The scenarios where robots and different kinds of machines decide to rise up against humanity are pretty well-known in popculture. However, putting 1920s Poland in the heart of those events is definitely a novel idea. And while a demo of Brassheart specifies that it takes place in an alternative universe, you’ll experience real fun during this dieselpunk adventure.
The demo is focused more on presenting the story than the actual gameplay
You are Pola Zagórska, a smart and cheerfulaeroplane pilot. After witnessing your father getting kidnapped by his own invention, a supermachine Valkiria, you need to look for the clues that may provide a way to save him and the rest of the world from rebellious machines. It seems that a key to stopping the machine’s domination may be a mysterious invention called ‘Brassheart’ that affects her will. You’ll have to set off on a journey to find all parts of the mechanical heart, as it is your only chance to stop the sinister creation.
The demo is focused more on presenting the story than the actual gameplay. It tells us everything we need to know about our main character, her family and friends, her father’s works and the context of Valkiria’s revolt, which begins at the end of our playthrough. For the most part, our actions involve speaking to others and taking objects from one place to another. It’s more like “find a right pattern of events” or “replace this with that” than solving mechanics, unless you count the one riddle with connecting a wire.
However, it’s rather easy to connect the dots, so figuring out the solutions doesn’t pose any challenge to the players. It also seems that during our adventure we’ll be accompanied by a robot, Pascal, which will assist us with the puzzles – I guess we’ll need him more in later parts of the game.
Game filled with Polish motifs
For me, the most intriguing part was the setting which combines dieselpunk aesthetics with characteristics of classic point & click games. The artstyle is a little specific, it’s industrial and cartoonish at the same time, and while I admire the scenery (especially the interior of the palace in Sulisław), I’m not fully convinced when it comes to characters’ design, as they seem a bit static to me.
However, the idea of documenting the adventure in a journal filled with drawings seems pretty interesting and fitting to the atmosphere. And while we’re at it, I have to point out that while the background music is alright, it’s too loud and make it difficult to hear the dialogues, which unfortunately cannot be change in the options.
It always makes me happy to see games that reference their country’s history and cultural heritage. When it comes to Brassheart, polish context is really apparent since the very beginning: the names, architecture style, elements of decor, as well as the first location (a real village Sulisław), give away the inspiration for the game’s world.
As some references probably won’t be noticed by those unfamiliar with polish culture, like a character of a painter, who is resembling polish artist Tamara Łempicka, I think that they won’t influence the overall reception of the story, which promises us a trip around the globe. Despite having its shortcomings, the demo of Brassheart managed to spark my interest with its promising plot and unusual setting.
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