Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is an adventure game set in World War I, characterized by cartoon, 2D graphic design. The game was created by Ubisoft Montpellier Studios, the developer of quite successful 2D action adventure games: Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends.

The story tells about four people, whose fates intertwine in the trenches of the Western Front. There is a French farmer, forced to serve in the military, an American enthusiast seeking for a private revenge, a Belgian orderly, trying to find her missing father, and a German infantryman, who was separated from his family. The factor that links all these characters is a good-natured dog, gifted with a curious ability of setting people’s lives on the right track, as well as their desire to get back to normal life. The story takes place in the years 1914-1918. Interestingly, the events in the game are heavily influenced by authentic lists sent by soldiers who fought in World War I.

The nature of gameplay largely depends on the character you are currently controlling. The game offers both action sequences, as well as those requiring you to strain your gray cells. In addition to moments when you have to prove your speed and reflexes, there is also no shortage of more or less complex puzzles to solve, and even stealth sequences, in which you need to sneak past enemies unnoticed, and distract them by throwing stones. There are also elements of exploration present. Moreover, you can often count on the company of the aforementioned dog, which is there to help you.

The game was created with UbiArt Framework engine (known from the aforementioned Rayman games), so you can enjoy an aesthetic and atmospherical artwork that resembles a comic book. Despite the fact that the story of Valiant Hearts is a very sad one, the developer made sure that it was able to bring up a smile on players faces once in a while. It is partly because the events of 1914-1918 were presented in a slightly caricatural form. This is particularly evident in character design – characters fully reflect the stereotypical view of their nation (for example, the Germans are presented as big fans of beer, so they often partake in the malt liquor).

Last updated on 20 November 2024