C105: Tears

After the Carl family reunited, the screen briefly faded.

[Mary, who had never heard from Emil, finally received a letter from her father a few weeks later.]

As the sad BGM played softly, the scene transitioned to the cell where Emil was held. The door to the cell opened, and an officer entered, telling Emil, the time had come. Emil, now ragged with shackles on his feet, there is no prompts to guide him. He just kept moving forward. 

Liu, sitting in front of the computer, had a terrible suspicion. As Emil walked, all the soldiers showed respect, not contempt. They saluted as he passed, some removing their hats, others turning their heads away. Even when Liu stopped controlling Emil, the soldiers and officers escorting him did not rush him. They stood patiently, waiting quietly. No one pushed or urged him forward.

As the somber piano music played, Emil's narration began softly, synchronized with his slow steps.

[Dear Mary,] 

[The war is over for me, and I have no regrets.]

[I have witnessed too many tragedies.]

[I hope fate is kind to you.] 

[Though life is short, mine was full of happiness.]

[I can only be grateful.]

[I have received so many blessings, especially you, brought into my life by God.]

[This letter is my last.]

[I was convicted by a military court for killing an officer, though I didn't intend to. ]

[War drives men mad. Although I let Carl down, I know my sacrifice was not in vain.]

As Emil advanced, soldiers saluted him. Among them was Freddy. Seeing Emil, who was heading to the execution ground, Freddy removed his hat, his expression filled with sorrow. Memories of the past flickered back—the dog, Anna, Carl.

[I fought for my country and for my freedom.] 

[I defended our dignity.]

[Fate has led us to live and die here.]

[I pray we meet again in heaven.]

[Please continue to pray.]

Standing before the judgment cross, Emil's face remained calm, unafraid. The screen gradually darkened.

[Boom! A gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of a body collapsing to the ground.] 

Moments later, a mournful melody played, revealing a cemetery. Under the setting sun, rows of wooden crosses stretched out endlessly, while the French flag fluttered in the distant breeze.

[Although their bodies have long returned to the earth, they will always live on in people's hearts.] 

[We must cherish these memories and never forget.]

In the final scene, at Emil's grave, the dog, Karl, Mary, and their son stood quietly. 

At this moment, the game officially ended.

Liu, sitting in front of the computer, was in tears. Staring at the closing scene, her eyes were red, and she grabbed a tissue from the side, gently wiping her face.

"Emil... Emil didn't know until the end."

"In fact, Carl didn't die. He still felt that he had failed him," Liu was choked with tears. It's not that she hasn't played tragic games before. 

Just last year, To the Moon, told a poignant yet beautiful love story that left countless players heartbroken. But the core of To the Moon is different from the game Brave heart: World War. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be heaviness.

There's no overt attempt to incite the player's emotions. It's more like a slow simmer, where the game gradually pulls at the softest parts of your heart with subtle foreshadowing. 

The brutality it reveals is so intense that it leaves you feeling burdened. In Emil's final words, there is no bitterness about his fate—only love for his family and no regrets about his life.

Unlike large-scale war games, Brave heart: World War doesn't rely on flashy graphics. There are no hyper realistic scenes to depict the horrors of war. Instead, the game brings you closer to families torn apart and people broken by the war. These emotional moments hit harder than any visual spectacle could.

Emil represents one of the countless individuals affected by war. In fact, both Emil and Carl are considered lucky compared to many. Yet, even their stories make the cruelty of war all the more tangible. It weighs heavily on your heart.

Not me—every player who has finished Brave heart: World War was left in tears. The game is filled with heart-wrenching moments. Emil becomes friends with a German officer, only for that officer to be killed soon after. Then there's the rescue dog, who finally reunites with his original owner, only to see the owner bombed to death. The Carl family, after a brief reunion, is torn apart again as Emil faces execution.

There are countless moments like these in the game— when your heart starts to feel warm, a sudden twist plunges a knife deep into it. It's not the plot but the overall experience of the game. 

Brave heart: World War isn't a large-scale game. The whole play through takes about three hours. At first, it didn't sell particularly well—it's a small game, after all, and it was released as part of an expedition event. Many players were still hesitant to give it a try. 

But its score skyrocketed, reaching a remarkable 9.5. Thanks to that, it spread quickly among the player community, with more and more people sharing their thoughts on the game.

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"Chen Xu always knows how to get us! This game taught me what it means to be a warrior of love. It was supposed to be heartwarming, but I was left completely stunned at the end!"

"Although I wanted to strangle Chen Xu, I have to admit that I was in tears by the end. The conclusion was truly moving!"

"I was skeptical at first. How could such a small game convey an anti-war message? But Chen Xu pulled it off!"

"There has never been a good war, nor a bad peace!"

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There's indeed a brave heart in the game, but unlike the alternate English translation, The Great War," this war, born of politics and interests, can't possibly be called great.

Of course, not every player enjoyed this style. It's impossible for Chen Xu to create a game that pleases everyone. However, despite some players' differing opinions, the game received high praise from industry media.