Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Lafferty, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
WWII history brought to life in visually striking tale.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Attentat 1942 is a downloadable history game for Windows PCs. While the characters are fictitious (although they may actually be telling real stories), the title is about actual events in Czechoslovakia in 1942 during the Nazi occupation and covers the atrocities and civil rights abused at that time. It's a point-and-click game with no inappropriate content, although the comments and stories about prison camps and war abuse could concern younger players. It also has links to an encyclopedia that gives more information on the various topics discussed.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
Speaks of violence and terrors of prison camps, but nothing's shown. Realization that events talked about really happened may be a little too intense for younger players to deal with.
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Educational Value
a lot
Designed to teach about events in 1942 Czechoslovakia after assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. Does have some entertainment value: It allows players to participate in timed mini-games while collecting info about history of their character's grandfather, how he may/may not have been part of Czech Resistance that carried out assassination. Cross-references actual facts with links to in-title encyclopedia (easily accessed), uses archival film footage from region. Not so much a game with some historical elements as a title that's historically based with a few gaming elements. Kids will learn about history of Czechoslovakia, applied with a personal touch, and get real looks into a terrible time in world's history.
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Positive Role Models
some
Characters of the game, represented by live-action video, demonstrate courage when talking about the events, and set the example through the actions they talk about and their efforts in the wake of a horrible moment in history.
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Ease of Play
some
Some timed mini-games, but this is generally a point-and-click game. Thought is required to piece together clues, as the game points players toward the role relatives played during this period of history.
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Positive Messages
a little
Not many positive things about time frame carefully detailed in Attentat 1942, but through stories of "survivors," one can get a sense of sacrifices many had to make and were willing to make in the name of freedom.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Attentat 1942
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Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
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Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
- Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
- Personal information is not shared for third-party marketing.
- Personalised advertising is not displayed.
- Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
- Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
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 : : reading comprehension, using supporting evidence, Social Studies: events, historical figures, history
- Skills : : analyzing evidence, applying information, decision-making, : 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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