Ubisoft Montpellier confirmed June 25 as the official Valiant Hearts release date (gamespot.com). The game has built a cult fan base since the beginning of development, in early 2013.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a is a puzzle-adventure game, five stories of the First World War crossed by one unifying character, a dog which joins and helps five people in their personal journeys.
The game will launch on current and next gen consoles in digital format, on the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Running on the UbiArt Framework engine, it will bear similarities to Children of Light, also a recent Ubisoft title.
Characters are immersed in war-torn landscapes, trenches, and battle lines. Set between 1914 and 1918, the gameplay involves five characters and different puzzle schemes. There's Emile, a prisoner of war searching for his son-in-law, and Karl, the German soldier who falls in love with the French farmer's daughter.
There's Freddie, a US soldier avenging a fallen wife, and Ana, the field medic constantly surrounded by tragedy. George is a British pilot who faked his way into enlistment. And then there's the dog which ties these seemingly separate stories together.
The Valiant Hearts release date is much-anticipated, mainly due to several teasers released over the previous months. The 2D side-scroller looks and plays like a graphic novel, a somber theme contrasted by kitschy character and backdrop designs. Based on actual wartime letters, the game adopts authenticity with characters based on actual historical figures (uk.ign.com).
Valiant Hearts: The Great War maximizes the capability of all platforms; the DualShock 4's touchpad may be used for specific actions, such as rubbing the dog's belly. Puzzles progress in difficulty once players learn the control dynamics.
The game deviates from the linear side-scroller, and players can use crucial items for trivial purposes, deliberately or by mistake. A bone meant to complete a puzzle may be used to play fetch with the dog, for example. Copies are available for preorder before the Valiant Hearts release date.
