Valiant Hearts The Great War 2
Kym Cavrak
Students might also endeavor to find all the collectibles, which would "unlock" all the information "hidden" in the game. Students might be tasked with annotating as much useful and interesting information from the game as possible, which would most likely require them to read every text document and every description of an object or item.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a 2-D puzzler with some action centering on a handful of characters, each caught up in World War I. Either conscripted, out for vengeance, or out to help those in need of aid, each character is well developed and matters to the story -- including the player's ever-valiant companion, Walt the dog. Players solve environmental puzzles and progress through the story, which features historical markers that help place characters realistically in specific battles or other contexts.
Presented in a cartoony, comic book-style sheen, the overall art design is beautiful and crisp. But Valiant Hearts does not shy away from the brutalities of war: loss, devastation, death, injustice, and suffering. Once through to the end, players may shed a tear or two, and perhaps may even draw some connections to modern life and conflicts.
The story gets going right away and will compel students to push on, puzzle after puzzle, to see the characters to the end. Standard puzzle action is spiced up with basic racing, dodging, and rhythm mini-games.
Historical facts and information are available, but not necessarily baked into play. Much of the story was composed from real letters, some of which are shown in-game. Photographs, also real, work as wonderful accompanying visual aids.
The puzzles are never too tough, and the action scenes are very forgiving. There's also a very handy Hint button. Since it's not aimed at students, however, there's not much in the way of extensions or assessment.
I think this website is a great teaching tool and provides a nice change of pace by allowing students to learn through playing games and solving puzzles. The website has a comic book or cartoony like appearance which can appeal to many students.
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