Polda is a Czech adventure video game series developed by Sleep Team which began with the release of Polda in 1998. The main character is a policeman, Pankrác. In some of the sequels he is a private detective. Polda 1 was the best selling game in the Czech Republic in 1999, it is also the most popular Czech adventure games series.[1][2]
| Polda | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the box set of the first five Polda games | |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Developer(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | |
| First release | Polda 20 December 1998 |
| Latest release | Polda 2 Remaster 12 December 2023 |
Sequels
editPolda spawned seven sequels between 1998–2022, developed by ZIMA software.[3] So far only the sixth sequel and the mobile version of the first three games have been translated into English. The eighth sequel, Polda 8, is to be released in 2026 with a crowdfunding campaign already on.
Series
edit| 1998 | Polda |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Polda 2 |
| 2000 | Polda 3 |
| 2001 | |
| 2002 | Polda 4 |
| 2003 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2005 | Polda 5 |
| 2006 | |
| 2007 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | Polda 6 |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | Polda 7 |
| 2023 | Polda 2 Remaster |
Polda 1
editPolda 1 was released in 1998 on Windows and DOS, it was created by Sleep Team and produced by Zima software. The game has 2D cartoon style graphics and contains many humorous scenes. The story follows a cop called Pankrác, who is investigating strange kidnappings in the village Lupany. There is also a mobile version for Android and iOS.
Polda 2
editThe license remained in the hands of Martin Zima, and following unsuccessful legal action, Sleep Team lost any percentage of the sale of future Polda games.[4] Polda 2 was then created by Zima Software in 1999. The cop Pankrác is investigating a fire in a hotel in the city of Marsias, which leads him to uncover a secret DNA enhancement and human cloning plot.
In 2010 the game was re-released for the iOS mobile platforms and later on Android,[5] where it was translated into English and French under the title: Awesome Cop.
Polda 3
editPolda 3 was released in 2000. This time as a private investigator, Pankrác solves the case of a kidnapped cook who works for the famous hockey player Jaromír Jégr (a parody of the real hockey player, Jaromír Jágr), eventually Pankrác has to save the entire world. Also available for Android and iOS. This was originally intended to be the final Polda game, finishing the trilogy.[6][7]
Polda 4
editPolda 4 was released in 2002, departing from the previous artistic style by incorporating a hybrid 2D / 3D design.[8] Using a time machine, Pankrác travels through time and gets into a fictional near future, where, for example, the Soviet Communists dominated the world. Also for Android and iOS. It was translated into Polish as: Strażnik Czasu (Time Guardian).
Polda 5
editPolda 5 was released in 2005. Pankrác is traveling in time again, helping a secret organization. Using time travel, Pankrác arrives in ancient Greece. It was translated into Italian under the title: Polda - Agente 610 and into Russian as: Пан Польда и тайны времени (Mr. Polda and the Secret of Time).
Polda 6
editPolda 6 was released in 2014. This time, Pankrác is investigating the disappearing of the Oscar winners list. Also available for Android and iOS. It was translated into English and German under the title: Detective Hayseed - Hollywood.[9]
Polda 7
editThe seventh sequel was crowdfunded on the HitHit server, thanks to the popular demand the entire required sum has been gathered during the first few days.[10] Polda solves the case of an alien flying machine and attends a meeting of the world celebrities. The game was released in April 2022.[11]
Polda 8
editPolda 8 is the upcoming sequel of the Polda series, planned for the year 2026. The story is supposed to revolve around time travel and the kidnapping of Detective Pankrác. This will be his last sequel featuring Pankrác, as the voice actor is retiring. Instead of two protagonists, Polda 8 will have three playable characters. Despite another time travel plot, the cast of this sequel will be more modest, meaning no celebrities unlike in the previous two entries.[12]
Critical reception
editThe first game in the series was a huge success and became the best selling game in the Czech Republic of the year 1999.[5][1]
Bonusweb.cz rated the first seven games in the series at 91%,[13] 71%,[1] 72%,[14] 77%,[15] 60%,[16], 60%[17] and 45%[18] respectively.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Polda 2". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 1999-11-30. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "České adventury pro rok 2002". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 16 January 2002.
- ^ "Hry ze série Polda za SMSku". Games.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Historie adventur #4: česká stopa". Games.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ a b "České a slovenské hry pod koly času". Games.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Polda 3 - policista Pankrác se vrací". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 27 April 2000.
- ^ "Polda 4 – z komedie vážná detektivka?". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 19 September 2001.
- ^ "Polda 4 - nové informace o čtvrtém dílu". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 26 November 2001.
- ^ "Detective Hayseed: Hollywood". GameSpot.
- ^ "Hráči poslali na Poldu 7 už milion". Czc.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Sedmý díl české adventury Polda dorazí později" (in Czech). 23 June 2021.
- ^ Zach, Ondřej (13 March 2024). "To byla rychlost. Polda 8 sehnal za den milion a rozloučí se s Luďkem Sobotou". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Polda, aneb s poctivostí nejdřív pojdeš". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 1998-12-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Polda 3 - Pankrác agentem CIA". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 2000-11-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Polda 4 – soudruh Pankrácov zasahuje". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 2002-02-22. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Polda 5 – do pětice všeho dobrého?". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 18 November 2005.
- ^ "RECENZE: Polda 6 je jako Kameňák českého herního průmyslu". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 12 December 2014.
- ^ Srp, Honza (23 April 2022). "RECENZE: Polda 7 je přesně tak trapný, jak to mají jeho fanoušci rádi". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 20 November 2024.