Metacritic (72)
TheSixthAxis (no score):
GamingTrend (85/100):
Screen Rant (4/5):
God is a Geek (8/10, video):
cublikefoot (8/10, video):
3DJuegos (7.5/10, review in Spanish):
Gamer Escape (7/10):
PC Invasion (7/10):
PCMag (3.5/5):
Shacknews (6/10):
GameSpew (5/10):
TheSixthAxis (no score):
So, should you play Daemon X Machina on PC? If you never touched it before, you absolutely need to play this game no matter what platform you pick. For people who really live-or-die with the portability of Nintendo Switch games, you aren't getting a massively inferior experience by sticking with the handheld. Playing on PC brings sharper resolution and a much more stable and smooth framerate, for sure, but none of it amounts to a night-and-day difference. Go with your heart and play the game on whichever machine speaks to you the most, because at the end of the day, you're guaranteed to have a good time no matter how you play this game.
GamingTrend (85/100):
Daemon X Machina has found its home on PC. The game looks and runs beautifully, and is surprisingly well optimized. This is the best version of a great game, don't miss out on it.
Screen Rant (4/5):
And that's really what Daemon X Machina is all about. Operatic fights, soaring around a destroyed metropolis sinking in the sand, and getting a victory in the most stylish way possible. The story may get in the way of itself sometimes, but when it doesn't Daemon X Machina is a blast.
God is a Geek (8/10, video):
Daemon X Machina looks and sounds incredible on PC, the thumping, OTT soundtrack adding to the already frantic atmosphere and the improved performance ramping the bombast up past 11. At times it can feel a little one-note, given that you'll rarely care about anything the game does or says outside the battlefield, but it really is what it is. I love Daemon X Machina on the Switch, but this is certainly the definitive edition of an already great game.
cublikefoot (8/10, video):
For the mecha fan, DAEMON X MACHINA is a solid recommendation. Fun gameplay, slick movement, extensive customization, there's a lot to like here. It does have some issues with regards to its story and repetitive mission design, but the core gameplay more than makes up for it. And of course, the fact that it's an excellent PC port on top of all of that just makes it even better. Even for those not into mecha, it's definitely worth a look.
3DJuegos (7.5/10, review in Spanish):
Daemon X Machine receives an okay adaptation to PC that delivers the original, sort of repetitive and clunky campaign in a more fashionable way. The game also features a welcome number of extra options to tweak the graphics as well as fully customizable key mapping and the most relevant content updates to date. Not a must have, but still a nice addition to your Steam library.
Gamer Escape (7/10):
Here's the thing – I've never actually cared all that much for the Armored Core games despite wanting to, due chiefly to bouncing off some of them really hard when I was younger. But they are, at the same time, my kind of thing. This is, in essence, a faster-paced Armored Core with more anime influence, and this time I was right on board with it and it hooked me in more or less immediately.
If you like the trailer, you are almost certainly going to like this game. If you like the concepts, you are almost certainly going to like this game. It knows what it wants to be and it succeeds marvelously at it. And at the end of the day, I like this game, so even with its flaws, I can't help but feel that it deserves plenty of love for just being dang fun in exactly the way it wants.
PC Invasion (7/10):
Daemon X Machina isn't an insanely long game by any means. Doing the main campaign and side missions will likely take around 15 hours or so, depending on how much you do. But with all of the online content, it's a pretty good bang for your buck. The game can get a bit repetitive, sure, but there's also a decent variety of mission types, such as ones that have you move around on foot, pilot giant mechs, or shoot down meteors to protect some towers. The story grates and can be nigh incomprehensible at times and it's very dated visually, but if you're looking for a fun Japanese mecha game, this is very much one of the better choices available.
PCMag (3.5/5):
With its focus on high-speed mecha warfare, weapon collecting, and battles in barren landscapes, Daemon X Machina recalls the late, great Armored Core series—understandable, as Daemon X Machina's producer, Kenichiro Tsukuda, also worked on the Armored Core games. As a result, Daemon X Machina has that classic mecha game appeal, along with a few of the genre's warts. Just don't invest too much of yourself into the story.
Shacknews (6/10):
While Daemon X Machina is now available on PC, if you want to get the most out of the game, I highly recommend picking it up on the Nintendo Switch. Thanks to the repetitive combat, and the overall confusing cutscenes, Daemon X Machina is one of those games best played in small doses. The Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for those types of games, and while you'll find smoother framerates on the PC port, you can't take this version of the game with you on day trips out to the city.
That's not to say that Daemon X Machina is a bad game. The offering here is on par with just about every other mech game we've seen over the past few years, and while there are things that could be better, the stunning anime-style visuals and the sheer amount of customization are two things that make it shine. If you're a fan of the mech games of yesteryear, then Daemon X Machina is a nice trip down a road packed with nostalgia. Just don't expect a trip without any potholes, sharp turns, or dead ends—because this adventure is absolutely loaded with them.
GameSpew (5/10):
If you do stick with Daemon X Machina, you'll find a lengthy campaign that's padded out with plenty of optional free missions. There are also co-op focused exploration missions that enable you to get valuable parts, and competitive multiplayer if you're up for it. Overall, it's quite the comprehensive package. Powering through it all will be a test for many, though. Daemon X Machina has many of the ingredients of a great mech combat game but the end result isn't wholesome. It's flat, lacking in flavour, and gets stale all too quickly.
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