Valkyria Chronicles Review

Set in a fictionalized Europe in 1935, Valkyria Chronicles follows the exploits of the Gallian militia, a small band of civilians fighting against the invading East Europan Imperial Alliance. Welkin Gunther, a student of Animal Sociology takes command of Squad 7, leading them through a variety of explosive battles in pursuit of peace in Gallia. With a mix of turn-based but also real-time strategy, Valkyria Chronicles is a challenging and addicting game that will keep your mind racing as you plan your path to victory. For an original, engaging, and entertaining strategy RPG, look no further.

Admittedly, the story is full of clichés. The unlikely hero rising to strength and recognition, the ancient power unearthed, and the lessons about friendship, trust, and the acceptance of others have all een done before, thousands of times. Some of the early cutscenes play out like an after-school special, complete with cheesy lines and touching messages. That said, the characters are still likable; sure they aren't particularly dynamic or unique, but they're still fun characters to watch as the war unfolds and as struggles and calamities fall upon them. Amidst the corny lines and typical story line are some touching and emotional scenes, made all the more powerful because you become attached to Squad 7 as the game progresses. The game does seem to have an unhealthy obsession with cutscenes--both fully rendered and talking head cutscenes--some of which are rather inconsequential to the plot, but if you grow too weary of them, you can skip over them easily.



This is not a strategy game for the light-hearted. There are a ton of details to take into account with each and every maneuver--it gets pretty meticulous, but it rarely grows tedious. As opposed to using raw force, Valkyria Chronicles is really about positioning your units effectively to flank or distract opponents, giving you an easy opening to take them down quickly. If you try to rush in with only one or two characters, you're guaranteed to lose. Taking the time to plan your course is the only true path to victory, and it leads to some very tense and satisfying battles. Positioning is especially important because you have the option of moving a single character multiple times. Using Command Points, you can move units and direct them to attack; if you need someone to move in quickly then retreat, you can use multiple points during a single phase to get him where you need him, then flee. It's an incredibly useful system that offers a different outlook on the battle, though a unit's movement range decreases with every command, so be wary of low-movement units. Furthermore, your amount of CP is limited--managing these points may be your most crucial battle strategy.

On the flipside of foresight, though, are the unpredictable elements in Valkyria Chronicles. Battles have a way of shifting at a moment's notice, so adaption and quick thinking are key. Hidden enemies might pop out to surprise you, or the enemy might pour all their effort into taking down a single unit. When your luck shifts, the game is completely unforgiving, and can be very discouraging. If you forget to save often mid-battle, you could lose hours of hard work in one fell swoop--a painful sight to behold. Some missions are vicious in their difficulty, and can lead to plenty of frustration and gamer rage. However, when you do well and earn a high grade (thereby earning bonus experience points and money as well) it's incredibly satisfying and very rewarding, so it works both ways. One of the most important features in the game, though, is that almost every mission introduces new elements, whether it's landmines, night missions, or long distance mortar attacks. Each mission feels unique, so the gameplay never gets repetitive. For an SRPG, this is an incredibly valuable trait--every mission will have you on your toes, surveying the field and taking in new concepts to work around.



There's plenty to do outside of battle as well. At headquarters, you're able to outfit your units and spend all your hard-earned experience points and money to upgrade the squadron. Rather than leveling up each unit individually, characters level-up according to their class--i.e. you can level up all Scouts at the same time, all Snipers, etc. It's a very handy system in that it allows you to experiment with characters freely; you don't have to worry about leaving behind low level units since everyone is on the same plane. You can, however, individually change the weapons each character uses, allowing for a little variety--you may want one person with a stronger attack but weaker range, for example. These options put even more details into this jam-packed strategy game, giving you a chance to work out the perfect strategy. Money can be spent on upgrading weapons and tanks, giving you a much needed boost in fire-power and defense. Since you earn more experience points and money based upon your performance in battle, the game really pushes you to fight as efficiently as possible, else you fall behind.

Much of the game is menu driven, so the controls are rarely a problem. The only times when they're really a factor are when you are controlling a unit on the field directly, running and shooting. The camera is pulled in close for an over the shoulder perspective, which is good for seeing around the character but can be a little awkward when moving erratically, especially if you accidentally run into an opponent. Additionally, aiming your weapon can be a little difficult; lining up a shot just right, such as for an extra powerful headshot, takes some patience and a sure hand. But, thankfully, the game pauses while you are aiming, so you are free to take your time. Essentially, these quibbles are superfluous--overall, the controls are quite simple and intuitive.



The graphics have a beautiful, pencil-sketch-style quality that looks great in motion and makes the fully animated cutscenes shine. Most notably, little effects like wind or explosions look great in this sketchy style, giving the impression of a drawing jumping to life right off the page. Furthermore, the game has a crisp, clean 3D anime look that provides a colorful and lively appearance and gives the characters a good range of emotions, and gives energy even to dusty battlefields. Some of the voice work is rather severely exaggerated, but overall it's good, and adds plenty of personality to the many cutscenes throughout the game. And though the soundtrack is good, it is not terribly distinctive or memorable.

All told, Valkyria Chronicles can easily last over thirty hours. Granted, a chunk of that time is devoted to cutscenes and story sequences, while some of it is spent at the base, training units and researching new weapons and armor, but this is still a substantial game, with plenty of bang for your buck. You can also pad the length of the game with skirmishes fights to earn more experience points and money (a convenient way to grind either if you desperately need it), and you can occasionally unlock bonus cutscenes that provide a little more on the personalities and motivations of the characters. Furthermore, you can start a New Game + when you finish, retaining all your levels, money, and skills, but with a few new accoutrements to keep you interested. Even without these perks, Valkyria Chronicles is the kind of game you want to play again and again; the strategic gameplay is always compelling and perfecting your techniques is wonderfully addicting.

When you get into the depth of Valkyria Chronicles, you'll find a treasure trove of amazing value and nuances to keep you engaged. The story is clichéd but fun, and the gameplay provides a wealth of possibilities and options, both in and out of battles. With some incredibly tense yet also brain teasing action, Valkyria Chronicles is the strategy RPG that every PS3 fan should own.

9/10