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Polda is a comedic Point-and-Click Game series created by the Czech studio Zima Software. It follows the adventures of Polda Pankrác, a Czech policeman (or, depending on game, a P.I.) investigating various unusual crimes. Originating as a dark comedy in semi-believable environment, the series gradually embraced sci-fi elements. The first three games are traditionally drawn point-and-click adventures, while the next two games use a 3D engine. Since the 6th game, the series has somewhat returned to a traditional drawn style, combined with 3D environments and modern animation.

Originally released only in Czech on PC, the first 4 games received a re-release on iOS and Android with full English translations.

The games in the series are:

  • Polda (Polda, aneb s poctivostí nejdřív pojdeĊĦ in Czechia) (1998) — set in the fictional town of Lupany. The story revolves around young Pankrác trying to solve a case of disappearance of two siblings. While relatively short and generally rated average, the dark humour and the infamous Twist Ending have made it one of the most successful Czech games in history, and the most sold game in Czechia in 1999.
  • Polda 2 (1999) — after solving the case in Lupany, Pankrác was promoted to the metropolis of Marsias, and is tasked with solving a case regarding human cloning.
    • Re-released in English for iOS and Android as Awesome Cop (2010)
  • Polda 3 (2000) — having left the police, Pankrác now works as a P.I., and accidentally uncovers an assassination plot while searching for a man not paying alimony.
  • Polda 4 (2002) — taking place after the events of Polda 3, Pankrác inadvertently causes problems with time travel, changing the past and the future, causing scenarios like Soviets occupying France. Notably less comedic than the previous games.
  • Polda 5 (2005) — Pankrác gets unexpectedly called out of retirement to help solve a mystery of someone changing the past and affecting the future.
  • Detective Hayseed - Hollywood (Polda 6 in Czechia) (2014) — Pankrác is called up from Lupany to solve a case of stolen Oscar winners, as the more known (and better) detectives, such as Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Fletcher, cannot be trusted due to being nominated.

Polda contains examples of:

  • Black Comedy: What the series became most famous for, although increasingly toned down with each new installment.
  • Chekhov's Gunman: The perpetrator of the first game.
  • I'm a Humanitarian: Pankrác himself in the first game, albeit unknowingly.
  • Kleptomaniac Hero: Pankrác is willing to take pretty much anything not nailed down. Lampshaded in the second game, when he takes a banana peel from a garbage can, because "why wouldn't he, when he's already digging through a garbage can".
  • Police Are Useless: An interesting example, as Pankrác does generally solve his cases, but does more harm than good in the process. Played straight for most of his colleagues.
  • Police Brutality: By Pankrác himself, a number of times. Especially in the first game, where he's willing to shoot a homeless man for disagreeing with him.

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