The Tomorrow Corporation's oddest creation may have found new life.
Human Resource Machine is the oddest Switch game from the Tomorrow Corporation. While the style of it is similar to their other releases, the game feels more conventional . For example, the story is more focused on the office lifestyle with strange things happening every so often. You will find yourself working up the corporate ladder and completing the tasks at hand. While that side of it is still charming, the gameplay is the true star of the show.
At its heart, Human Resource Machine is a puzzle game. You are in a room with tiles coming in through an inbox. Your task is to ensure that the character lines the tiles up correctly so they fit into the outbox. That seems easy, but you don't have direct movement. Instead, you write computer commands and create a program that allows the employee to do his/her job. It is basically creating lines of code and seeing how the program comes together.
The game continues to build by throwing in new programs or complications that you need to overcome. You will need to think in a concise fashion to make every step work, which will provide a challenge for even the most experienced puzzle game player. If you’re outside that group, there might be a problem. I can freely admit that the game doesn't offer up a ton of variety and there isn’t much build-up in the puzzles. There isa strong pay-off, but you need to be in the zone to perform well. I’m in the camp that loves this game, but the Tomorrow Corporation may leave some out in the cold.
As far the controls are concerned, this is the ultimate version of Human Resource Machine. If you are playing on the go, you can use the touchscreen to drag and drop commands at your leisure. If the Switch is docked, the re are gyroscope-powered pointer controls. It works better than you would expect, but it goes of sync more than I would like. A quick hit of the + button brings it back, but that momentary move may break the program.
There is a lot to like about the Switch version of Human Resource Machine. If you’ve never played it before, there is no better place to play it. The control options are sublime with the added benefit of taking it anywhere. The biggest issue of this game remains what it is as a game. There isn't a ton of variety, but the puzzles themselves are quite clever and keep you entertained for quite while. If you ever wanted to be a programmer in a strange abstract world, your craziest wish has been granted.