FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS [101]

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a 2-D adventure and role-playing game (RPG) developed by UBISOFT and released on April 29, 2014. It is available digitally across most current gaming platforms. The game is a standalone title, not part of any franchise or series, featuring a whimsical visual and narrative style reminiscent of an illustrated fairy tale, along with a distinctive combat system.

The protagonist is a young girl named AURORA, a princess from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late 19th century. After her mother's death, Aurora seemingly dies but awakens in a dream world called LEMURIA. To return home, she must restore the SUN, MOON, and STARS, and battle the forces of the DARK QUEEN. Aurora journeys through Lemuria, meeting friends who help her find her way back.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War can be played by anyone. While players who prefer not to play as a fairy princess might not enjoy it, those who can look past this will find an enjoyable game. It offers an 'RPG-lite' experience suitable for introducing new players to the genre. Although it can be simple, its charming style is enjoyable for all. However, the story involves themes of death, so it may not be suitable for very young children.

The game features two difficulty levels: easy and difficult, formerly labeled for RPG novices and experts, respectively. The difficult mode increases combat challenge. Most of the game's challenge stems from combat, which requires some skill even on easy mode, especially for bosses. The combat system is faster and more complex than typical RPGs, but mastering the CASTING system, INTERRUPTS, and appropriate SPECIAL ABILITIES for different enemies can make combat predictable.

There is a limited second-player helper option. The second player controls a helper character, which would otherwise be managed by the second thumbstick. This helper character can perform useful actions such as healing, collecting items, slowing enemies, and solving puzzles. This feature is intended to allow gamer dads to introduce their daughters to the RPG genre.

Most dialogue in Valiant Hearts: The Great War rhymes, contributing to its fairy tale feel but sometimes constraining information delivery. Whether humorous or grating, the rhyming style can interfere with understanding. This issue may be compounded by the game being translated from awkwardly rhyming French, though this is an exaggeration of the problem's size.

The game was well-received by some reviewers and the author.

The WiiU version does not include achievements or DLC (downloadable content — extra missions or items released after launch). On STEAM, oculi are sold for real money. Players are advised not to purchase oculi or Stardust for real money.

To find tips for a specific level, use the table of contents to locate the bracketed number [xxx] and search for it using Ctrl+F to skip directly to that section. Important TERMS or SYSTEMS that are being introduced will likely be CAPITALIZED to draw attention.