Greak: Memories of Azur vs Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Greak: Memories of Azur
Greak: Memories of Azur is a gorgeous action-adventure game featuring a young boy in search of his sister in a world engulfed in turmoil, no thanks to the bloodthirsty Uglars. Playing as the boy Greak, you’ll venture across various regions in Azur, exploring every inch of it for hidden stashes, completing quests, and battling enemies along the way.The game starts off like a relatively regular action platformer, where you’ll get to jump, swing your sword around, and solve relatively simple puzzles by switching characters once you manage to reunite him with his sister. This part is actually pretty similar to the gameplay in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, a favorite of mine.
In fact, you’ll get to control both characters at the same time, which is interesting, though it does complicate things a bit during combat especially considering that the sister is a magic user and deals damage from afar while the brother is a sword-wielder and does best dealing damage from a much closer range.
In a way, Greak: Memories of Azur also feels a bit like a Metroidvania in the sense that the game hides secret chests and rare flowers in places that you, if you don’t pay too much attention, might miss. Even if you spotted the items, you will still need to figure out a way to get to them, which usually involves some creative and sometimes very precise jumping. Expect to get frustrated… a lot!
The gorgeous hand-drawn art in Greak is definitely one of the highlights of the game as well. The out-of-focus background in the distance matches well with the stuff at the front too.
In a nutshell, not only is Greak: Memories of Azur a gorgeous action-adventure game with a heartwarming story about a brother trying to reunite with his sister in a world embroiled in war and infested with dangerous creatures, it also comes with a fun gameplay that's perfectly "midcore". So, if you're into story-driven platformers, you'll want to check out this one!
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a story-heavy game that details the emotional side of World War 1 through the eyes of a young German soldier and his trusty canine companion's sense of smell. Filled with challenging puzzle and generally lighthearted fun, the game delve into some of the deeper and heartbreaking aspects of war, showing players that it's not all victory and glory that are seemingly touted by movies and shows. Have a chance to virtually visit historic places and moments in time during the Great War on the Western Front, including the Battle of the Marne or the Battle of the Somme.Complete with stunning comic-like graphics, Valiant Hearts is a game with an absolutely beautiful and compelling story that will bring even the most hardened gamer to the point of tears. Honestly, the brilliant narrative alone is the perfect reason for you to grab this game.