Polcarstva

Polcarstva is a short flash game by Russian developer Denis Stepkin. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, except to say that it portrays the surreal adventures of a diminutive crowd of intrepid, bus-riding explorers. Polcarstva is over in about 5 or 10 minutes, but it's surprising and intriguing while it lasts.

Polcarstva is in may ways reminiscent of Samorost, though its puzzles are less sophisticated and its imagery is a bit more bizarre. Like Passage, The Graveyard, and You Have to Burn the Rope, it's yet another independent effort that blurs the distinctions between games and art.

Because some of Polcarstva's puzzles are a bit counterintuitive, I've included a walkthrough after the break. I should also mention that, depending on your employer, it may be slightly unsafe for work due to a very brief and artsy depiction of nudity.

If you'd like to suggest a browser-based game for Act Casual, send a link and description to contact@gamerswithjobs.com

Walkthrough courtesy of Jay is Games:

(Highlight to reveal walkthrough text) wrote:
First scene: Go right; click the largest person two times -(?) until the Й comes out. Move the Й slowly toward them or below the ground so they can pass. Go right.
Yes it is possible to kill them, oops. Second time around I smashed on with the giant letter and they went up to heaven.

Second scene: Wait for the guy to get in the cupboard. Go right, make them go up. They stack next to the cupboard. They go by and sort of close the door or look in. You can click on the cupboard and let him out. Go right.
Third scene: You can move the guy with the big nose; move him close enough to hit a few birdies with his badminton racquet toward the boy. Do so until the boy opens the book and the big nosed guy falls in. The boy will open the book, follow him in.
Fourth scene: Click on the fetus near the umbilical cord a couple times until the room below lights up. Go down to land on the bed then go to the stairs.
Fifth scene: Go right until they will go no farther. Hover over or click on the door. Oh my what is that? Click the ceiling a little to the left above where they stand, click the diamond. Click on the door. It glows bright and scares the monster away, go through door.
Sixth scene: Go left into womb entrance?
Seventh scene: Click on the flower bud. Click on the womb, around her belly button. Climb down flower. Go right.
Eighth scene: The little doors at the base of the stepped pyramid open and close the big doors at the top. Go right up to the doors, go right again. Can't get into heaven? Close the doors. Go right down the stairs.
Ninth scene: Go right. Click the largest person -(?) He caught something. Click on big nosed guy. Click cloud so the boat comes out. Move cloud above people, the rope will come down, tell them to go up.
Last scene: Go right into bus, bus goes through gates to?

Coffee Grinder
Andor's picture
Location: Norway

... what did I just play?

For some reason, I feel oddly compelled to, ehm... think? Yeah, that's the word.

Huh.

"The day I take myself seriously, is the day I die. Oh god, kill me."

Office Linebacker
Stengah's picture
Location: Augusta, ME

The Fly wrote:
diminutive crowd of intrepid, bus-riding explorers

Anyone else think of The Magic School Bus when they read that?
Neat/odd game though.

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ICO: Stengah

Executive
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Baggz's picture
Location: Noun: A particular place in physical space

TheFly wrote:
a very brief and artsy depiction of nudity

Made me think of the Monty Python/Terry Gilliam animations of yore.

Love thyself (just not in public)
Love thy neighbour (remember to ask first)

Certis wrote:

Yeah, I sheath it in your MOM.

Insect Politician
The Fly's picture
Location: Both feet lefty. Stepping half correctly.

Baggz wrote:
TheFly wrote:
a very brief and artsy depiction of nudity

Made me think of the Monty Python/Terry Gilliam animations of yore.

Me too. And Yellow Submarine.

XboxLive: Fly GWJ | PSN: The _Fly

A game designer wrote:

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Optimus Primate
Gorilla.800.lbs's picture
Location: New York, NY

Trippy!

That's not a bus. That's a TROLLEYBUS -- mass transit powered by electricity through overhead cables. Widespread in Russia.
BTW polcastrva means half-tzardom, or half-kingdom -- a unit of currency popular with tzars in dire need of something in common Russian fairy-tales...

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McCharles, If You're Nasty
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McChuck's picture
Location: Where The Line is a dot.

Stengah wrote:
Anyone else think of The Magic School Bus when they read that?

Yup.

JUST PUZZLED YOUR ASS UP, SON! -Mr Crinkle

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Not Without Incident
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Quintin_Stone's picture
Location: Cary, NC

Very odd.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Good lord, I wouldn't have expected brilliance like that from that nemeslut Quintin Stone!

Office Linebacker
t0W's picture
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Is there a fail state? I feel stpuied. The big fish and the door, baby is gone.

Well, I finally succumbed to reading the walkthrough sigh.

!Never has anything moved me as much as this game.

Your friendly neighbourhood hair splitting singularity.

Baron Münchhausen
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rabbit's picture
Location: The Basement

How utterly bizarre and wonderful.

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Coffee Grinder

I don't get it. I guess that makes it art.

Coffee Grinder

Bee-youtiful.

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TinPeregrinus's picture
Location: Connecticut

Man's inhumanity to. . . trolley-bus riders?

Did they learn anything, really, though?

ou gar dokein aristos, all' einai thelei
http://livingepic.blogspot.com: where Classics and gaming meet

Junior Executive
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Dysplastic's picture
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Delightful. Nice little soundtrack too. Hit the spot just right.

Morrolan wrote:

I'm pretty sure Gabe Newell hangs out on top of the Valve building like Father Gregori, firing warning shots over any Sony people that come within fifty paces of the door.

XBLA / Steam: Dysplastic