Attentat 1942
By Michael Lafferty,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
WWII history brought to life in visually striking tale.
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Attentat 1942
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What’s It About?
ATTENTAT 1942 takes the story of the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the architect of the Nazi occupation in Czechoslovakia, and shows the aftermath of how it affected the citizens of the country. The title talks about prison and concentration camps, the abuse of prisoners, and the terror that gripped the country. Personalizing the experience, this title allows players to take on the role of the granddaughter or grandson of a woman alive during the time period. Her husband (your grandfather, who is ill) was suspected of being a part of the resistance; he was arrested and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Blending the story with a live video manner, and linking to encyclopedic references and protracted articles, this title melds cinematic moments with comic book images to depict a poignant, meaningful, and horrific moment in history.
Is It Any Good?
The phrase "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" comes to life in this game, showing a time and place along with the lessons that must be learned from it. Attentat 1942 is a short "gaming" experience (you can complete it in just under 90 minutes), which might be the one fault that it has. But this is also an intense experience that uses timed mini-games (you have to make quick decisions that may affect a response from the enemy) with lives perhaps hanging in the balance.
Created in concert with the Czech Academy of Science and Charles University, the game blends archival film footage with static comic book artwork, interactive dialogue, and graphical screens to let players create their own path to the conclusion. This is a title that seems simple, but the message it delivers is two-fold: It's a look back and a reminder of where we have come from, as well as being a warning of the dangers presented when absolute power isn't checked. It's a tale of courage, with people doing what's right even at the risk of their own lives, and it's brought home in a powerful way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about civil rights and how they were abused during war time, particularly World War II. What are the benefits of free speech? Why were they taken away? What would happen in this country if free speech was denied?
Were the actions of the characters in Attentat 1942 the right thing to do? Were these actions worth the price that some characters paid?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Subjects: Language & Reading : reading comprehension, using supporting evidence, Social Studies : events, historical figures, history
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence, applying information, decision-making, Responsibility & Ethics : learning from consequences
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Charles University Czech Academy of Sciences
- Release date: October 31, 2017
- Genre: Edutainment
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: June 30, 2022
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