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(Based on Steam version of the game. I did not finish the game.) In this game you put a set of moving arms and give them a sequence of movements to accomplish a goal. Well, it is somewhat challenging, and definitely each solution is "your own" - nobody else solved it the same way. But at least for me it's not very satisfying. Somehow the freedom of placement of all elements seems to make the task less meaningful than I'd expect. There are, as usually, three targets to optimise: steps, are and cost. For many of the tasks optimisation for area or for cost is trivial. Well, maybe not really trivial, but at least you know exactly what is the limit, e.g. 1 extenting arm and 1 thing for binding atoms. You just cannot go below that cost. I really LOVE most of the Zachtronics games. Space Chem is great, Infinifactory is fantastic, and I spent many hours also with their programming games: TIS-100 and Shenzhen I/O. But after completing three chapters of Opus Magnum I didn't feel like I really want to proceed. I'll get back to it one day probably, but there's no "just one more level" effect for me. So, I'm a bit disappointed. I'm still giving 4 stars because the game is very polished and nice. It's probably a good game, just somehow not compatible with me.
This game is about being an engineer. Not necessarily a programmer, but a more general engineer. Recommendable to any engineers out there, it's just the best!
This game from Zachatronics is the most hardcore by far. Programming using actual code is harder than using blocks in space or robotic arms (waldos) on their paths, and programming in assembler is even more frustrating. I can recommend it if you have some experience with programming and liked it, and want something hardcore. Otherwise, better take SpaceChem or Infinifactory, which are both great. One thing that shocked me when I realised it: the code boxes do not scroll! You can put in one processing unit only as much code as fits in the box. But that's good in a way - splitting work between processing units is what it is all about.
What is so great about this game is that the world is so open that probably no two (non-trivial) solutions will look the same. It is really about creativity and 3D imagination. I can recommend it to anyone with these traits.
I was a bit afraid to play this because I really hate to see poor remakes of great games, and Oddworld is one of my favourite series. But I didn't need to worry, as the other reviews say, this game still has the spirit of the original Abe games, and it's really great to play Abe' Oddysey in this new form. I'll list some advantages and disadvantages of this game: + Definitely keeps the spirit of the original game. The intro and other animations have even exactly the same scenes, just redone. + Exactly the same sounds and music, plus some more, e.g. working mudokons and sligs are talking to each other from time to time. + Still very challenging! On "hard" it is more or less like the original. On easier level Abe has health bar and can take some shots. + Some more tutorial messages in the game, but not too much. It still feels like a PC game, the hints system doesn't solve the whole game for you, which is the case with some other remakes and new console games. + More scenery in the background, it's just very nice graphically. There are more cut scenes, and now e.g. traveling to Scrabanian Temple on elum really feels more like a journey. - Some minor graphical glitches, e.g. slig shot by another slig looks as if it died of heart attack or something. Also dead bodies sometimes get locked e.g. between the ground and a wall and shake frantically. - Dead bodies - in the original dead mudokons or sligs just disappeared quickly, here they just lay there, dead. It's not nice to walk past them, next to a dead slig even, especially if it's shaking frantically. Creatures explode when going through electro bolts, instead of turning into blue mist. Just unnecessary gore. - I couldn't configure some keys, changing them just didn't work. And I had some problems with using the controller. - Easy mode with health bar, might be good for some. - Nits: I liked the original throwing mechanics more. And the chanting animation is not that great, I liked more the original. Great game!