90%PC

Pretty good problem solving game for programmers!

40%PC

No me gusto

70%PC

Se você quer aprender a programar, este jogo é um ótimo começo. Ele ensina os fundamentos de todas as linguagens de programação e força você a resolver seu problema de maneiras específicas.

80%PC

As a software developer and a person who likes puzzle games, I liked this game. How to write the code in each level was easy, but the optimization part was challenging. Even when I completed the optimization part, sometimes I decided to improve even more.

85%PC

Fantastic puzzle game.
I loved the concept of putting a code together to solve the probem and afterwards looking for ways to optimize it, to reach the optimization goals.
Only thing I didn't like so much were the levels with insanely long codes. I prefer levels with a maximum of 10 elements (if optimized), since it is way more fun to check for optimizations in these levels.
Overall great game, really accessible and if you like programming this is the perfect game for you.

60%PC

Incredibly frustrating. I could see the appeal for a math whiz or expert coder but the majority of reviews claim this is a great tool to teach coding. It does nothing to teach concepts or rules and instead operates more like a math test problem- only you have zero context for the prerequisites. The commands given to you are barley explained and do not make sense even to someone with coding experience (me). You will be forced to use outside resources. At least one puzzle was phrased incorrectly. The story is very light and uneventful. Overall I would be resistant to even call this a game when it is more like a brain teaser for high-level students.

80%PC

Been a while since I programmed in assembly code. It was mostly chill and fun. Nice quirky presentation. Made me smile during coffe break levels.

70%Nintendo Switch

**alexa's backlog review #19 - Human Resource Machine - 7/10**
I learnt assembly.

60%PC

+na zaciatku docela dobre, jednoduche
-potom narocnost dramaticky stupla
+debugging krok spat, krok dopredu
-neprehladny interface, ked mas viac prikazov, tazko sa vyznas co ide kam
+sequel vypada lepsie

60%PC

Programming in assembly language but with a more quirky UI

50%PC

It feels like this game was aimed directly at my low but non-zero level of programming knowledge, and I do feel like I learned something. I respect it for doing something unlike anything I have ever played. However, there are several issues.

The interface is suited to touch screens, not mice, which is bad for 80+% of players. It doesn't bother explaining some essential concepts, instead tells the player to look them up online. Very steep difficulty curve near the end. When trying to debug, you can run the program forwards at xTr3E// speeds but rewind only one step at a time. No undo button. Story is one metaphor stretched across six cutscenes. Little of the charm of earlier games by the same developer(s).

90%PC

Probably the best programming game.

70%Nintendo Switch

It's fun. Can people who have programming knowledge play this? It seems like it would be real damn hard. Or maybe it's easier to just learn this system from scratch.

70%Linux

Ok, so.
Graphic and sound is ok.
Programming challenges.
It uses low-level syntax like asm. It's challenging to complete (probably impassable without cheating for non-programmers players).
Game requires implementation of some basic algorithms and more. Each level contains optimization challenge which is very hard. I have got stuck in this game since 2017. Some optimization tasks are ridiculous and it doesn't require a knowledge from player, because there is only one solution for example to get under number of lines even if code contains over 30-50 lines.
Currently 7/10 (i will probably skip optimization challenges and just complete normal path, because it doesn't have any sense)

70%PC

Human Resource Machine probably only appeals to those privy to programming and math. It's a puzzle game that requires using rudimentary machine language to solve simple problems. The presentation is great and the early levels will have you forgetting that you're even programming. But the later levels can be a bit tough, but maybe for the wrong reasons. It's frustrating for some that are used to more robust scripting languages, as was my case. And frustrating for others that might be ignorant of sorting algorithms and the like. As an introduction to programming in general, the game explains very little, and even half sarcastically jokes that you should look things up on your own. The challenge for the programming acquainted is using a language that ties an arm behind your back. Even programming languages that go down to the 'bare metal' have more capabilities.

If the game wants to be an entry point for newcomers, why not include an optional section that explains various concepts? 'hey this is what a sequence is, you can deduce how its constructed by looking at et cetera'. Many people who are drawn to the friendly artstyle and presentation are easily left in the dark. If the game wants to be a challenge to nerds, why not introduce challenge that has more layers than just inconvenience? As I understand, the sequel to this game, 7 Billion Humans, does just this. I'm very excited to jump into that one.

I think this is still a good game despite all this. The puzzles are simple and doable, and the optimization challenges require some creative thinking. The presentation and music especially are fantastic. Tomorrow Corporation captures that lovely "the world is burning and all I have is my dull desk job no Karen I didn't refill the water cooler with LaCroix" vibe. I had a very enjoyable time with HRM while still acknowledging what I think are its faults. The program window got very cluttered very quickly on the latter levels. The game lacks lots of useful commands. But the challenge is knowingly built around these purposeful limitations. Becoming frustrated is admitting defeat in the face of a doable challenge. The faults in HRM are still faults. But I had plenty of fun engaging in problem solving with the limitations.

60%PC

Interesting, but runs out of new mechanics, forcing you to do longer programs for higher difficulty and complexity. Not as interesting as I would have liked, and the story was weak.

40%PC

Cute and with the expected dark humour, but ultimately I don't enjoy trying to program while awkwardly hamstrung.

70%Nintendo Switch

Great game that tests your logical thinking and works great as an introduction to programming. The last levels can be a bit too tough for noobs, though.

80%Nintendo Switch

The game ramps up in difficulty pretty quickly. I thought it was a great intro to computer programming and a fun puzzle game.

90%PC

List visible is too short. No real parser

40%PC

Got halfway through, but it's really kinda pointless. And it doesn't teach programming very well.

90%PC

I'm a sucker for optimization puzzles.

80%PC

Could have been better ported to PC, controlling was a bit tedious with only the mouse. Otherwise good.

50%PC

Programming puzzle game, your time is better spent on a real programming language.

70%PC

If you are interested in programming, then this is your game. It sets a really charming atmosphere, and it presents the topic in a friendly way, that is accessable for all generations. The graphic style is really charming, so is the soundtrack (but it gets very repetitive at the end of the game), but it really shines on the gameplay, which really teaches you the basics of programming. And if you have no experience - it starts off pretty decently, but the ultimate few challenges are almost unsolvable, yolu will probably have to use a guide - and there are some little challenges, that left even the community hopeless. So if you are a smart guy, it's very reccommended, but if you are looking for some mindless fun, look somewhere else.