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Valkyria Chronicles

Started 7 years ago by sporkhead, currently has 51 posts - latest post is by JPS

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- PS3
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- Sega
- Valkyria Chronicles
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sporkhead

Has anyone else experienced the pleasures of Valkyria Chronicles on PS3? Developed by Sega's Overworks division (who did the wonderful Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast/GameCube), it is a really new fresh experience that I have been enjoying over the past few months. Of course, it looks striking due to the canvus engine, with beautiful character designs and environments, but it also has a brilliant story as well as some wonderful battles (the whole battle system is explained on the website).

The way it's structured is lovely too, each story "chapter" opens up in a book where you select story sequences or "episodes", which act out like an anime in ways (not to mention the Japanese dub is included too, both are good though) and I really liked that. Not to mention the characters are given development due to extra "reports" given by a journalist.

Here's the English-language site: http://www.sega.com/valkyria/us/

Of course, if you want better downloads, such as a theme for your PS3 and also higher resolution wallpapers, check out the Japanese site.

It's such a shame this hasn't sold well (the English version especially), probably down to the Christmas games rush (even I had to miss out on some excellent games this Christmas), although I paid full price for a copy it was worth it, easily one of my favourite games of 2008.

So, what are your thoughts on this overlooked game?

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
muteKi

I want this game so much, but without a PS3 in the first place it's a bit of a pointless effort. Those things are expensive.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

Hopefully the anime airing in April will be decent enough to carry over the game's excellent storyline and character development so you can experience them until you get your hands on the game (or if it ever is ported (of course I can imagine it selling even less on the 360), it is about to be rereleased in Japan at least)...

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
Artefact

I happen to have written a full review of it:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2008/05/03/valkyria-chronicles-%E2%80%93-review/

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

That is a lovely review, Artefact, it's such a shame it sold so badly in the west, (and in Japan, heck, Nintendo's new lazy Animal Crossing game trumped it's sales the day it was released and it doesn't quite deserve them as Valkyria Chronicles).

Your review was really useful, you mention saving and reloading at any time, does this mean the save function in missions, as if so I never knew about it, instead I've been subject to failing missions at their tricky point and having to retry (and end up getting average ranks as a result of doing it all in one go), for example the Liberation of Fouzen mission (chapter 10 train bomb) took about 5 hours of retried until I finally did it, so that's a great find.

Another question is how much faster are the loading times if you install the game to the HDD, as I have yet to do that?

It must have been to enjoy the game back in early 2008, during it's Japanese release.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

Excuse the double post, for I cannot seem to edit my last. Just to say yes the save function during missions us simply brilliant for careful planning for the later missions I am on, and I no longer need to leave 2 hours got playing a mission. Huzzah! Many thanks!

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
Artefact

The edit times out after an hour.

Exactly the same thing happened to me - got half way through being totally hammered on some missions for hours (the one with Selvaria coming in really got me) - then discovered the save/reload...

I never tried it from disc alone so I can't comment on that. It should make a good deal of difference.

I haven't had a chance to get to the DLC either, though it looks good enough.

Really looking forward to the next generation of anime styled games - PS3 Vesperia, and perhaps the Naruto games spring to mind, but I'm sure there'll be more.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

That mission was a killer I remember, I did feel like a king after doing it without saving, as was chapter 10's second mission but now things won't be do brutal...

I can't get the DLC yet as it hasn't been released on the English language edition...

Tales of Vesperia look alright, if a bit dated or "last gen", which seems to be the case with many Japanese next gen games (a few well known developers admitting western development is streets ahead of what they do). It's still good on the Wii however, especially with brilliant titles such as 2007's Super Mario Galaxy.

*twiddles thumbs waiting for Valkyria Chronicles DLC and That Resi 5 Demo*.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
rargy

Really enjoyed it. I also got stuck on the first Selvaria mission until i learned of the save/reload option, the power of snipers, and saving CP for later turns. The rest of the game wasn't all that difficult, although there were moments where i thought i was totally screwed yet managed to win somehow..

What i really liked was how everyone in the squad had their own story instead of being generic soldiers. The inclusion of Vyse and Aika from Skies of Arcadia was a nice surprise (though it didn't hit me until i read their character pages).

The cel-shading was very nicely done save for some jaggies.
The JP voice cast was great but the english subtitles still seemed like they were localized instead of a direct translation.
Wish it had trophy support. Might have helped sales as they are a deal breaker for some people (sadly).
Hope the english DLC doesn't get canceled because of the poor sales.

As for Vesperia, it's not too bad. Took me a lot longer to get into then Abyss did (probably because Tear showed up early in Abyss and Judith took a few hours in Vesperia). The combat feels a little slow and the english voice cast still makes me cringe at times. Why isn't there any DLC JP voices?

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

I definitely agree the storyline was told in a very good way, especially in terms of the "reports" and "Book mode", which helped give a great degree of character development and hence attachment for the characters.

I quite liked the way it's a localisation, it works brilliantly for all the others games I played (Dragon Quest VIII was even better in the west) and it simply puts everything across in the best way possible in English.

I have found myself switching between English voices and Japanese text, English for some of the battles and Japanese for the cutscenes. The English dub is quite good, especially when compared with the dubs which are churned out in the Tales games, but not as good as the dub Dragon Quest VIII got (the British voices on that helped create a decent atmosphere, as did the orchestral soundtrack). The dub here works due to the game's WWII-esque setting.

I definitely hope the DLC makes it here, I do remember something about it coming to Europe and USA at around the same time in early 2009.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

Again, excuse the double post, editing timed out, but I might as well post the anime website link: http://www.valkyria-anime.com/index.html .

Looks like it's going to be animated by A-1 pictures, who handled the wonderful Kannagi.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
Artefact

In addition to the anime, there's also a yaoi manga...

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
flip

muteKi said:
I want this game so much, but without a PS3 in the first place it's a bit of a pointless effort. Those things are expensive.

i know, i'm waiting for that freaking price cut to happen and then buy a cheaper used one than that haha. yeah i'm pretty cheap but i can go without playing games early to save money.

With the Wii kicking that ass hopefully the 360 and the PS3 prices will drop

Oh and Valkyria Chronicles looks so sick. I love like turn based strategy games ever since Vandal Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
muteKi

I was more of a Shining Force kind of guy myself, but yeah, there need to be more strategy RPGs.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

I didn't really compare it to any of the strategy games I have played (turn based ones) simply due to the nature of how the game is presented and also the battle system itself.

I wasn't the best at games like Advance Wars either (I never finished Advance Wars 2 on GBA for example, got close to finishing it however) but I'm found this a joy to play.

I'm currently on chapter 14, the help with saving during missions has really made it much more interesting in terms of experimentation in the battlefield.

Just a shame the opening song was taken out in the English language versions.

I'm also pretty sure the PAL version (which came out before the US one) has a different text font (I prefer it to be honest) than the NTSC version for some reason. Gametrailers' review must be of the PAL version.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
Svinto

Nice to see other Valkyria Chronicles fans on the net.

I'm really surprised that the game didn't sell well. Since I love Tactical RPG:s (Disgaea) I was really overjoyed how they've managed to take the tactical fighting one step further.

But all great games always have some small issue. Does anyone else have the problem that you can't run past a friendly soldier in a narrow passage? And the tank can be a pain to steer sometimes.

My preferred class is sniper. I love the ability to take anyone out with a single head-shot.

Does anyone know the status for the DLC:s. I read about them at http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2008/06/26/valkyria-chronicles-gets-downloadable-episode-new-mode/.
Are the DLC:s released in Japan? Will they come to EU and US, and when?

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
I'm one chapter 7 right now, great fun. Now that I know about the save in battle that'll save minuets of time for me. Found out about the game from reading megatokyo under one of dom's rants. great fun, great fun

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
Kusingia

I'm one chapter 7 right now, great fun. Now that I know about the save in battle that'll save minuets of time for me. Found out about the game from reading megatokyo under one of dom's rants. great fun, great fun.

Posted 7 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

The anime has aired in Japan, anyone going to be watching this then?

Posted 6 years ago # Quote
sporkhead

Excuse the double post, watched some of it and it looks quite decent. The characters themselves much benefit from being in motion.

Some of the music is taken straight from the game which is good considering the game's soundtrack is brilliant. However it did feel a bit weird at first.

Posted 6 years ago # Quote

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