Marko: Beyond Brave

About

Marko: Beyond Brave is a single player hack and slash game. It was developed by Studio Mechka and was released on September 17, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Marko: Beyond Brave is an action-adventure game where you play as Marko, a young warrior wielding secret elemental powers to battle ancient evils and mythical creatures. Explore a vast interconnected world full of challenges, hidden paths, and legendary heroes while engaging in fast-paced combat and epic boss fights. Every choice you make shapes the fate of the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

stability3 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 mechanics and challenging boss battles that keep players invested.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including inconsistent hitboxes, glitches, and save file problems that hinder the overall experience.
Combat mechanics can feel janky, with issues such as unresponsive controls and poorly telegraphed enemy attacks leading to frustration.
The game lacks sufficient content and polish, with some players feeling it is not worth the current price due to its unfinished state.

gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics, immersive atmosphere, and challenging boss fights, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight. While the combat and exploration are enjoyable, some players find certain mechanics, such as parkour and teleportation, frustrating and the overall experience somewhat unpolished. Additionally, the map design could benefit from clearer guidance to enhance player navigation and learning.
- “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 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.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and immersive quality, particularly highlighting its incorporation of Bulgarian and Slavic folklore elements. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for enhancing the overall experience, complementing the visuals and gameplay, and creating a rich atmosphere that resonates with players. Many expressed a desire for additional content featuring the soundtrack, underscoring its significance to the game's appeal.
- “The gameplay is superb, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals and theme, creating a truly immersive and enjoyable experience.”
- “Incredible soundtrack, very thematic!”
- “The art-style is unique, the music is really captivating.”
- “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.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
22%
14%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their outstanding visuals, unique art style reminiscent of Disney cartoons, and beautiful hand-drawn aesthetics inspired by Slavic folklore. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and engaging animations, which enhance the immersive experience alongside the captivating soundtrack. While some mention minor issues like janky controls and visual feedback, the overall artistic presentation is considered a highlight, contributing to the game's charm and playability.
- “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.”
- “The art style and exploration elements really stood out, making for an enjoyable metroidvania experience.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its remarkable storytelling and immersive lore rooted in Slavic folk tales, while others criticize its straightforwardness and lack of depth in character development and plot progression. Although the art style and character design are noted as highlights, many feel that the narrative lacks clarity and leaves unanswered questions, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate a good story but may disappoint players seeking a more complex narrative.
- “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.”
- “I don't know where I am supposed to go or what the quest idea is.”
- “The game lacks a story.”
- “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 the iron ore is for, what happened to the daughter of the smith, what the glowing orbs that you collect do, and why there is no story development or character interaction in the first city.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report occasional camera glitches, indicating that stability issues may affect the overall gameplay experience.
- “The camera glitches on occasion too.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
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 mechanics, particularly how enemy damage can lead to instant deaths, which detracts from the emotional experience. Instead of feeling challenged, many find themselves overwhelmed and discouraged, impacting their overall enjoyment and connection to the game.