Valiant Hearts: The Great War Review

While World War II games have been done to death it’s weird to think that next to nothing has been made detailing the events of the previous World War. Even in the history classes that I took in both high school and in college World War I was considered nothing more a mere afterthought compared to the events of World War II. Why is that? Was it because the events of World War I were not exactly historic and eventful? Maybe it’s because the United States never played a major role until the war’s latter years. Whatever it is, the stories of the First World War should not be forgotten in the panels of history, and the developers at Ubisoft Montpellier made sure of just that.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is not a game where you play as a typical random soldier with a gun in your hand instructed to kill your enemies. It’s an emotionally story driven narrative that is inspired by the letters that have been written during this time in history. It’s a story about love, friendship, family, and the hardships caused by the perils of war. In my honest opinion, Valiant Hearts is a breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong, I like my fair share of shooters, but now I finally can enjoy a war game that doesn’t involve the unadulterated theme of kill, kill, and kill some more.

With the events of the war surrounding them, Valiant Hearts plays like a straightforward puzzle driven adventure. I guided each of the four characters through each stage solving a series of simplistic puzzles along the way. If there was a moment where I encountered a snag the game would send me hints to get past the problem. While solving puzzles, I also collected various items. Each of these items hold a historical significance and can be viewed on the menu screen along with a detailed description. Speaking of the menu screen, there are also plenty of historical photo documentation that describe the events of the First World War. History is clearly not overlooked here making Valiant Hearts quite educational as well.

There’s not much to say about Valiant Hearts: The Great War other than the fact that this title should not get overlooked by anyone. Period. It is that good. The game also shows that all war games don’t necessarily have to go the mature route of blood and gore to get their point across. Valiant Hearts is a game that is filled with heart, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a tear or two falls down your eyes towards the end.

* Review based on the PlayStation 4 version.