Brigador

Brigador (originally titled Matador) is an isometric real-time tactical game from independent studio Stellar Jockeys, released on October 16, 2015 on early access. It officially left early access on June 2, 2016. The game has been compared to the Syndicate[1] and MechWarrior[2] series. Brigador: Up-Armored Edition, was the improved relaunch released on June 2, 2017, which provided a new introduction to game mechanics, rebalanced the game's overall difficulty, added localization support, and made graphical upgrades such as better explosions and lighting changes.[3]

Brigador
Box art for video game Brigador: Up Armored Edition
Developer(s)Stellar Jockeys
Publisher(s)Stellar Jockeys
Designer(s)Hugh Monahan
Jack Monahan
Programmer(s)Dale Kim
Harry Hsiao
Karl Parakenings
Artist(s)Hugh Monahan
Jack Monahan
Composer(s)Makeup and Vanity Set
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Release
  • WW: June 2, 2016
Genre(s)Real-time tactics
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Brigador is divided into two modes: Campaign and Freelance. Each mission in Campaign mode offers the player up to four different loadouts to complete a mission's objectives. The player can choose from three main objectives: eliminate a certain number of enemy NPCs, take out all the marked captains, or destroy the orbital defense platforms before making their escape. Completing a mission successfully rewards the player with money, which they can spend on unlocking in-game flavor text as well as other vehicles, weapons and pilots for use in Freelance mode.

A screenshot of gameplay, depicting a player-controlled Mech firing upon an object. The player's ammunition and health can be seen in the top left corner, as well as their selected driver's portrait.

In Freelance mode, the player chooses a pilot, vehicle, weapons and a "run" of levels to complete. What the player chooses for their run will affect the difficulty of enemies faced, what factions they may encounter, as well as the payout multiplier bonus for successfully completing a run of levels. Additional, harder runs can be purchased using the currency earned within the game.

Development

Brigador is the first game by Stellar Jockeys. Co-founders Hugh Monahan and Jack Monahan are behind the game's art direction and design, while Dale Kim and Harry Hsiao worked as programmers on the game's custom engine.[4] The game began development in 2011, and its development was entirely self-funded. Brigador was released in October 2015 as an early access title, with the full launch following in June 2016.[5][6] Following the 2016 launch, Dale Kim and Harry Hsiao parted amicably from the studio, with Karl Parakenings joining to provide programming support in their stead. On June 2, 2017, the game was relaunched as Brigador: Up-Armored Edition which added more content to the game, rebalanced the game's difficulty, and localized the game into several languages including French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and several others.

Reception

Brigador: Up-Armored Edition received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[7] On initial release, the developers found it difficult to generate awareness for the game, which contributed to its commercial failure.[5] However, due to the 2017 relaunch and continued support by the developers, the game saw improved sales numbers, particularly in non-English speaking territories.[11][12]

Post-release developments

Sequel

In May 2019, a direct sequel to Brigador, titled Brigador Killers, was announced.[13]

Jack Monahan comment controversy

Four years after the game's release, it came to light that one of the developers, Jack Monahan, had posted "racist, transphobic and anti-semitic remarks" using a pseudonym on a forum.[14] Monahan posted an apology to his studio's Twitter account for his comments on 23 June 2020.[15]

References
  1. Smith, Graham (4 February 2014). "Mechs For a Good Time: Matador Trailer". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  2. Shearer, Stew (5 February 2014). "Matador to Offer Isometric Roguelike Mech Action". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  3. Horti, Samuel (4 June 2017). "Brigador: Up-Armored Edition 'relaunches' the mech combat game". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  4. Rad, Chloi. "Matador Merges Stylish Mech Combat With Challenging Roguelike Elements". Indie Statik. Archived from the original on 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  5. Nathan Grayson (2016-07-21). "What Happens After An Indie Game Fails On Steam". Kotaku. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  6. O'Connor, Alice (October 16, 2015). "Isometric Action: Brigador Stomps Into Early Access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  7. "Brigador for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  8. Tolentino, Josh (4 July 2016). "Review: Brigador". Destructoid. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. Starkey, Daniel (15 July 2016). "Brigador Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  10. Petitte, Omri (29 June 2016). "Brigador review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  11. Glover, Benjamin (11 March 2019). "Thirteen tips for your next localization". Gamasutra Blogs. UBM LLC. Archived from the original on 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  12. Monahan, Hugh (2019-05-04). "Was Brigador eventually a financial success?". Brigador: Up-Armored Edition General Discussions Forum. Stellar Jockeys. Retrieved 2019-07-31 – via Steam Community.
  13. Orselli, Brandon (2019-05-30). "Stylish Isometric Mecha Game "Brigador" is Getting a Sequel". Niche Gamer. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  14. Matos, Clinton (2020-06-29). "Brigador experiences what can only be described as a reverse review bomb". Hypertext Africa. South Africa. Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2023-06-28. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 International.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  15. Jack Monahan [@StellarJockeys] (2020-06-23). "For years, I've posted to a private forum where I've made many transphobic, racist, and anti-semitic remarks. I'm deeply sorry for that, but know that apologizing will not change what I have done. Over the last decade, I fooled myself into thinking that my words had no consequence, but over the past few days, I've discovered the opposite to be true. It matters what you say, even in private. I've hurt many people. Effective immediately I am suspending my involvement with Stellar Jockeys & Brigador Killers. I love the game, I love how excited our fans and community have been, but I have jeopardized the trust we've worked so hard to build with everyone. I made this happen, and that means I need to step away. I can't undo what I did, but I can work forward from here. I have deleted my account for the forum in question. I've been talking to people whose values and perspectives I've been critical of. I now need to spend time listening, learning and growing as a person. I am truly sorry for what I have done" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-06-28 – via Twitter.
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