Valley Reviews
Valley’s run and jump gameplay is a huge amount of fun when you’re going fast, but the moment it slows you down the gameplay becomes annoying and bland.
The visual stimulation is stunning, especially in the earlier portions of the game. Coupled with the enhanced movement abilities the L.E.A.F. suit affords, Valley is not altogether unenjoyable. The game had the potential to be quite impactful, making its failure to do so all the more disappointing. There are many good elements, but they’re too shallow and loosely tied together. The game fails to relate to anything the player could care about, leaving it immemorable beyond some impressive visuals and high-intensity maneuvering – hardly justifying its $20 sticker price.
The trouble with Valley is that it has to employ various design decisions in order for both the story and game to function. It wants to have adventurous aspects, but it also wants threats that players must combat. Being able to run fast and jump incredibly far is an awesome and satisfying experience, but it never grows to be anything more than that. The boss encounter towards the end is remarkable, yet also completely out of place. It's emblematic of a game that lacks a cohesive vision. A video game that involves superhuman exoskeleton suits, the ability to manipulate life, and takes place in and around a forgotten WW2 weapons research facility isn't something that can be neatly wrapped up in a five-hour long adventure. The music and graphics are quite excellent, though.
It is unfortunate that the game is a rehash of almost every popular indie game from 2012 onwards, because it starts off fairly well
In moments of immense speed, Valley’s basic first-person platforming creates some excitement. But those are just moments, and they’re spaced too far apart with empty environments and forgettable combat between them. There are some interesting ideas scattered throughout the world but they’re very hard to care about, since there’s nobody around to be influenced by your actions. A seemingly pointless resource management system presents some interesting aesthetics, but overall, Valley very rarely presents the challenge or consequence it really needs to be addictive.
Despite the lackluster narrative, the stretches of running fast and swinging around are wonderful, which are unfortunately buried by choppy visuals and frame-rate drops.
Valley’s answer to one of its main mysteries doesn’t quite satiate the curiosity it taunts, though it wisely leaves others unsolved. The questions it does pose it can’t answer, because no one can. That’s the siren Valley will use to carry you by the song of its story – though it is somewhat betrayed by its lack of mechanical prowess. I'm not normally one to be bothered by technical issues – I'm more concerned with messages and ideas, hence I can forgive a few breakdowns on the way so long as we get somewhere. Whether it’s a trip worth taking will depend on your tolerance for bumpy rides and the many spell-breaking hiccups curtailing the credulity of your experience.
For those who can’t get enough of weird first-person treats, this will be a smorgasbord. For everyone else, it’s the perfect game to throw on for an evening’s worth of entertainment. Just don’t expect to retain much of it past your brief fling.
Valley is a game of strong fundamentals that is mired by the execution of its grander ideas. Though it never comes together into a cohesive whole, it sometimes rises above the sum of its parts. I enjoyed playing it despite its issues, and I believe that Blue Isle Studios has a wonderful game in their future.
Valley is an enjoyable experience that tells a comfortable narrative through brilliant music, exemplary writing, and a creative setting.
Valley is a walking simulator of between three or four hours long with many adventurous overtones. An interesting argument, and powerful mechanics, are its premise, which unfortunately we will soon see diluted due to some design decisions, some forgettable passages of combat, and no difficulties of the puzzles that are presented to us. Anyway, the mechanics granted by the L.E.A.F. suit are interesting enough to test if the game is within range. Fortunately, the game performs very well in audiovisual terms, making our stay in Valley more bearable.
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Valley is never going to be on anyone’s “Game of the Year” list, but it does have loads of potential. With a little more time in the oven and perhaps a bigger budget this could have been something special. Instead we are faced with a linear game that feels the need to offer value without committing to delivery.
Valley is also a bit misleading in its design. Although you’re in the great outdoors for much of the game, the path is surprisingly linear. Every little side path leads to a discovery, whether it’s a note or upgradeable materials. The game keeps you in line by running you up against rock walls, cliffs or water. There’s really no reason to explore once you’ve figured this out.
Considering Blue Isle Studios previous game was Slender: The Arrival, this isn't what I was expecting from this game
Valley plays host to movement mechanics that feel awesome to use and a story that eventually becomes worthwhile.
Valley's heart is most definitely in the right place, and for the most part it succeeds in the execution of its gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, the game's technical faults can't be ignored. The sloppy framerate in particular damages the experience far too much, and has held back what would otherwise be a great game.
The first few minutes of Valley show a lot of potential, but it quickly falls short, and gives way to repetition, a bad narrative, and some downright disappointing game design. Lasting only 3-4 hours, $20 is a steep price for an experience that leaves you bored and frustrated as often as it proves to be an enjoyable experience.
Valley is an exciting experience in motion, but its momentum is cut short by the all too brief adventure.
As a total experience Valley was pretty satisfying and, overall, exceeded my expectations throughout its run time...
Valley is a mish mash of other games before it, but still retains a unique feeling all to itself and my time with it was pleasantly surprising with it.