Valkyria Chronicles

Valkyria Chronicles Review

It's rare to find a strategy game on a console that just works. This is one of those games that just work. The gameplay is simple and intuitive yet challenging enough to keep the intensity going. The missions in-game are open enough you can play using your style of play, but provides enough difficulty in achieving A-ranks to challenge more hardcore gamers.

The story is somewhat simple. There's an overall story of the big guy picking on the little guy with two stories of romance underneath as well as the story of the underdog rising through the ranks. There are one or two twists which are easily expected if you're one to analyze a story. The two main themes which circle about the cast of characters (good and bad) you meet are loyalty and betrayal.

The game is filled with lore/information on just about everything. Each and every minor character has a backstory which unfolds in the game's character logs. Each location has a history and local lore surrounding it. The average gamer may not be interested, but for those interested in the world they play in, this game immerses you into a series of detailed logs on multiple aspects of the game's world.

The gameplay itself can be divided into three parts. The overall turn based "bird's eye view" gives you a commander's view of the field, but when you control an individual unit you enter the real-time third person shooter mode where the enemy will shoot back if you take your time in performing actions. However, the enemy stops firing when you go into the aiming mode, where you select your weapon/tool and aim the character at your target.

The 5 classes of shocktrooper (anti-infantry), scout (multi-role with high movement), lancers (anti-armor with heavy armor), engineers (support-role), and sniper (long-range anti-infantry) each have unique strategies and skills which the player can utilize (or not by never using them) on the field. Even more variety on the field is given through the attributes (personal talents) and potentials (class talents) which activate under certain conditions but may help or hinder you. A wide variety of scenarios also keeps things interesting at every turn of the game.

OVERALL REVIEW
This is a must have for PS3 owners who want a solid strategy game and though there are shooter elements, this game cannot be labeled as a shooter. The graphics are top-notch for the style which mimics watercolor paintings. The story is engaging but simple where gameplay is complex but approachable by anyone. 4 out of 5.

Valkyria Chronicles Feature

• CANVAS Graphics Engine, created exclusively for the Playstation 3, brings a never-before-seen style to life. Breathe life into stunningly unique visuals similar to hand-drawn illustrations, and immerse yourself in real-time battles in environments resembling a watercolor painting in motion
• BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zone) System - Combining turn-based RPG gameplay with 3rd person action games, the BLiTZ battle system lets you battle with direct control in action sequences just as in action games, while also maneuvering through the vast world with strategic moves typical of tactical RPGs. The battle is turn-based between the Player Phase and the Enemy Phase
• Epic storyline - the struggle for freedom, as the fate of the world lies in the hands of Welkin and members of the 7th platoon
• Customization - Over 100 customizable characters let you create a variety of platoons to suit each battle's needs
• Beautifully rendered battlefields - explore 30 different environments, using each terrain to gain advantage in battle

Valkyria Chronicles Overview

Valkyria Chronicles is set in a fictitious continent reminiscent of 1930s, Europe divided in two and ruled by the Empire and the Federation. The Empire has set its sights on invading a small neutral country called Gallia, which is situated in the middle of the two great empires. The game follows a hero named Welkin and his fellow soldiers of the Federation¿s 7th Platoon that are fighting against the Empire, who is intent on unifying the continent under its power. The Federation discovers that the Empire possesses a secret weapon, known as the ¿Valkyria¿- an ancient race with special powers thought to exist only in legends. With this new discovery, the fate of the Federation¿s ability to win the war and a hope for a better future hangs in the balance.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 20, 2010 21:45:11

Review Feature Office 2010