Brigador: Up-Armored Edition
- June 2, 2016
- Stellar Jockeys
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Brigador: Up-Armored Edition" is a top-down shooter set in a cyberpunk world, where you pilot various mechs and vehicles to destroy enemy columns and level buildings. With 56 unique machines and 40 weapons to unlock, and a mission-based campaign, the game offers a wealth of destruction and customization. The modkit tools also allow for creating your own levels and challenges.
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Reviews
- Incredible attention to detail in graphics and sound design, creating a captivating cyberpunk atmosphere.
- Variety of missions, vehicles, and weapons allows for diverse gameplay styles and strategies.
- Engaging lore and world-building, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack and an audiobook.
- Controls can be clunky and take time to get used to, especially with tank controls.
- Campaign missions can feel repetitive and lack a cohesive narrative.
- Difficulty spikes in later missions can lead to frustration, especially with limited loadouts.
- story1,050 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Brigador" is minimal and often described as disjointed, primarily conveyed through mission briefings and unlockable lore rather than a cohesive narrative. Players engage in a series of missions set in a dystopian sci-fi world, where they act as mercenaries for a corporation amidst a power struggle following the death of a dictator. While the lore is rich and well-written, many reviewers feel that the lack of a strong, linear storyline detracts from the overall experience, making the game feel more like a collection of challenges than a traditional campaign.
“The sober sci-fi setting is superb, and the audiobook only augments the bleak war story of the game.”
“The plot remains fairly simple, but there's a surprising amount of flavor text accompanying mechs, weapons, pilots, etc. that does an excellent job at fleshing out this doomed world and its inhabitants, always ready to offer up a bit of pitch-black humor to inject some much-needed levity.”
“The story and lore that's in this game is unexpectedly excellent and fun to read; normally I just skim over flavor text but what's in this game adds so much grit and atmosphere to the game.”
“The story is simple but a bit confusing for how non-linear it is: a dictator of a space colony died, and the old military faction is hiring mercenaries (brigadors, aka, you) to seize power and end the dictator's regime.”
“Story however....... what story..... it is basically a bunch of vignettes loosely tied together.”
“The overall writing is good, but the campaign is really not coherent and there is no story, which is a shame because the game includes a ton of fluff and information.”
- music992 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in Brigador has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional synthwave soundtrack by Makeup and Vanity Set, which perfectly complements the game's cyberpunk aesthetic and gameplay. Players describe the soundtrack as immersive, energetic, and a significant factor in enhancing the overall experience, often noting its ability to evoke nostalgia for 80s sci-fi themes. However, some users expressed disappointment that the music does not loop during longer missions, which can detract from the enjoyment.
“The soundtrack alone makes this game worthwhile.”
“Makeup and Vanity Set's synth and electronic score is easily some of the best music I've ever heard in my life, and the main theme 'Solo Nobre' is one of my favorite pieces of music ever.”
“The music complements the action and gameplay in an excellent way; I am a player who usually listens to my own music while playing other video games, but I never felt the need to do that playing Brigador.”
“My only gripe is that the music doesn't loop during missions, so missions that take a while to finish can become unnecessarily quiet in the later sections, sucking out the enjoyment.”
“The only gripe I have with the game on this front is that it seems like during particularly long missions, the music has a tendency of cutting off entirely, leaving me many times with dozens of minutes of nothing but the in-game sound effects.”
“However, it is overall a very shallow and repetitive game, and for me none of those pros held my interest for long - including the soundtrack.”
- gameplay663 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Brigador is characterized by its engaging and methodical mechanics, offering a satisfying blend of tactical vehicular combat and strategic depth. Players appreciate the variety of customizable vehicles and weapons, which allow for diverse playstyles, although some find the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time. The game excels in its fast-paced action, responsive controls, and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and rich lore, making it a standout title in the indie isometric tactical action genre.
“Surprisingly complex mechanics that don't stop the enjoyment as a casual game; mastery of them allows you to pull off satisfying victories against huge odds.”
“The gameplay is generally action-heavy, but does a good job at rewarding crafty tactics.”
“The gameplay is fun and satisfying, and it is just the right mix of fresh and nostalgic.”
“Honestly, it's a well made game but the gameplay is too repetitive and the plot is just some generic cyberpunk plot I did not care about.”
“I can see why this game flopped - it's because it's good for about 2 hours of gameplay and then it gets repetitive and boring.”
“The gameplay loop is too repetitive.”
- graphics523 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Brigador have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, detailed sprite-based visuals that evoke a nostalgic cyberpunk aesthetic reminiscent of classic 90s games. Reviewers highlight the vibrant color schemes, intricate artwork, and effective use of lighting, which together create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some critiques mention that the graphics may not push the boundaries of modern technology, the overall artistic presentation and design are celebrated as a standout feature of the game.
“The visuals showcase an obvious admiration for PC gaming of the mid to late 90s, completely bypassing tiresome polygons in favor of highly detailed spritework, which combined with the pumping synthwave soundtrack and abundance of stark colored lighting, brings the cyberpunk-inspired world alive beautifully.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is banging, and the gameplay is difficult, but enjoyable.”
“The graphics technique (3D masked 2D graphics, like SimCity 4 kind of) is really impressive and the game plays really well with a high skill ceiling.”
“The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the design and look are interesting enough to make you forget that.”
“Mediocre graphics at best.”
“If you're looking for AAA fidelity, shiny graphics (in an isometric game lmao) or anything fancy, look elsewhere or be disappointed.”
- replayability114 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, offering a vast array of vehicles, weapons, and customizable loadouts that encourage players to experiment with different strategies and playstyles. Modes like freelance missions and a variety of challenges contribute to its enduring appeal, although some players feel that additional progression systems could enhance the experience further. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay, diverse mechanics, and frequent updates ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of replay value.
“The freelance mode provides almost endless replayability, allowing you to tinker with so many vehicles, weapons, and scenarios.”
“With infinite combinations of pilots, vehicles, and weapons to pick from, this game has endless replay value!”
“The game has a campaign mode, where you will usually be given a choice between three different loadouts for each pre-designed mission, adding in a fair amount of replayability.”
“This is such a goddamn cool game, but sadly not a lot of replayability I've found.”
“While the current system is good in the sense that you can literally play anything you like right from the get-go, provided you have enough credits - I feel as though that completely guts out the replayability factor which is sad for a game that is otherwise so excellent.”
“If you can't find ways to challenge yourself, this game will probably have rather limited replayability for you.”
- atmosphere96 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive blend of stunning graphics, a captivating synthwave soundtrack, and a richly detailed dystopian setting. Reviewers highlight how the music enhances the gameplay experience, creating a unique ambiance that draws players into its world, despite some criticisms regarding the narrative depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature, combining elements of cyberpunk aesthetics with engaging lore and intense gameplay.
“The atmosphere, music, gameplay loop, creative design aesthetic, and pace is fantastic.”
“The music is spectacular, the lore is fascinating to read, and the atmosphere the game creates is truly unique.”
“The atmosphere is of extreme cynicism and insanity while performing these terrorist acts.”
“The atmosphere is all-consuming, the lore and writing is compelling, and I can't help but get lost in the world of Solo Nobre and its struggle.”
“The difficult, player-relative controls are a successful part of what makes this game's atmosphere both tense and deliberate; I'm piloting a mobile weapons platform, not playing a game of Robotron.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, pitch-black comedy and satirical elements, often highlighting the absurdity of war crimes and destruction through witty flavor text and amusing character descriptions. Players appreciate the rich lore that adds depth while maintaining a humorous tone, with many finding joy in the over-the-top weaponry and chaotic gameplay that invites laughter amidst the carnage. Overall, the game successfully combines grimdark themes with a lighthearted approach, making it both entertaining and engaging.
“The plot remains fairly simple, but there's a surprising amount of flavor text accompanying mechs, weapons, pilots, etc. that does an excellent job at fleshing out this doomed world and its inhabitants, always ready to offer up a bit of pitch-black humor to inject some much-needed levity.”
“This love letter to the 80's not only has a bombastic synthwave soundtrack, it lives and breathes it: dark humor sci-fi that laughs at the absolute carnage that a mechanized war machine can wreak upon densely populated urban areas.”
“The writing is gorgeous and jet-black funny - every mech, weapon and pilot has its own story and there are a lot of each.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that while some players find certain aspects of the game grindy, particularly in terms of unlocking content and completing missions, many appreciate that the game avoids excessive grinding and tedious repetition. The balance of gameplay allows for enjoyable experiences without the frustration of prolonged grinding, although some players note that specific missions and mechanics can feel tedious at times. The game is generally praised for its engaging content and rewarding progression system, making it accessible for both casual and dedicated gamers.
“Incredible, not very grindy and very easy to pick up and play, good balance. The only issue I have with it is I wish the different pilots were more unique.”
“Mech game with crispy graphics, baller soundtrack, and varied weapons, mechs/tanks/hovercraft, pilots, maps... despite all the unlockable content, the game is not grindy and pretty fun with the basic stuff.”
“Unlocks also come really fast, so there is pretty much no grinding involved in getting to try out new stuff.”
“If you like the idea of banging your head against the wall for 1-2 hours to finish one level by grinding away, by all means.”
“Your game doesn't magically become fun by making it extremely tedious.”
“The campaign forces you to start with several very tedious training missions, only to limit you to a measly 4 vehicles (with pre-set loadouts) when you do finally get through the tutorial.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users noting it runs smoothly even on low-end hardware, making it accessible for a wide range of systems. However, some players experienced occasional performance issues, particularly related to specific levels and the game's destructible terrain, which can impact performance despite the appealing graphics. While the game is not considered an "unoptimized mess," adjusting graphics settings can enhance performance for a more satisfying gameplay experience.
“The game runs silky smooth and is optimized very well.”
“The game's great, runs smoothly even on a potato laptop with beautiful graphics and, above all else, is fun to play.”
“The optimization is so well done that it will likely run on a toaster oven if you tune down the resolution a bit.”
“The destructive terrain seems like a big selling point, but all it does is add to performance issues.”
“Feels like an old console game with modern performance and shaders.”
“My only major complaint is that the performance is a bit spotty.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia and excitement reminiscent of their youth, particularly in tackling challenging missions. The game evokes a sense of joy and satisfaction, with some users appreciating the cultural nuances presented in the dialogue. However, technical issues, such as controller drift and movement problems, detract from the overall experience, impacting the emotional engagement.
“It made me feel like a high school kid again, excited to come back home to try to tackle those late game missions in commandos.”
“I haven't played a game that made me feel like that in a long time.”
“Heartfelt recommendation here, absolutely buy this.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on various systems, including lower-end hardware, with users reporting no significant glitches or performance issues. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, they did not detract from the overall immersive experience, and the gameplay maintained a consistent frame rate and responsive controls.
“I've encountered no glitches, and even though it's 2D isometric, I've quickly found myself immersed in this universe.”
“The game runs great even on my old laptop; the soundtrack is fantastic, and the combat is so satisfying.”
“144fps nonstop, snappy controls, and bug-free gameplay.”
“Ask yourself these questions: do you love mech games but have been disappointed by the amateur, buggy mess that is MechWarrior 5 and the 'eh' gameplay of Battletech?”
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there. It is pleasant all the same; the game's graphics remind me of the classic SimCity games with its 2.5D perspective. However, the game does suffer from some really confusing and awkward gameplay mechanics.”
“Explosions and sounds never once paused the game or had any weird glitches.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players frustrated by the intrusive advertisements and promotional content on the menu, while others appreciate that the developers aimed to create an enjoyable experience rather than solely focusing on profit. Players have found ways to exploit missions for in-game purchases and achievements, indicating a balance between monetization and gameplay enjoyment.
“The monetization system is fair and allows me to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that there are plenty of ways to earn in-game currency through gameplay, making purchases optional.”
“On the game menu, it's frustrating to see constant advertisements like 'please buy my official soundtrack!!!' and 'please go to my websites to buy posters, shirts, figures, etc!!!'.”
“Do you really think people who enjoy this cool stuff want to see a bunch of advertisements on the game menu?”
“I can exploit two missions for maximum payout to unlock both in-game purchases and achievements.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with no significant story progression or voice acting to enhance the experience, leaving players feeling detached from the stakes. However, the character designs are praised for their solid aesthetics and well-written backstories found in the lore section, which can enrich the player's imagination during gameplay.
“The solid character designs, along with well-written backstories in the 'lore' section, expand your imagination while playing in 'freelance mode'.”
“The character development is engaging and adds depth to the overall experience.”
“Each character's journey is thoughtfully crafted, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
“But no story or character development is there to get in the way of your action.”
“The tank controls + cursor aiming system doesn't feel good, the cursor is tiny and feels off (you have to aim at the tile the enemy is situated on specifically rather than the enemy), menus/mission selection/briefing screens are bad, no voice acting or character development so nothing feels at stake.”
“However, the solid character designs with well-written back stories inside 'the lores' section, will only expand your imagination while playing in 'freelance mode'.”
