Attentat 1942
- July 29, 2020
- Charles Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Attentat 1942" is a narrative-driven video game that delves into the events of World War II and the Czech resistance against the Nazi occupation. Players uncover historical accounts through interactive comics, mini-games, and interviews with survivors. The game aims to educate and immerse players in a captivating storyline while preserving the memories of those who experienced the war firsthand.
Reviews
- Attentat 1942 offers a unique and engaging perspective on World War II, focusing on the civilian experience in Czechoslovakia through well-crafted storytelling and character interviews.
- The combination of FMV, animated sequences, and mini-games creates an immersive educational experience that effectively conveys historical events and personal stories.
- The game is praised for its high-quality production, including strong performances from actors, beautiful artwork, and a well-organized encyclopedia that enhances the learning experience.
- The gameplay is minimal and often feels more like an interactive documentary than a traditional game, which may disappoint players looking for more engaging mechanics.
- The coin system for replaying interviews can be frustrating, limiting players' ability to explore all dialogue options and gather information in a single playthrough.
- Some players found the pacing slow and the audio quality inconsistent, with certain dialogue feeling stilted or lacking emotional depth.
- story89 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a poignant exploration of personal experiences during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, primarily conveyed through a mix of live-action interviews and animated sequences. Players engage in a detective-like journey, uncovering their grandfather's past and the broader historical context, which is both educational and emotionally resonant. While the storytelling is captivating and well-acted, some players feel the gameplay lacks depth and interactivity, making it feel more like an interactive documentary than a traditional game.
“It's light on gameplay, but offers a fascinating story that's well put together.”
“The story and the characters are captivating and will motivate you to keep gathering info to uncover what really happened.”
“The story is incredibly engaging and you feel like you can't put it down... you just have to figure out what happens.”
“The main story does not manage to keep you interested.”
“- although it is interactive you don't feel like your choices affect the story somehow.”
“- although it is a first person story and all the characters talk to you, you don't feel part of it.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Attentat 1942" is minimal and primarily revolves around selecting dialogue options during interviews to uncover a historical narrative, with some light mini-games included. While it offers a unique educational perspective on World War II, many players find the gameplay lacking in depth and replayability, which may detract from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the game compensates with a strong focus on historical accuracy and emotional storytelling.
“The gameplay consists of selecting options during interviews and some really short minigames.”
“It is captivating from start to finish, with varied gameplay elements scattered throughout and offers some replayability.”
“The gameplay is largely branching dialogue trees and video/animation with a few minigames that don't feel too trivial, including a clever 'stitch together the sentence' approach to some scenarios.”
“The minimal gameplay and lack of replayability is probably going to be a turnoff for some, and that's fair, but I think this does a very good job at presenting a part of World War II that many people don't know about.”
“In terms of gameplay, most of it is just picking the right questions to get the answers you need to uncover the full story.”
“There's basically no proper 'gameplay,' and what little there is has very little explanation.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional storytelling, offering a heartfelt exploration of the experiences of Czechoslovakian citizens during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Players find it to be a thought-provoking and educational experience that feels more like an interactive movie, evoking strong emotional connections to the characters and their stories. Despite its brevity, the game is noted for its touching narratives and effective use of real historical footage, enhancing its impact.
“A touching story about the experiences of several Czechoslovakian citizens during the WWII Nazi occupation.”
“Feels almost wrong to refer to it as a game, because one gets the impression that the experiences shared here are so intensely personal and sometimes heart-wrenching.”
“I got emotionally involved with the people and the story, and at the same time I learned a lot about the situation in the Czech Republic during the German occupation.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the motivation to unlock additional information and explore the story further, others find the minimal gameplay and short duration limit its long-term appeal. For those interested in the historical context or specific narratives, revisiting the game may enhance the experience, but many agree that it lacks significant replay value.
“There is also a level of replayability to unlock all encyclopedia entries and information, as some of this is not mandatory to complete the game. However, for those interested, especially in the Jelínek family, I highly recommend going back for the full experience.”
“It is captivating from start to finish, with varied gameplay elements scattered throughout and offers some replayability.”
“+ Replayability motivates players to unlock more information.”
“The minimal gameplay and lack of replayability is probably going to be a turnoff for some, and that's fair.”
“It has very small duration and no real replay value.”
“Replay value is low -- maybe once a year, when you're due for a reality check.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as both harrowing and serious, effectively conveying the gravity of war and historical events. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and immersive storytelling, others feel the atmosphere does not compensate for gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the atmosphere is noted for its ability to evoke understanding and reflection on difficult themes.
“The game provided us with not only information but also a great atmosphere, understandable storyline, and real-life stories that stick to the memory, open emotions, and most of all understanding of the difficult choices and events.”
“I liked the calm, serious atmosphere, which is very appropriate for the topic.”
“They are more atmospheric than the real footages.”
“As much as it saddens me to give this game a negative review, considering the gravity of the themes and the harrowing atmosphere of war, I can't say I actually liked the gameplay nor do I find it engaging.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praised the overall soundscape and specific tracks, others found the music less memorable, with the exception of the credits song. Notably, the inclusion of music by dva, known for their work with Amanita Design, was appreciated, and many players expressed a desire for the soundtrack to be available for download.
“I must give particular praise to the sound - the music and overall soundscape was terrific from start to finish.”
“I also really dug the soundtrack; I wish it was available to download!”
“The music wasn't that memorable, except for the credits song, but it was all right.”
“The game features the music of DVA, whom many will know through their work with Amanita Design.”
“I also really enjoyed the soundtrack; I wish it was available to download!”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized as unobtrusive yet visually appealing, showcasing a strong attention to detail that enhances the overall experience. The artwork is well-executed, blending elements of an interactive graphical novel with historical references.
“Unobtrusive, yet eye-pleasing graphics with a lot of love for detail.”
“The artwork, both visually and sonically, is well done.”
“It falls somewhere between an interactive graphical novel and a historical reference.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with clear visuals and sound enhancing the overall experience. While the acting performances are praised for their authenticity, some users note that the game's artistic elements, such as drawings, are visually appealing but may not fully compensate for other optimization aspects.
“The footage and sound are clear, all actors do a remarkable job at relaying the hardship and abuse of civil rights, resulting in a completely believable performance.”
“Playing 'Attentat 1942', you will find some good acting performances and some cool looking drawings.”
“Good performance by the actors.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when aiming for 100% completion, as it often involves lengthy audio tapes that can disrupt the pacing. While some appreciate the depth of information, the overall experience can feel laborious.
“It was extremely tedious to complete it to 100% and get all the information.”
“I will say that some parts were a bit tedious to get through as you listened to audio tapes for a few minutes, but that's my only critique.”
