BROK the InvestiGator is a refreshing and unique game that combines elements from various genres and styles, creating an entertaining and engaging experience. The game plays like a traditional point-and-click adventure game, but also includes action side-scrolling beat ’em up and role-playing game elements, all while having the look and feel of a 80s Saturday-morning cartoon.
Set in a dystopian world, BROK the InvestiGator’s story is centered around a small number of privileged individuals living under a dome, while the rest of the population is forced to suffer in polluted slums. However, the impending disaster threatens them all, and it may be linked to their own history. We take on the role of Detective Brok, who must leave the safety of his shelter to solve the mystery behind the disaster.
As I mentioned earlier, the game mixes extremely distant genres in a very interesting way, and it works out quite well. The most important and absorbing is, of course, the adventure game layer, as it is on finding items, dialogues or puzzles that we spend the most time. The difficulty level is not very high, especially at the beginning of the game, but BROK the InvestiGator manages to surprise with some interesting puzzles. A hint system is also an option.
Beat-em up elements is a very nice break that should not be a challenge even for casual players. Some of the battles are optional and avoidable if we take alternative adventure paths. It is not Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtless, but you can see that a lot of heart has been put into it.
The overall experience is complemented by small RPG elements, as we can sometimes decide on the course of events, level up our character and learn about different endings. I am positively surprised at how smoothly all the elements came together.
Visually, BROK the InvestiGator oozes charm and style. The game draws inspiration from 80s and 90s cartoons, which is reflected in its unique and nostalgic aesthetics. The only minor quibble is the slightly lackluster quality of the character animations, which may be attributed to budget constraints.
A huge advantage of BROK the InvestiGator is the fully voiced dialogues, which were not done in half a whistle. Voice actiong stands at a high level, characters show emotion and fit their role. A pleasant soundtrack plays in the background.
Overall, BROK the InvestiGator is an exceptional game that combines various gameplay elements seamlessly, resulting in a cohesive and memorable experience. The game provides more than 15 hours of interesting story, which I can recommend to fans of classic point-and-click adventure games (with a twist!).
Moreover, all elements of BROK the InvestiGator are great Steam Deck. There are no performance issues, all texts are completely readable and fit the screen, there is full gamepad support, and the running time on a single charge is over 3 hours. The only problem is the small black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, because the game has no support for 16:10 resolution.
