration date, and it’s hard to tell if this is a game about something forgotten or just one that forgot what it was supposed to be. Born within the eerie silence of the early days of the pandemic and launched on the dying Nintendo 3DS eShop, the game carries within it a dual sense of vacancy and decay. Both aesthetically and kinesthetically an “unfinished” videogame, the appeal comes from the quiet contemplation one allows of its frictionless and entropic world and soothing repetitive soundtrack that often reminds you of old empty multiplayer maps or weird old tech demo CD, and the little moments of awe come from discovering the existence of a world map after completing a series of linear levels or the surreal joy of speeding through Giorgio de Chirico like landscapes on your hoverboard. Each collected item is less a goal or a mechanic of progress and more like a gravestone signalling the last remnants of meaning available to exploration as there is no joyful feedback loop to gain from it, only a confirmation that there’s nothing else to find in vaporware. There’s something oddly affecting about how little this game does and how genuinely disconnected it is. Not ironic, post-modern or try-hard retro, it just kind of exists in this post-cultural vacuum. And I do believe there is meaning to be taken from the main character’s automaton nature. Escaping from its tube chamber, it has no other choice or reason but to explore and conquer what its limited world has to offer, executing behaviors out of lingering code and long-abandoned instructions that turn its movements into a ritual. The automaton doesn’t explore for joy or reward, only because it was made to. In that, it captures something quietly human.

as someone into weird strange indie games this quickly became one of my favs.. this game scratches a very specific itch that i didnt know i had, i kinda have no words to describe it. even with how simple it is i really really REALLY enjoyed my time with it and Oh my god the soundtrack is incredible

pretty cool game

Это очень [b] ОЧЕНЬ [/b] сырая штука, и даже не игра в привычном понимании. Просто низшевый лиминальный опыт изучения мира игры. Полноценный геймплей частично отсутствует. Но всё-таки вайбик какой-то у неё есть, правда очень на любителя. Так что возврат не оформляю. Покупайте чисто за эстетику.

incredible atmosphere, good enough controls, cool and interesting levels that tie into each other aesthetically while still keeping things fresh

7.8/10

weird platformer, and I like weird games

This game is solid proof that gameplay does not need to be overly complex to be fun. That there are so many little things that make an interactive experience engaging. Automaton Lung is a vague video that honestly fits right in with giants like Ico. Through atmosphere, music, tone, setting and environmental story telling, it allows your mind to wander. Automaton Lung is a simple game that's all about exploration however it understands the strength of this medium and uses that (music, graphics/art direction and again, environmental story telling) to greatly boost the experience. Insane that this is a 3DS game. A required taste for sure but nevertheless a damn good time. My full video review: https://youtu.be/pXgnYlzS9Uw?si=0poSSI99189CRs6U

Weird but straightforward 3D platformer. You won't find anything extraordinary here, but it will entertain you for around 2 hours (or a few more if you want to 100% it).

While trying out a few games I recently picked up, this one stopped me dead in my tracks. Once I started playing I fell in love and didn't stop playing until I beat the game and got all the achievements. This game controls super well and nails the retro art-style. I had a blast playing this and I am so glad I decided to grab it.