Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“GHOST MACHINES: A DEADLY FUSION OF SOULS AND TECHNOLOGY"

Ghost Machines throws Pete and Rose into yet another parallel world, but this one is unlike any they’ve encountered before. Here, technological progress has reached its peak, and a company called SoulTech profits from the dead—harnessing brain waves to power sentient machines. As expected, things soon spiral out of control, but not before we get an eerie, thought-provoking glimpse into a society where even death isn't the end.

A WORLD OF ADVANCED TECH AND UNEASY ETHICS

The first half of the story excels in world-building, presenting a society where technology isn’t just advanced but fully aware. The fact that the machines are indifferent to Pete, whose counterpart was a celebrated (and now deceased) tech mogul, adds an intriguing dynamic. Even more fascinating is how this world already knows about parallel dimensions, layering in a fresh perspective on multiversal travel.

A CHAOTIC CLIMAX WITH MIXED RESULTS

As the machines begin their uprising against SoulTech, the story shifts into high gear, delivering destruction on a grand scale. While the escalation raises the stakes, the finale becomes somewhat cluttered—Rose is determined to save this world’s Jackie, while Sir Pete (the alternate Pete) makes an unexpected, eerie return via the sentient technology. The result is a resolution that, while dramatic, feels a bit untidy in execution.

A SURPRISINGLY LIKEABLE JACKIE AND A WEAK VILLAIN

A standout element is Pete’s widow, Jackie, who, despite her wealth and status, is portrayed as remarkably humble and likeable. Camille Coduri shines in this alternate take on her character, offering a more reflective and subdued Jackie than we’re used to. However, the villain of the piece—SoulTech’s operations director—proves underwhelming. His affair with Jackie and attempt to seize control of the company mark him as a textbook antagonist, but he lacks depth or strong motivation, making him one of the weaker aspects of the story.

A HAUNTINGLY BLEAK TECHNOLOGICAL NIGHTMARE

Perhaps the most unsettling part of Ghost Machines is the world’s reliance on soul-powered technology. The concept alone is chilling, but the execution makes it downright eerie—whispers of the dead lingering in the machines, their moans of grief woven into the very fabric of daily life. It’s a deeply disturbing premise that elevates the story beyond simple sci-fi thrills into something much darker.

VERDICT: AN INTRIGUING, IF MESSY, TECH HORROR TALE

Ghost Machines succeeds in crafting a world that feels unique and morally complex, with an unsettling concept at its core. While the final act stumbles under the weight of its ambition, the journey there is packed with compelling ideas, strong performances—especially from Camille Coduri—and a hauntingly bleak atmosphere. It might not be the most polished parallel world adventure, but it certainly leaves an impression.

📝8/10