Marko: Beyond Brave

When the developers of Marko: Beyond Brave set out to create a new 2D Platformer, they probably had no idea how popular it would be. Their modest Kickstarter quickly took off, with over 600 backers working quickly to exceed their first goal and even reach a stretch goal. Marko: Beyond Brave tells the inspiring story of a brave man, Marko, as he sets off to try and fight Entropy, an evil-being released from its prison. At the same time, Marko discovers hidden powers that he will use to help stop Entropy.

The hero of the game is likely modeled after Marko Kraljević. A hero of hundreds of different Slavic poems and folktales. As players continue through this incredible tale, many heroes and villains from Slavic fairytales make their presence known in the fantastic world of Zagora.

A Beautifully Rendered World

It is evident from the game’s opening that Marko: Beyond Brave is a labor of love. The graphics are all hand drawn, traditional 2D art inspired by Slavic and Balkan artwork. Every detail, from the sprites to the backgrounds, is all completely hand drawn. The game looks very similar to Hollow Knight, but with a Slavic theme rather than a fantasy one.

The world itself is huge, with hundreds of rooms in the non-linear map to explore. The developers have also taken time to develop each new area so that it has a unique atmosphere compared to the rest of the game. The sound is also well done, with sound effects that add a realistic touch to the world as you explore it.

Plenty of Upgrades

Defeating the next boss can be challenging without a little help. The game features over 20 different abilities players can unlock to help them defeat bosses. Weapons can also be upgraded to offer unique skills, making the game a customizable experience.

Unique Bosses

It’s not just the atmosphere of each game that is unique. The bosses met along the way to defeating Entropy are all based on Slavic or Balkan mythology. They all look and behave differently from each other, providing a challenge to players.

Clever Gameplay

Marko: Beyond Brave isn’t the most challenging 2D Platformer you’ll ever play, but it does have a full world of clever traps, hidden areas, and puzzles to explore. This game isn’t about precision platforming or impossible brain teasers, but has a good mix of everything to keep players busy without getting bored. The developers cite over 15 hours of gameplay to fully unlock everything in the game, making it a rather impressive platformer.

Pros:

• Stunning artwork
• A huge, non-linear map to explore

Cons:

• The sprites are a little small, making it hard to see the detail