Well been awhile since I tackled one of these games that I may or may not play in the future. I've actually had a growing stack of these that's probably about to topple over on me if I keep ignoring it. So might as well start here. Also new year. So I guess try and start strong??? I dunno.

Anyway Brok the InvestiGator. I stumbled across this game while combing through Twitter post. The game's website describes it as;

"The first "Classic Adventure" mixed with Beat'em Up and RPG, inspired by cartoons from the 80's/early 90's. What kind of detective will you be? "

Well I did grow up in that time. So I'm guessing Darkwing Duck, SwatCats, Goof Troop, Ninja Turtles, Street Fighter (The bad animated one), MK (The bad animated one) Sonic, etc.

My experience (You don't have to read Spoilers and all that)

So I start the game and...wow already in a disaster situation. Brok wakes up in a daze and the apartment's on fire with no way out. This isn't a typical left the oven on fire either. Someone set this up but no time to think about that gotta get out of here. While this is one of the many "Point and Click" adventure games that seem to have mixed reactions. I can tell you that this doesn't strike me as the "Sierra" style adventure games. The stigma that Sierra games carry is that you can get killed at anytime for anything. While that's not completely true. It's more like you get killed for not using common sense. Like you decided to stay and watch as all the guards are taken out by a genie when you should've been running after the guy trying to kill the princess. There are other silly deaths but a lot of is easily avoided by common sense. Anyway Brok the InvestiGator IS NOT A SIERRA style adventure game.

This game isn't going to kill you from a lack of common sense or exploring everything. You need to explore and figure out how to progress. Which is generally done in a few clicks. I also like how I can switch from using a controller to using a mouse and keyboard at anytime. Most games I played seem to have a problem with that. This isn't one of those. If you play with a controller the mouse pointer automatically moves to areas of interest for Brok to investigate.

So we need a way to put this fire out or to get out of here. Brok finds a robot. Maybe that can help...No instead the Robot thinks we're a burglar and tries to kill Brok. It fails to notice that the entire apartment is on fire. Technology people. I actually fear that this is how Technology will go in the future. Heck even now. That we get something to help us for convenience but when an emergency happens, that technology is completely useless. Anyway this is our first combat sequence. Combat controls are simple. Attack, Jump, and Block. I'm actually not used to seeing block in a Beat'em up. Blocking in beat'em ups is usually Don't be there but stand above, below, or behind the attacker. So yeah blocking is new. The combat isn't really anything special right now. But I did notice that Brok has a Dragon Punch. So we might be getting somewhere with these completely unsafe moves. LOL

You can sense attitudes? Did Skynet or MasterMold take over?

After beating up 2 robots. We make it to the backroom. Oh no there's a woman trapped under a bookshelf. We gotta help! Lia uses her dying words to blame Brok for everything that's happening. Brok tries to lift the shelf but can't do so even after finding an object to help lift it.

COME ON MAN!!! USE THAT ADRENALINE!!!

Despite all attempts we can't save her and Brok decides it's best to just wait it out till it's over. She complains that Brok was never there and Brok has what looks to be an episode of repressed memories. Then he wakes up from the nightmare. Oh good I hope.

World Building

So now time for some world building. Well Brok lives in what looks to be a one bedroom apartment and it's pretty rundown. I guess that's his roommate sitting on the side over there. Pile of dirty dishes. A broken cleaning bot. I'm guessing this is a dystopian future.

Brok gets a call from a client. An officer who's incredibly stressed out about something but can't talk about it over the phone. He leaves his address and hangs up. Maybe this guy has some info that could get him killed? Conspiracy??? Eh...we'll get to it later. I don't see a clock anywhere so we got time.

What could you possible call a detective for that you'd be worried the line would be tapped?

No that's not his roommate. The cat character playing on his tablet is Graff and happens to be Brok's adopted son. He took him in after the accident with his girlfriend Lia. Graff doesn't really open up too much and I'm honestly too afraid to press further into his life. Although I do have some qualms about who's turn it is to do dishes, not going to school, and locking the door to his room. I mean you could clean those dishes...despite it not being your turn (sorry kind of a pet peeve there). But let it be. Can't go triggering landmines.

NO WE DON'T IT'S BUSTED AND SHOCKING PEOPLE!

After giving him some pocket money (and I feel like I should've thought about that) Graff mentions the Science Fair being later that day. I'm already having a bad feeling that Brok is gonna mess up big time here.

So we get outside and check the mail. Oh boy bills. And to make matters worse the bill states that, "FOR THE SAKE OF SECURITY" you basically have to pay it in person. Yeah right security. Too many real world things can be applied there.

Well try to go out the door and well...it's blocked by the cleaning bot. Brok tries to take it down and it shocks him. Well another quick puzzle. Grab this stick and there we go...broken robot but it's removed at least. Brok says he'll fix it that he has a friend that can. And apparently it has cat hair in it??? Graff denies it has anything to do with him. I'm not pressing it not enough info to go on.

So Brok has high cost bills, a stressed son to take care of, and a job that probably doesn't pay well. What else can we add?

Well how about a caring heart? Making our way outside. We see a guy getting beat up by 2 punks for money. Probably mafia. Brok can't stand to see such a sight and we get into combat again. Well the beat'em up is showing some elements again as we have the age old technique of getting grabbed by one guy while the other takes shots at you. After the fight. Hey...leveled up. So I can choose to level up Brok's HP, Attack power, or Special attack. Oh there's specials? Can't wait.

Well we got a Dragon Punch. So combat is starting off on the right foot.

So we talk to the guy we rescued. His name is Tramp apparently??? He talks about how he has a disease that's killing him and couldn't get the medicine to prolong his life so that's why he owes whoever those 2 rat guys were working for. He goes on about he's a vet and essentially discarded by the military after a war. Brok insists on helping the guy even so much as offering his own home. Tramp declines and says that he shouldn't get too involved as those guys will come back. I kinda agree with him there. See while Brok has a big heart. The problem is that if he's messing with some gang or whatever and they come after him they might go after Graff, you know the adopted son. But Brok insists on helping Tramp out. Tramp hands him a medical prescription. If possible we might be able to get the medicine he needs. So side quest. I actually do want to help him out since I'm playing as Brok. I'm honestly not sure if I would've let him get beat up either. X_X

Main Client Sin

Moving on to our main client. We find hey a machine to pay invoices and a get a daily pill...except it's broken. Sigh...so we're totally living in a dystopian future. Moving on..in order to access our clients apartment we need a code. He left it in a text message.

I can't fix Brok's life but I'm not about to let a puzzle stand in his way.

But we got a bit of a puzzle to solve. In order to enter the code we gotta press the right buttons and this isn't a simple numpad. Each button adds up the numbers in a certain way I also can't go backwards if I mess up. After messing with that we make it to the client. The client's name is Sin (weird name). Sin apparently lost his "Crippling Gun" and is stressing out about it cause he's new to the police force. He says if he goes in he'll be fired on the spot for not having it and he has no friends to help bail him out. Brok proves that he's horrible at haggling but agrees to find the gun for him. At least charge enough to pay your bills man. -_-

Do I look like I have credentials? Although you look more like a janitor than an officer so...

Further investigation of his apartment. We find that this is also a rundown apartment. But also multiple wine glasses, a family picture, drugs? This guy might have more problems than just simply losing his gun. But he's the paying client so, lets not push our luck here. I forgot to bring up another problem we have with this client. He lost his gun in the dome and you need a special ID and apparently a DNA scan to get past the security check. Brok says he'll find a way pass cause he has a friend that's a hacker.

Pretty sure we could get arrested for this. And I'm not sure how far "I'm a Main Character" rule will let us slide with ransacking our clients house.

And it was around this point I stopped. I wanted to keep going but I had so much to do that day I decided to leave this for later. I was already an hour in and I have a few guesses as to what's going on here.

Sidenote: A thought occurred at the end that what if I get punished for not locking the door. I do have a key to the apartment and I walked out without locking the door. Oh CRAP!!! X_X

Thoughts on the World Building

So this game takes place in a Dystopian Future. Usually this means wasteland territory where technology and even civilization is in small pockets. Not entirely true. There's usually a class system involved. The rich class (and some of the middle class) usually live in domes or some area of safety where they have a sense of security and sophistication. They don't care what's going on outside there wall as long as it doesn't interfere with there lives. When it does that's when they complain.

I look at this and feel like I can relate somehow. And I'm not even a vet.

Everyone that lives outside this dome is pretty much the Middle to poor class. Everything's rundown the people that run the city don't really lift a finger to help and when they do it's not the help that's wanted. They'll do things that'll help there public image but continue stepping on those beneath them. But essentially everyone that doesn't live in this dome is left for dead. Meaning free reign for gangs, mafias, whatever to show up and start taking advantage of the weak.

So yeah Brok has it rough. Although he's probably the guy people can trust since or try to take advantage of cause of his skills. He's a detective and doesn't necessarily answer to anyone. But he needs money and considering where he lives. Definitely some moral choices will have to be made.

The TL:DR

I have guesses on where this story will go based on the prologue. I also feel like Brok is gonna have it rough for a very long time throughout this game. Well if I'm behind the wheel I'll do what I can to avoid these pitfalls the gator is moving towards. Although BROK ISN"T MAKING THAT EASY!!! He's making me want to jump in the game and help him out personally.

Gameplay

YUCK!!! Ants!!!

Gameplay the adventure aspects is not a Sierra style game where you die cause you lacked common sense. I appreciate the ability to switch between using a controller or a keyboard on the fly. Also things aren't completely hidden as with certain adventure games or needing a very specific spot to click.

The combat I feel is a wait and see scenario. While it's definitely not going to be Streets of Rage 4 (or Fight'N Rage) it's not bad. It has the typical beat'em up aspects.

Story

I may want to jump in this game to help you. But I can't help you with bills.

World building is done well. I'm not left here thinking about a random plot point that felt important but never gets explained. I'm already sensing conspiracy but we don't really have an antagonist yet. Well I've only play for an hour so who knows maybe that will show itself later.

Music and Sound

I would have to listen to the background music on it's own. But I don't hate it. I mean it could have absolutely no music and I would get bored of the game. So we get a pass there. If you're going to ask me about voice acting. I don't have problem with it. As long as you can read your lines I'm fine with it. There are some games out there where the actors can't even read or say there lines right at all and it gets produced into the game. I also couldn't tell you what's good voice acting and what's bad voice acting since that seems to vary from person to person.

Overall

I want to see where this story leads. I do have this constant feeling of being want to jump into the game and help him myself. Which is good cause that means I like the story so far. This game clearly made the narrative it's focus which is a good choice as well. It also has bits of comedy which I do love for a game to have. It can't be despair hour 24/7. I'm rather looking forward to playing this one.

Other Screenshots