Review: Marko: Beyond Brave.

Developer: Studio Mechka

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Publisher: Studio Mechka

Genres: Action game, Indie game, Adventure

When did moustaches become out of style? This thought occurred to me while I watched the opening sequence of Marko: Beyond Brave. The three-headed dragon was fascinating, but I was more interested in the moustache. Nowadays, it’s rare to see someone without a beard. A full moustache-beard combination is ideal. But is it just the moustache? It eventually became weird, or the property of hipsters. Some societal switch was flipped, and we would no longer accept another Tom Selleck.

Still, I’ve never seen somebody with such a magnificent moustache as Marko. That would tickle the ears of those sitting next to him. However, the game in which the moustache appears is less spectacular. It demonstrates how a seemingly robust foundation may be undermined by minor annoyances. Marko: Beyond Brave is a metroidvania that tentatively checks the correct boxes but makes mistakes in the fine details. Yes, he has a magnificent moustache, but it is infested with lice.

Moustachevania

Let’s put the moustache aside for a moment and discuss Entropy, the three-headed dragon. It begins by trampling over the terrain of Zagora, including the settlement where Marko, a woodcutter with the aforementioned unusual facial hair, dwells. He fights back with his axe, but the only outcome is the collapse of the bridge beneath him. Lost underneath the settlement, he discovers a mystic sword in a cavern and begins hacking his way back to the surface. The moustache, along with the rest of him, then went out to punish Entropy.

It’s a story steeped in Slavic mythology, and Marko: Beyond Brave does well in that aspect. The art style is excellent, for starters. Marko’s design has a Max Flesicher vibe, and the hand drawn graphics complements the fairytale idea nicely. I also enjoy the boss designs. A frequent boss fight features genie-like women emerging from urns and dancing in the background. It was almost mesmerizing, which was a problem because I needed to focus on the lightning storms they were causing. In short, Marko: Beyond Brave has an excellent overall design.

Gameplay-wise, it hits some promising notes. For starters, it’s a metroidvania, which I usually enjoy. It’s a genre built around three major pillars: exploration, platforming, and combat. Exploration puts on the best performance. It’s a rather large terrain, with plenty of corners to explore for improvements. However, it does not provide the greatest guidance. The map lacks fog of war, making it difficult to determine where you’ve been. In reality, I’ve only gotten to the terrible ending so far because I have no idea what I’m lacking to proceed, despite scouring the map. Some doors are still closed, and one of the shopkeepers is bugged and refuses to sell me anything. That is not good.

Falling Flat.

The other two pillars of Marko: Beyond Brave do not fare as well. Platforming is likely the worst of the bunch. As a metroidvania, we have a standard set of movement enhancements. The problem is, the regular jump does not feel right. Something to do with platform detection. Marko’s jumps sometimes cause him to soar up and onto a platform, while other times he smacks into it. It makes difficult platforming parts seem painfully random. When paired with a tricky teleportation mechanic, it gets frustrating. It’s a shame, because Marko is pretty enjoyable to control outside of that, especially when dashing.

Combat suffers slightly as well. To begin, I had a few issues with small hitboxes and a lack of i-frames when hit. However, the developer has been working actively on these, which I approve of. However, there are more serious difficulties. The basic melee assault carries little real weight. Combat feel is a tough mistress, but dealing and absorbing damage isn’t really enjoyable. Also, boss bouts lack enthusiasm. While their architecture is unique, their assault patterns are extremely predictable, making success more of an inevitability than a test of skill.

I’m having a number of issues with Marko: Beyond Brave, but the main issue appears to be that the game feels unfinished. There’s an air of ‘early access’ about it. It’s not simply about the finer things. There is a ‘Bestiary’ page on the menu, for example, that is absolutely empty. There are also other bizarre graphics problems, as well as one boss fight – with a rat wizard, whom I would ordinarily cheer from the rooftops – that I could replay indefinitely. All of these are evidence that the game was rushed to the stage before it was ready.

Marko: Beyond Brave – Metroidvania, uncooked

It’s a shame, considering Marko: Beyond Brave contains a decent metroidvania at its core. Slavic mythology is an underutilized resource in video games. With the amazing artwork, this could have been a tremendous winner. It even has a decent selection of locales, adversaries, and boss designs. Unfortunately, the cluster of frustrations that adhere to the gameplay help to weigh it down so severely. I went in really hoping to like it. After 10 hours of gaming, I couldn’t keep that emotion.

To end on a positive note, it is encouraging to see developers working on these issues. Many of them, such as the platforming, are manageable given time. I write reviews like this in the hopes that in a few months, I will be eating my words. After all, I can only review what is directly in front of me. As a result, I must conclude that Marko: Beyond Brave has a lot of promise, but it isn’t living up to it as of now. Allow it to cook for longer before checking on it.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 84%

Controls: 83%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 82%

Accessibility: 78%

Value: 83%

Overall: 83%

A BEAUTIFUL AND DARING ADVENTURE!

Summary:

“Marko: Beyond Brave” is a graphically gorgeous trip that combines classic platforming with a compelling story of bravery and discovery. The gameplay is fluid and gratifying, with imaginative level designs that challenge players without becoming repetitive. The controls are responsive, making platforming and battle entertaining, while some advanced moves need a little of experience. The aesthetic is one of the game’s best features, with hand-painted images and ambient music that bring Marko’s world to life. With its poignant tale and well-balanced mechanics, “Marko: Beyond Brave” is a riveting experience worth every step.