Every so often, a game wins you over with pure charm. The Brute Horse comedic action platformer looks like one of those. It is built for couch co-op. The setup is wonderfully silly: a barbarian races to save his wounded war horse. It does not have a firm release date yet, but it is already worth a spot on your radar.
What is the Brute Horse comedic action platformer?
The Brute Horse comedic action platformer is a narrative-driven game with local co-op. The developer is indie studio Place of Departure. Bohemia Interactive, the team behind Arma and DayZ, is publishing it. For now, the team confirms only PC, and it has a Steam page. On top of that, the studio also plans PlayStation and Xbox versions, though without dates. No release date or price has been locked in yet, so you can wishlist it on Steam.
The story
The game takes place in the harsh fantasy land of South Vulgaria. It is a world of warring, divided kingdoms. You play as Brute, a barbarian with one urgent goal. His beloved war horse, simply named Horse, is gravely injured in battle. So he sets off on a frantic journey to save his companion. Along the way, a skilled mercenary and inventor named Michelle joins the trio.
Gameplay
At its core, the game mixes combat, puzzles and platforming. You travel through distinct kingdoms, each with its own look and secrets. Best of all, you can play solo or team up in local couch co-op. In co-op, you coordinate Brute and Michelle to clear obstacles together. It also supports shared, split-screen and Remote Play Together. Throughout, the tone leans into comedy and an odd, likeable cast.
Graphics and presentation
Bohemia calls this a world of brutal beauty. In short, you get stylized, cartoonish 3D landscapes. Each kingdom is its own distinct environment with hidden corners to find. The studio has not named an engine, so judge the look from the screenshots. Even so, the art already has a warm, offbeat sense of humor.
Why the Brute Horse comedic action platformer is worth watching
Warm, funny co-op games are always in short supply. It aims to be exactly that, with a big publisher behind it. On top of that, the barbarian-saves-his-horse hook is genuinely endearing. Since Bohemia is backing an indie team, there is real weight behind it. If you want a lighthearted couch adventure, keep this one in mind. You can follow it now on PC, with PlayStation and Xbox versions planned. If you like fantasy games, read about the Blood Bowl 3 publisher change.
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