Originally released in 1984 on the ZX Spectrum, Deus Ex Machina achieved a cult status in the early days of home gaming systems. Published by Automata UK, in a period of creativity and experimentation, the game placed an emphasis on atmosphere and storytelling. While many games available at the time were 2D platform games and simple racing titles, watered down versions of Arcade titles, DES bought narrative and philosophy to the home gaming market, telling a nuanced story that was not dissimilar to today’s visual novels. The soundtrack was also a core part of the game, with each level designed to complement the accompanying track.
The original release saw relatively small sales, largely due to the games price ($22 in 1984) and the decision to only distribute the title via mail order, but gained significant popularity after pirated editions of the game became available.
The newest iteration available on Android is a port of last year’s Deus Ex Machina Game of the Year 30th Anniversary Edition for the PC.
The new edition has received a visual update and features a remastered soundtrack. The original game and music are also included with the game.
Deus Ex Machina is currently only available from the Amazon App Store, and you can get it here.