At first glance, Valiant Hearts: The Great War seems bizarre at best and flippant at worst: a cartoon-style puzzle game set during the ugly brutality of World War I. But fortunately, looks are deceiving, as Valiant Hearts is one of the most intriguing (and dare I say it, educational) games of the year.
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360 (Version Played), Xbox One
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Genre: Puzzle Platformer Where You Are All World War I Recreationists
Release Date: June 24, 2014
ESRB Rating: Teen
From the start screen’s mournful piano notes to the emotional ending, Ubisoft has managed to remain respectful of the soldiers’ sacrifices while delivering an entertaining and accessible adventure puzzle game dressed in a unique style. The beautiful animated artwork gives the game not only a distinctive look, but a deceptive charm that draws you into the story. I say “deceptive” because there is nothing charming about the horrors of World War I, which Valiant Hearts does not shy away from. There is no cartoony gore, but you will see suffering and death. At the same time, however, the artwork serves to soften the blow and remind you that yes, this is still a game first and foremost, but let us not forget the tragedy of war.
Valiant Hearts is filled with unlockable photos and letters from the front lines, along with fascinating historical tidbits. You access these from the menu and so can skip them if you want, but you’ll be missing out on some extremely interesting history if you do. Who said games can’t be educational?
The gameplay revolves around simple find-and-fetch tasks to solve puzzles. With only a few exceptions, there are no time limits, so you can solve them at your leisure. You will also engage in mini-games as well, like dodging deadly obstacles in a car, and quick-time healing events.
The puzzles are generally fairly easy to figure out, though you may be completely stumped at times. This is mainly due to the fact that the game really takes minimalism to heart – perhaps a bit too much, as the game doesn’t do a lot of hand-holding. Your objectives – which are presented to you via the pictogram thought balloons of NPC’s – can be quite vague at times. There are hints you can unlock, but even they aren’t always clear and helpful. You will also die a lot, simply because the game will suddenly surprise you with an unexpected attack. Trial and error is common, but fortunately, the generous checkpoints will spare you from having to replay long stretches of the game.
Although the roughly five to six-hour campaign follows actual events and is filled with historical facts, the story is quite “gamey” as you pursue an evil baron in his armored zeppelin. You follow four different characters whose lives interconnect as the war progresses. Emile is a French farmer who has the ability to dig underground; Karl is a German national who is also Emile’s son-in-law, but was kicked out of the country and now serves in the German army; Freddie is an African-American who enlisted with the French and has the ability to cut through barbed wire; and Anna is a nurse who can heal wounded soldiers. You are also accompanied by the world’s most helpful dog, who can not only fetch and dig up useful items and collectibles, but can also flip switches and distract enemies. Each character’s journey through the war provides you with a unique perspective, with the story culminating in a very emotional ending.
The game’s only real downside is the lack of replay value – once you find all of the historical collectibles (over 100 in all), there’s really no incentive to go back again. There are also some technical issues as well – the game locked up on me at least three times.
Overall, Valiant Hearts does indeed show a big heart by delivering an entertaining puzzle game with a healthy dose of history, all while respecting the sacrifices of war. If you’re aching for a fun, stylish puzzler to tide you over until the big AAA releases in the fall, then look no further.
Review Disclosure: A review copy of Valiant Hearts: The Great War was provided by Ubisoft for the purposes of this review.
