Marko: Beyond Brave

About

In "Marko: Beyond Brave," players step into the role of a young warrior named Marko, who must use elemental powers to battle ancient evils and mythical creatures in a vast interconnected world. With tough enemies and epic boss fights, success requires tight melee combat and strategic use of abilities. Along the way, players can explore, discover new items, and forge alliances to save the world from entropy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and animations, creating an immersive visual experience.
The soundtrack is captivating, incorporating Bulgarian folklore elements that enhance the overall atmosphere.
The gameplay offers engaging combat and exploration, with unique boss battles that challenge players' skills.

The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including janky controls, inconsistent hitboxes, and bugs that can halt progress.
Keybindings cannot be changed reliably, and there are significant UI issues that hinder the user experience.
The game feels unpolished and lacks sufficient content, with some players finding the difficulty spikes frustrating and unbalanced.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, immersive atmosphere, and beautiful art, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight. While boss fights and combat are challenging yet rewarding, some players find certain mechanics, such as parkour and teleportation, frustrating and inconsistent. Overall, the game offers solid challenges and enjoyable exploration, though some users express a desire for more polished and lengthy gameplay.
- “The gameplay is superb, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals and theme, creating a truly immersive and enjoyable experience.”
- “There are some really original mechanics, some well-thought-out boss battles, and a beautiful hand-drawn aesthetic.”
- “The game’s atmospheric art and fluid combat mechanics make every moment enjoyable.”
- “Its sad to see such great potential be overshadowed by a very unpolished and clunky gameplay.”
- “In terms of platforming, while I did come across issues with Marko’s jump being inconsistent in height regardless of how hard I pressed on the jump button, my main issue was with the teleportation mechanic.”
- “This mechanic became especially problematic during a specific platforming gauntlet that had you move across multiple orbs like that, which quickly became an exercise in frustration.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their outstanding visuals, unique art style, and vibrant colors reminiscent of Disney cartoons. Players appreciate the beautifully animated artwork that complements the engaging gameplay and rich Slavic-inspired lore, creating an immersive experience. While some mention minor issues like janky controls and visual feedback, the overall aesthetic and artistic design are considered exceptional and a highlight of the game.
- “The art style is amazing, the storytelling is top notch and the characters throughout the game are memorable.”
- “Positive: gorgeous visuals, engaging combat, rewarding exploration, and rich Slavic-inspired lore.”
- “Things like janky controls, poor visual feedback when getting hit, and overall difficulty because of these two aspects.”
- “The graphics are really like something out of a Disney cartoon, beautifully animated and wonderfully colorful - just as I remember them as a child.”
- “I played around one hour of the game, so these are my thoughts on the feel, aesthetic, and overall gameplay.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
33%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and immersive quality, particularly highlighting the incorporation of Bulgarian and Slavic folklore elements. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for enhancing the overall experience, with many expressing a desire for additional content featuring the music. The combination of thematic soundscapes and vibrant visuals creates a rich atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.
- “The gameplay is superb, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals and theme, creating a truly immersive and enjoyable experience.”
- “Incredible soundtrack, very thematic!”
- “Music and setting is rich with South Slavic folklore.”
- “The soundtrack, unique and involving folk musical instruments from Bulgaria!”
- “Haunting music that accompanies each biome quite fittingly.”
- “I'd like to see a DLC with the soundtracks at least or maybe even some more game content.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its remarkable storytelling and immersive lore, particularly its references to Slavic folk tales. However, others feel it lacks depth and character development, with straightforward narratives and unanswered questions that detract from the overall experience. While the art style and character design are noted as highlights, the absence of a more complex story and progression system leaves some players wanting more.
- “The storytelling is remarkable, making this game a must-play for anyone who appreciates a good story.”
- “High playability, great graphics, a little bit of character development, and a humorous embedding in a story full of references to various Slavic folk tales will keep you entertained for some hours.”
- “The art style is amazing, the storytelling is top notch, and the characters throughout the game are memorable.”
- “The game lacks a story.”
- “There is a story, but it is pretty straightforward.”
- “There are some things that left me wondering why they are in the game at all, such as the expensive items in one of the merchants, what is the iron ore for, what happened to the daughter of the smith, what are the glowing orbs that you collect but do nothing, and why is there no story development and character interaction in the first city.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is minimal, lacking an extensive skill tree, but players can still enjoy unique character designs and a humorous narrative inspired by Slavic folk tales. While the development is not deep, the overall experience remains engaging due to high playability and appealing graphics.
- “High playability (assuming a certain level of skill on the part of the player), great graphics, a little bit of character development, and a humorous embedding in a story full of references to various Slavic folk tales will keep you entertained for some hours.”
- “The character designs are unique and the background perfectly complements the theme of the game.”
- “However, there is no elaborate character development, so if you are looking for an extensive skill tree, you will search in vain.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional, lacking depth and meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of choices that impact character development; it feels like a missed opportunity.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted by its captivating art style and fluid combat mechanics, which enhance the overall enjoyment of exploration and battles, though some players feel the experience is diminished by its short gameplay.
- “The game’s atmospheric art and fluid combat mechanics make every moment enjoyable.”
- “I was attracted to the exploration, battle, and atmosphere, and was left unsatisfied with the short gameplay.”
- “I was attracted to the exploration, battle, and atmosphere but was left unsatisfied with the short gameplay.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the game's difficulty, particularly due to enemies inflicting excessive damage and having problematic hitboxes, which detracts from the emotional experience by shifting from challenge to annoyance. This imbalance can lead to a sense of helplessness, undermining the intended emotional engagement with the game.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is well-integrated into a story rich with references to Slavic folk tales, providing an entertaining experience that complements its high playability and appealing graphics.
- “The game is filled with clever humor that keeps you laughing while you play.”
- “The witty dialogue and funny character interactions add a delightful layer to the gameplay.”
- “The humor is perfectly woven into the storyline, making every moment enjoyable and engaging.”