I've been playing Valiant Hearts: The Great War during the last week, for the second time. After finishing the game, I was full of emotions, and words... So I decided to write this post.
Since then, I've been trying to describe Valiant Hearts in just one sentence, but I couldn't help with coming up with anything other than this: "The game is a masterpiece".
This is a game that recognizes its strongest point from the beginning, and knows exactly how to utilize it to influence the audience in the most effective and beautiful way; I am talking about the story. Every element in the game, such as the artistic style, music, and even the gameplay, puzzles, and mechanics, are in a way part of an integrated whole that serves one and only one purpose: narrating the story in its best way possible.
But there is something else worth mentioning, that makes this whole idea even more interesting. The theme of the game is obviously "war"; But from an unusual and unique point of view! I mean, how many games about war can you find on the market which are not either an FPS or an RTS? Games about war usually focus on showing the war itself, and teach players how to win one. However, Valiant Hearts takes a different approach by showing the side effects of war and how it could destroy lives so easily. And I believe the game absolutely nails that purpose.
There is a generally accepted quote in game design that says: "Gameplay always comes first", and that is definitely true even when you are trying to narrate a deep, rich, dramatic story in your game. We have seen modern adventure games with beautiful, outstanding narratives (take Machinarium, Inside, for example). But even in those games, the gameplay has its own fundamental place. With Valiant Hearts, however, that is not exactly the case.
As I mentioned earlier, in Valiant Hearts, everything serves to narrate the story. Even when you are trying to figure out a puzzle in the game, or fighting enemy soldiers in combat sections, your number one motivation is "unfolding and progressing through the story". Gameplay sections are also full of detailed environmental elements that are, in turn, adding something to the story and the game world. We can even see numerous directed camera movements here and there throughout the gameplay, which is another sign implying that story and narrative is THE most important aspect of this game.
All in all, maybe this one single ambitious approach is the only reason that makes Valiant Hearts' gameplay "not so brilliant" as opposed to many other absolutely brilliant aspects of the game, as the gameplay and puzzles fail to serve as a standalone, fun interactive experience. However, with sections like this one below, and several others in the game, which could easily make your eyes mist over, I would strongly argue that the approach is an overall success:
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