Friday 11 August 2017

Friday's Child is Loving and Giving: Valiant Hearts

Image result for Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Today, for all the "Friday's Children" out there, I will be looking at one specific game, namely, Valiant Hearts: The Great War, and how it depicts love and self-sacrifice in various forms.

As the name implies, Valiant Hearts: The Great War is set during World War I, and at various points the player is put in the shoes of four characters; the Frenchman Emile, his German son-in-law Karl, American soldier Freddie, and Belgian nurse Anna.

Emile undergoes various hardships, such as seeing his entire military unit being wiped out. However, there is a silver lining, as he meets Freddie through the course of his struggles, and together they forge a strong, almost brotherly bond, in which each is willing to sacrifice their well-being and even their life for the other's sake.

Karl is separated from his wife and son early on in the game, and goes to extreme lengths, risking life and limb, to reunite with them. He also stays in touch with his wife via letters, demonstrating just how strong their love for each other is.

Freddie's love for his wife, who was killed in a German bombing raid, compels him to voluntarily join the French army in order to exact revenge on the leader of the bombing raid. However, once he finally gets his chance for his revenge, he realises that it will not bring his wife back or achieve anything else, and he spares the bombing raid leader's life.

Anna is a battlefield nurse, who goes to great lengths to help the wounded and sick, even those from the enemy's army. She also has a bone to pick with the bombing raid's leader, who captured her father, and she risks her life to rescue him.

All four characters, in their own way, are "Friday's Children" - people with great love and compassion for others; people who put themselves in harm's way even when there is no guarantee that they will be able to protect or save anyone. This game is a brilliant, touching tribute to all who served in World War I with love and kindness. I highly recommend that you buy it.

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