Punch and click your way to the truth with BROK the InvestiGator

Written by Drew Onia — August 26, 2022 at 09:00

Have you ever been so hopelessly stuck in an adventure game that you wanted to punch something? Or have you ever been in the middle of a video game brawler and thought, ‘What if we just took a break from hitting each other and thought this through?’ Developer COWCAT evidently has, taking it upon themselves to combine the genres of “Classic Adventure” and “Beat-em up” in their game BROK the InvestiGator.

Brok, a former boxer turned private investigator, lives in a “light cyberpunk” world where “animals have replaced humans.” Some citizens live under the shelter of a domed city, while others stay in the wildlands outside, exposed to “ambient air pollution.” A widower, Brok lost his wife to an accident, and now lives with his adopted son, Graff.

BROK the InvestiGator is described as a “narrative-driven adventure that blends action and investigation in never-before-seen ways.” Players will be able to “solve puzzles” with “wits… or muscles!” They’ll also be able to switch between two characters at any time, or play the game cooperatively with a friend, making “choices impacting the gameplay and/or story.” And for those who prefer the cerebral approach, an Easy Mode sans any fighting is also availiable.

COWCAT promises BROK the InvestiGator will provide a “deep and emotional narrative-rich experience,” with cartoon visuals evocative of 80s and 90s cartoons bringing the anthropomorphic cyberpunk world to life. The game features support for 10 languages, has multiple endings, and will run 10 to 20 hours long. BROK the InvestiGator releases on PC (via Steam and GOG) today, August 26, with console ports expected before the end of the year.