Ubisoft has announced that its gorgeous, experimental UbiArt projects, the beautiful RPG Child of Light, and the surprisingly introspective game on the excesses of war, Valiant Hearts: The Great War, are both going to be coming to the Nintendo Switch. Both of these games were built using the gorgeous UbiArt engine Ubisoft had designed for Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, the latter of which is already on the Switch.

Given that Ubisoft has found success on the Switch with all of its initiatives so far, and that Rayman Legends is already on the platform, I imagine these smaller projects were an easy and obvious bunch to bring to the console. Given how utterly fantastic they are, too, I am sure no one will be complaining.

For now, we don’t know if there are any Switch-specific enhancements or features in either game. Generally speaking, Ubisoft’s ports to the system have been very straightforward, so I wouldn’t bank on it. Child of Light comes to Switch on October 11, and Valiant Hearts follows less than a month later on November 8.

GamingBolt spoke to Simon Chocquet-Bottani, game designer of Valiant Hearts: The Great War to know more about this title. Check out his response below.

Rashid Sayed: The one thing that Valiant Hearts proves is that you don’t need photo-realistic graphics to convey emotions. How did you approach this while designing the game? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: We wanted to offer something different, another way to treat a very serious subject but in a more accessible way. The comic book aspect allows us to have a more light-hearted and tragicomic art style that shows colorful moments but also the horrors of war. We wanted to emphasize this by beginning the game with a quite colorful palette, but the more you progress in the game and into the war, the more things get darker and heavier emotionally. What we really were aiming for was to convey emotions. 

"I would not describe the game as a platformer, our characters can’t jump for example. It’s more of a puzzle-adventure and story-driven game. We didn’t want the gameplay to take over the story so we tried to strike the right balance. "

Rashid Sayed: The game in the story follows the narrative of four different heroes. The plot is said to be one of broken hearts and entwining destinies that are fated to cross paths on the broken and twisted battlefield ends of World War One. What was the inspiration behind going down this route? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: It wasn’t directly inspired by any video game. It really came from wanting to tell the story of normal people experiencing the war. We agreed early on that telling the personal story of only one character might be too restrictive. For example, one of our initial startingpoints was to tell the story from different points of view. 

Rashid Sayed: Can you tell us how gameplay will work when controlling four different characters? Are you guys going to take an approach similar to Trine?

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: We designed the game to be like a TV series. You’re the player but you’re not controlling their destinies, your living them, following them until they reach their final objective. So you will not be able to switch freely between characters, you will alternate playing them and slowly reveal their crossed destinies. 

Rashid Sayed: Designing a 2D Platformer with engaging and emotional elements is a tough undertaking. How are you guys making sure that the game will connect to the player? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: I would not describe the game as a platformer, our characters can’t jump for example. It’s more of a puzzle-adventure and story-driven game. We didn’t want the gameplay to take over the story so we tried to strike the right balance. We wanted to keep the player active and to give him this feeling of being part of the story, but we didn’t want to make the gameplay too complex in order to allow playersto focus on other things, such as each level’s environment, the historical facts, the unfolding of the story, etc. This balance was tough to achieve and it needed a lot of playtests to see how people were reacting. 

"We really focused on trying to make the game as beautiful as the artwork created by Paul Tumelaire, and the UbiArt Framework is the perfect tool for this. We can run a proper 60fps, 1080p game without lag and have the player experience our interactive graphic novel in the best way possible."

Rashid Sayed: How long will the campaign last? Furthermore are there any plans to include a multiplayer component? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: The game is around 8 hours long but the completion time varies a lot depending on the player and how he or she approaches the game. There is no plan to include multiplayer. This is a narrative game, an emotional and historical journey that we want the player to experience fully and the best way to do that is via a solo gameplay.

Rashid Sayed: Can you tell us whether the game will have a skill set specific to each character? If yes, can you describe them? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: Each character has his/her own skills that emphasize his or herpersonality. Emile can dig, which suits the fact that he is not an aggressive soldier and he will always prefer to avoid danger by digging underground to get away from a machine gun rather than trying to confront head-on. Freddie, though, is a very action-oriented guy, and his ability to cut barbed wires allows him to move faster through enemy lines.

Anna is a healer, and her specific type of healing gameplay is meant to emphasize the sense of urgency when trying to save someone’s life. It’s designed as a rhythm game, and we wanted to give players the feeling of reacting quickly to a situation like doctors do. It’s more about the feeling of urgency rather than the gameplay itself. And finally there’s Karl, who is smart and wants nothing more than to back to his wife and son. His ability to change clothes and disguise himself will allow him to overcome his opponent without firing a shot. 

Rashid Sayed: Can you confirm the resolution and frame rate of the PS4 and Xbox One versions?

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: I can confirm to you that the game is running 1080p 60fps 🙂

Rashid Sayed: Tell us about UbiArt Framework and the changes that the development team is working on. How will the engine utilize the full potential of the PS4 and Xbox One? 

Simon Chocquet-Bottani: We really focused on trying to make the game as beautiful as the artwork created by Paul Tumelaire, and the UbiArt Framework is the perfect tool for this. We can run a proper 60fps, 1080p game without lag and have the player experience our interactive graphic novel in the best way possible.

It tells the tale of four core characters and how they lives are irrevocably linked by the pains of the Great War. Each of their quests involves them searching for loved ones or retribution – and it’s up to you to help them find it. It focuses on the futility and emotion of a conflict that tore the world apart 100 years ago and captures it perfectly.

With its historical narrative, Valiant Hearts manages to depict the harshness of war through an entertaining puzzle game that grips you from the very start. It’s a rare thing when games genuinely manage to tug at the heartstrings and arouse emotion but Valiant Hearts does just that.

"Each segment sees you lead one of the four protagonists towards the front line and their objective, avoiding hazards such as gunfire, explosive shells, mustard gas or enemy soldiers."

The gameplay is undeniably simple, the puzzles are basic and the likelihood that you’ll revisit it after the credits roll is slim – but it doesn’t really matter; this is a game that deserves to be played. It’s powerful and memorable for all the right reasons.

In contrast to the usual approach of games based on war, progress is fairly sedate and slow-paced. This slightly more cerebral take on things makes its message far more effective than a typical gung-ho approach.

The story begins in 1914 shortly after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and takes us through war-torn Europe across some of the most significant periods of the conflict. It takes us on a journey to destroyed cities and rainsoaked trenches, along roads strewn with bodies and through freshly-made craters. Our heroes are fighting for their lives, all the while the world is crashing down around them. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t give away any more of the storyline but suffice to say there will be moments that you’ll find particularly touching.

Each segment sees you lead one of the four protagonists towards the front line and their objective, avoiding hazards such as gunfire, explosive shells, mustard gas or enemy soldiers. The only way to progress is to fathom a series of puzzles, ranging from the simple to the slightly obscure.

"Each character has a very distinct personality and different abilities. Anna, for example, is a dab hand with a bandage and is frequently called upon to patch up the wounded, whereas Freddie has a handy pair of wirecutters that allow you to traverse otherwise impassable barbed wire."

Make a mistake and wander into gunfire or towards gas and death is instantaneous, a sudden and shocking reminder that, despite its cartoony appearance, this isn’t a lighthearted affair. Checkpoints are plentiful, however, and there isn’t much need to retread your steps should you need to restart.

Whether you’re playing as Emile, the gruff yet loving father from France, young German Karl (Emile’s son-in-law) who’s whisked away from his family to return to fight for his homeland, American hardman Freddie reeling from the loss of his wife, or Belgian medic Anna who is trying to track down her father, you’re able to sympathise with their plight. Oh, and then there’s Walt the dog – the faithful hound on hand to help you in your quest.

Each character has a very distinct personality and different abilities. Anna, for example, is a dab hand with a bandage and is frequently called upon to patch up the wounded, whereas Freddie has a handy pair of wirecutters that allow you to traverse otherwise impassable barbed wire.

Much of the game is spent chasing Baron Von Dorf, the German antagonist, who in some way or another is responsible for most of their misery.

Besides the narrator introducing each stage, in-game dialogue is minimal and the characters merely mumble or grunt at one another, with small comic book style boxes appearing above their heads to convey their intentions, thoughts or objectives. Most of the time you’ll just hear music and subtle sound effects as you navigate your way through each stage, which really adds to the overall feel and sentiment of the game.

Looks-wise, the environments are nicely drawn, with the backgrounds animated and surprisingly detailed. As side-scrolling games go, it’s not bad looking at all.

There’s little by way of a tutorial and from the outset you’re only given a few visual guides as to solving each puzzle or reaching the next checkpoint. Every action is controlled via a few simple, intuitive, button presses – and it’s all very simple to grasp – which again helps with the accessibility factor.

"By far the least appealing sections are the instant-death driving sequences where obstacles need to be avoided, and Anna’s rhythm-based healing games that need a button to be pushed in time with the scrolling display."

Most of the action sees your character run from screen to screen, until a puzzle stands in your way. These include fetch quests and other rudimentary puzzles, mostly requiring pulleys, cogs and levers to be fixed and used in a certain sequence, or pipes to be fitted together to redirect harmful mustard gases. Often a vital bit of equipment will be in a hard to reach gap, and that’s where your trusty canine comes in, helping you to retrieve it. You’ll grow to love this mutt! In the unlikely event a conundrum proves too taxing, helpful hints are available to set you on your way.

By far the least appealing sections are the instant-death driving sequences where obstacles need to be avoided, and Anna’s rhythm-based healing games that need a button to be pushed in time with the scrolling display. These segments tend to grate a little and are slightly too commonplace in my opinion.

So considering there’s very little challenge to this puzzler and there’s little chance you’ll revisit it once you’re done, is Valiant Hearts worth your money? Certainly. It’s a fun little package, which looks great and is, largely, a joy to play. The historical context, especially relevant as we mark the conflict’s 100th anniversary, and the powerful interweaving storylines will leave you with lasting memories. It’s well worth the experience.

This game was reviewed on Xbox One.

Game Overview:

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a story about four characters which takes place during the Great War. The game is based on the themes of friendship and sacrifice. The game takes place in 1914, the year in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand has been assassinated and Germany declares war on Russia.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. The game is now available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Check out the video walkthrough of Valiant Hearts: The Great War below and let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.

For video game guides, tips and wikis, check out our gaming portal here.

Ubisoft’s Valiant Hearts: the Great War is finally available for Xbox One and Xbox 360 via Xbox Live, PS3 and PS4 via PSN and for PC via digital distribution at €14.99. The story takes place during a tragic war period in which one German soldier is struggling to find his true love.

The Great War is narrated from the perspective of four different characters along with a canine companion who cooperate with each other and eventually sacrifice everything in order to help each other other. The game has been created by Ubisoft Montpellier on the UbiArt Framework engine, which was recently seen in Ubisoft’s Child of Light. This means some very intricately detailed scenery, ranging from dirty trenches to snow-covered fields and forests. It’s a lot to take in and certainly worth experiencing for the visuals alone.

What are your thoughts on Valiant Hearts? Let us know in the comments below.

Set against the backdrop of World War I, Valiant Hearts: The Great War runs on the internally Ubisoft developed UbiArt Frame Work that powered Rayman Origins and Legends as well as their more recent title, Child of Light. Slated to launch worldwide on June 25th of 2014, Valiant Hearts: The Great War will be arriving on multiple consoles across both last and current generations, the game will be available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One via digital download. There are no known plans for a retail release of the game.

• 1. Development
• 2. Gameplay
• 3. Story
• 4. Characters

Development

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is running on the in house developed video game engine titled UbiArt Frame Work, a powerful engine geared towards bringing beautiful games to life. According to the UbiArt team, “UbiArt is a collective of artists and developers that originate from video games, film or cartoons. Most of the members of UbiArt discovered programming, paint brushes or castanets before they even got their first tooth.”, lending more credence to the artistic titles they produce and their faith in the audience that supports them.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War puts the player in an  emotional journey through the difficult years of World War I. The characters will convey emotion which will be better than most AAA games.

Story

The story of Valiant Hearts: The Great War is one of broken hearts and entwining destinies that are fated to cross paths on the broken and twisted battlefield ends of World War One. Settled amongst the trenches of the Great War, our five heroes will do all they can to endure the horrors of the conflict and survive another day alongside their brave and beloved canine friend. As the time passes by our valiant quintet will eventually be drawn close together as they are tested in new ways, testing their humanity.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Valiant Hearts: The Great War takes place on a 2D plane wherein the player will traverse the landscape of a world at war in an effort to aid those around them and contribute to the war effort in whatever way they can. This often takes the form of puzzle solving, be it helping soldiers get fresh water or safely navigating a field of fire.

The game unfolds at a fast enough pace, jumping the player between on of the five playable characters as the story progresses, allowing for rich and varied character and world development. Characters will interact with one another through the use of expressive speech bubbles rather than actual dialogue, helping quickly and concisely explain the characters needs without bogging the player down in endless text.

Characters

Emile – Emile is an unfortunate Frenchman who was once a farmer but is now a Prisoner of War, captured whilst looking for his son in law.

Freddie – Freddie is an American Soldier who is fighting in the war to honour and avenge his fallen wife.

Ana – Ana is a nurse hailing from Belgium who has been tasked with aiding soldiers and tending to the wounded who lie strewn across the battlefield.

George – George is a British serviceman who is soon to become a pilot, despite not actually knowing how to fly a plane, let alone take one into battle.

Karl – Karl is a soldier in the ranks of the German army who is also entangled in the war. He is also deeply in love with Emile’s daughter.

Walt – Walt is a loveable and affectionate dog who’s on is own journey through the great war. His path will cross every other character mentioned above and he may even be seen aiding them with solving puzzles.

Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War was showcased at the Ubisoft E3 media briefing and we got a look at how the UbiArt Framework engine could be used to create a horrifying event such as World War I. As it turns out, fairly well. Check it out above.

Valiant Hearts will track the journey of four soldiers across World War I as they work to survive, their tales being reiterated across the annals of history (and via one very sad looking doggy). It’s very heavy-handed and will certainly be worth a look.

Releasing on June 25th, Valiant Hearts: The Great War will be out on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC. What do you think about the trailer for the game and will you be checking it out when it releases later this month? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for more information on Ubisoft’s media briefing.

Update: Added Screenshots.

Ubisoft has finally announced that its E3 media briefing will take place on June 9th at 3 PST. Last year’s host Aisha Tyler – known for her comedy gold as Lana in FX’s Archer – will be returning to host the media briefing.

The publisher will be showing off its big name releases for this year and beyond including Assassin’s Creed: Unity, Far Cry 4, Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Valiant Hearts The Great War and much more. All games will be playable at Ubisoft’s E3 booth for the duration of the expo. It doesn’t seem like there will be any unannounced games revealed at Ubisoft’s briefing but anything is possibly really.

Ubisoft’s E3 media briefing will also include a pre-show starting at 2:45 PM PST and a post-show wherein fans can question the key speakers.

Are you looking forward to Ubisoft’s E3 conference, especially since top notch titles like Far Cry 4 and Assassin’s Creed Unity will be there? Let us know in the comments below.