A fluid flow machine, comprising: a casing including a cylinder and a crankshaft support; a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder for reciprocating along an axis of the cylinder; a crankshaft including a main bearing journal rotationally supported in the crankshaft support, a crankpin radially offset from an axis of the main bearing journal and a crank web connecting the main bearing journal and the crankpin; a multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism comprising: a connecting rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end opposite the first end, the connecting rod for reciprocating with the piston; a first hinge link including a first end pivotally connected to the connecting rod second end and a second end opposite the first hinge link first end; a crankpin link including a first end pivotally connected to the first hinge link second end and a second end rotationally connected to the crankpin; a force transfer mechanism connecting the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism to the casing for transferring a vertical piston force into a horizontal crankpin force; wherein the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism includes a first gear portion and the force transfer mechanism includes a second gear portion engaging the first gear portion such that the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism pivots with respect to the force transfer mechanism as the connecting rod reciprocates. a casing including a cylinder and a crankshaft support; a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder for reciprocating along an axis of the cylinder; a crankshaft including a main bearing journal rotationally supported in the crankshaft support, a crankpin radially offset from an axis of the main bearing journal and a crank web connecting the main bearing journal and the crankpin; a multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism comprising: a connecting rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end opposite the first end, the connecting rod for reciprocating with the piston; a first hinge link including a first end pivotally connected to the connecting rod second end and a second end opposite the first hinge link first end; a crankpin link including a first end pivotally connected to the first hinge link second end and a second end rotationally connected to the crankpin; a connecting rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end opposite the first end, the connecting rod for reciprocating with the piston; a first hinge link including a first end pivotally connected to the connecting rod second end and a second end opposite the first hinge link first end; a crankpin link including a first end pivotally connected to the first hinge link second end and a second end rotationally connected to the crankpin; a force transfer mechanism connecting the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism to the casing for transferring a vertical piston force into a horizontal crankpin force; wherein the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism includes a first gear portion and the force transfer mechanism includes a second gear portion engaging the first gear portion such that the multi-linkage connecting rod mechanism pivots with respect to the force transfer mechanism as the connecting rod reciprocates.