Amanita Design has announced Machinarium 2, bringing back Josef and Berta as two playable protagonists. The sequel to the 2009 adventure already has a Steam page, although its release date remains unannounced. Having reunited after the events of the original game, the robots are looking for a new home and will discover a valley whose inhabitants are running out of energy.
Players can switch between Josef and Berta whenever they want, using their distinct abilities to solve puzzles that neither could overcome alone. This is a single-player adventure, with cooperation between the two characters built into the puzzle design. Controller support allows direct movement without a cursor, while mouse controls remain available for players who prefer a traditional adventure game interface.
The story picks up after the pair’s escape from the city of Machinarium. A crash leaves them in a wasteland, but descending a nearby cliff reveals a lush hidden valley. Two unusual robot tribes live there: one occupies the rocky heights of Elektrona monastery, while the other resides in Oilton, a city below. Both communities have nearly exhausted their energy supplies. Players will explore the settlements and their surroundings, communicating with other robots through gestures, symbols and animated thought bubbles. The storytelling does not require reading lines of text.
The developers behind Machinarium and Samorost 3 are working together again. Jakub Dvorský returns as game director, Adolf Lachman creates the backgrounds and characters, and Václav Blín handles animation. Every environment is drawn by hand, with Renaissance landscape paintings among the visual influences. Detailed expressions and movements give the mechanical inhabitants recognisably human qualities, against a backdrop of rusty pipes, worn walls and towering structures.
Composer Tomáš Dvořák, also known as Floex, is returning for the soundtrack. Its robotic sounds and acoustic textures will be joined by symphonic arrangements and occasional Renaissance influences, extending the musical approach of the first game. Meanwhile, the original Machinarium is discounted by 80% on Steam until October 15, with its listed euro price reduced from €19.99 to €3.99.
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