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Chapter 105: Tears
After Karl and his family of three were reunited, the screen went black for a short time.
[Marie, who had not heard from Emile, finally received a letter from her father a few weeks later.]
The sad background music slowly played, and the camera moved to the cell where Emile was imprisoned. The cell door opened, and an officer came in to tell Emile that the time had come.
There, Emile was dressed in rags, with a pair of shackles on his feet. Without any instructions, he could only move forward. At that moment, Lily, who was sitting in front of the computer, had a terrible conjecture in her mind.
On the way forward, all the soldiers showed no disdain for Emile. They saluted as Emile passed, took off their hats, or turned their heads so as not to look at him. Even when Emile stopped in the game, the soldiers and officers who escorted him did not get impatient, but stopped and waited for him. There was no pressure or violent pushing, they just stood there in silence waiting for Emile.
Accompanied by the melancholic piano music, Emile's voice slowly narrates, interrupted by his footsteps.
"Dear Marie, the war is over for me. I have no regrets. I have witnessed so much."
"I hope fate is kind to you."
"Although our lives are so short, mine has been full of happiness and I am grateful to you."
"I have been blessed with so many things, especially grateful that you came into my life."
"This letter is the last one."
"I was convicted by a military court for killing an officer."
"Although I didn't really want to kill him."
"War makes people crazy."
"Although I disappointed Karl, I know my sacrifice was not in vain."
As Emile advanced, the soldiers, one by one, took off their hats and saluted. Freddy was among them. Upon seeing Emile approach the execution ground, he took off his hat with a sad expression on his face.
Memories of the past resurfaced: the dog, Anna, Karl, his daughter, and his grandson.
"I fought for my country and my freedom, I defended my dignity."
"Since fate has separated us here, in life and death."
"Then I pray that we will meet again in heaven someday."
"Please, keep praying for me."
"I will love you forever, Dad."
Standing before the cross of judgment, Emile's face was serene, without fear. The screen gradually darkened.
"Bang!" A gunshot was heard, followed by the sound of a body falling to the ground.
A sad melody played and the scene shifted to a cemetery. Under the setting sun, an endless expanse of wooden crosses stretched as far as the eye could see, and in the distance, the French flag fluttered in the wind.
"Although their bodies turned to dust long ago, they live forever in the hearts of the people." "We must cherish these memories, never forget them."
Finally, before Emile's tomb, the dog, Karl, Marie, and his son stood in silence.
Thus, the game officially came to an end.
Meanwhile, Lily, sitting in front of the computer, was completely in tears. Seeing the final scene on the screen, her eyes became red and she wiped them with a napkin.
"Emile... Emile didn't even know until his death that Karl was not dead. He still felt that he had disappointed him." Lily's voice broke with emotion.
It's not that she hasn't played tragic games before. Even last year, To the Moon presented countless players with a story of regretful but beautiful love. But the essence of To the Moon is different from that of Valiant Hearts: The Great War. To describe it in one word, it's heavy.
There is no plot that arouses emotions; it's simply a warm-water-boiling-frog approach, which gradually builds the story to undo the player's most sensitive parts. The story is so cruel that it even leaves the player with a feeling of heaviness.
In Emile's last words, there are no complaints about his fate. Instead, there is love for his family and no regrets about life. Unlike some major war games, Valiant Hearts: The Great War does not feature flashy content.
It does not use realistic graphics to depict the cruelty of war. It simply allows players to connect with families torn apart by war and with those who have suffered the torment of war.
These moments are even more impactful than the images themselves. Emile is just one example among countless. It could even be said that Emile, Karl, and the others in the game are lucky to be lucky. But it is precisely this that makes the cruelty of war even more palpable, the weight of its weight.
It was not only Lily; all players who completed Valiant Hearts: The Great War were moved to tears. The game is full of heartbreaking moments. At one point, Emile befriends a German officer, and the next, that officer dies in a bombardment. A rescue dog, the Dog, meets its former owner, and that same owner dies in a bombardment. Karl and his family are reunited, and Emile is about to be executed.
There are countless examples of touching moments that can be stabbed in the heart upon finishing them.
It's not just about the story, but about the overall presentation. Valiant Hearts: The Great War is not an especially long game, with a duration of just about three hours.
Initially, Valiant Hearts: The Great War did not have very good sales. Being a small-scale game, and also participating in the expedition, many players were still hesitant.
However, the overall rating soared, reaching a maximum of 9.8. Thanks to this exceptionally high rating, Valiant Hearts: The Great War quickly spread among the gaming community, with more and more comments and debates.
"Alex always knows how to deceive us! This game has shown us once again what a love warrior is. He said it was a touching game, but after playing it, I was completely stunned!"
"Although I really wanted to beat up Alex, I have to admit that in the end I was moved to tears. The ending is really touching!"
"At first, I was skeptical about how such a small-scale game could reflect an anti-war sentiment, but I have to say that Alex nailed it!"
"There is no such thing as a good war, or a bad peace!"
"There is indeed a Valiant Heart in the game, but unlike the alternative translation of the English subtitle, 'The Great War,' this war, arising from politics and profit, cannot be linked at all to greatness!"
Of course, there are players who don't like this mode. After all, it is difficult to please everyone, and players' tastes vary greatly. Alex cannot create a complete game that satisfies all players. But, compared to the different groups of players, the specialized video game press has unanimously praised it.