Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbox One, Switch
Tested on: Switch
Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Switch) – Review
War is often a great setting for videogames, and more than often it’s all about the Second World War, which still has its impact on the world we know today. Of course, there was also the First World War, which is also known as The Great War, which also left many victims in its wake. Recently we reviewed 11-11 Memories Retold, which proved to be a great gaming experience revolving around the First World War. Now, we have Valiant Hearts: The Great War, a 2014 game, which has now been ported to the Switch. We already knew that this game was an emotional rollercoaster, but even then it still hit us. If you want to read our original review, be sure to click here.
Story
Valiant Hearts makes us follow four different people who are thrown into the First World War. These four characters are all tied to one another due to the course of how the story goes. You’ll have Karl, who is summoned to fight for the German troops, while his father-in-law is summoned to fight for the allied forces. On the way you’ll meet Anna, a Belgian veterinarian, who is out to help the wounded and to rescue her father. Last but not least, there’s Freddie, a man who is driven by revenge, who clearly lost a lot that is dear to him.
The story flow is pretty much perfect for a game such as this. You’ll get to play all of the characters throughout the course of the game, and you’ll do so alternately creating one big story. The developers invested a lot in the storytelling, which makes this game a real tearjerker at times, but you’ll also find yourself at the edge of your seat from time to time.
Graphics
Even for a game that was released four years ago, Valiant Hearts still looks beautiful. The hand drawn style elevates what is happening on the screen, and while some character models may be overused, it allows the main characters to stand out, and the backgrounds and environments are still treated with the utmost care. Even though the game went for a somewhat ‘comical’ style to portray what is going on onscreen, it doesn’t take away what the game is trying to tell the player.
Sound
Just like the game’s graphical appearance, the sound design has been well taken care of. You’ll have a reasonable amount of voice acting, telling you bits of what was going on, all while interesting music plays in the background. Sometimes you’ll get a somewhat lighter track thrown into the mix, breaking up the tension for a little bit, allowing you to relax for a moment. The sound effects are as they should be, but they won’t steal the show like the music.
Gameplay
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a side scrolling game with both puzzle and action elements. More than often you’ll find yourself exploring a small enclosed area, in which you have to go back and forth to find items which you need to unlock a new passage. While most things are often quite straightforward, some require some extra thinking in order to find the proper solution. Some puzzles will be handled by a character alone, other require the dog you found on your adventures to help you fetch items, or simply find something you cannot.
The action sequences are often quite simple, where you have to punch enemies, throw items at them, or simply have to dodge enemy fire. Dying will respawn you at the latest checkpoint, which means you’ll hardly lose any progress. There are a few other action scenes present in the form of QTEs and others where you dodge incoming fire when you are in the car. The latter did have some bugs to it, as it sometimes did not trigger what was supposed to follow, creating an endless loop of you staring at a driving car, with no music and no continuation.
Conclusion
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is just as good as when it was first released four years ago. The game still proves to be a great tribute to the lives lost in the First World War, and those who were affected by everything that went on. The story is appealing and drives you to the edge of your seat, while the visual representation makes the game a bit lighter, allowing you to press on. In combination with the great background music and the simple, yet fun gameplay mechanics, this game is certainly a worthy addition to your Switch collection if you missed this title the first time around.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Switch) – Review,
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