BROK the InvestiGator [Xbox]
COWCAT’s BROK the InvestiGator is described as the ‘first ever Punch + Click’, and boy does that accurately describe things here. You alternate between two characters: the titular Brok, a detective with a bad memory and a whole lot going on; and his step-son Graff, who is currently undergoing his final exams in order to progress onto a better life. After the death of his girlfriend, Lia, five years ago, Brok - along with Graff - has been living in the bad part of town, desperately trying to make ends meet and do good on his promise to Lia to look after her son.
Having a combination of point and click adventure gameplay with some light brawler-style combat is a lot of fun, and gives you alternate options on how to go about completing certain objectives (and you can tweak your preferences towards the gameplay right from the get-go, if you’d rather not have the fighting). Switching to ‘Action Mode’ by pressing the Y button lets you fight as well as jump to higher areas - this was a really interesting element, since most titles of the genre don’t really have an ‘action’ side of things, and punching your way through doors and jumping up and down to uncover clues (in the form of ‘Ads’ here, small stickers that can be exchanged for clues later) kept me on my toes and trying to think outside of the box for things. Switching between both characters as you go, you’ll complete tasks that impact both characters lives in one way or another, as well as their relationships both with each other - and other people.
The cartoon visuals are very reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, and it’s a joy to see. Interactions with other characters, both positive and negative, are interesting and provide a lot of further insight into Brok and the world around him. Brok is what’s known as a Slumer: someone who lives in the slums - and these areas are as you’d expect, very run down, dirty and unkempt. The higher class people in society here are called Drumers, and their environments are brighter, cleaner, and far more technologically advanced. Seeing the difference in these areas, as well as the characters within and how they behave towards each other, adds another layer to the mystery and intrigue, and makes the developing investigations all the more interesting.
Having full voice acting throughout was something I hadn’t fully anticipated when starting, but was very much appreciated. I can accept when a game doesn’t go for it, but that extra effort often leads to a deeper involvement with the story and the characters - especially when the voice acting is as good and engaging as it is here. The soundtrack is well varied, with over 50 tracks composed by Python Blue, that each flow wonderfully with the level designs and the context of different story elements, such as Brok’s recurring nightmares having a darker, more anxiety-inducing feel, and the bright, airy city having a much lighter, happier tone.
Overall, I’ve loved my time with BROK the InvestiGator and found its story to keep me invested throughout. It’s one I would definitely recommend people to try out. Priced at £20.99 on Xbox - though currently reduced to £16.79 for a limited time - it’s well priced for the amount of fun I’ve had, and has replayability for those looking to go back and nab any collectibles they missed on the first playthrough since they’ll carry over into later runs. Additionally, there are optional objectives that you can fail if not completed within the required timeframe - I managed to forget about the tramp that needed medicine, and was devastated to return, only to find I was too late - so at least I can save him on a future run.
It’s a refreshing take on the point and click genre, and had plenty of stuff to keep me interested. Whilst the combat sometimes proved to be a slight pain - mainly in tight spaces where the layout would make it difficult to judge how close you are to both taking damage from and dealing damage to enemies - this was such a minor issue that it didn’t bother me too much. Searching through each area for the three Ads was fun, if at times a bit challenging, and ensured I kept my eyes peeled at every opportunity for any sneaky Ads lurking in the shadows.
In the end, we decided to give BROK the Investigator the Collecting Asylum rating of 9/10.
Are you interested in BROK the Investigator? What do you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!
- V x
Thank you to COWCAT for the BROK the Investigator Xbox review code!
