Valkyria Chronicles

Neither turn based strategy games nor Sega are known for originality in the games industry these days. All of the turn-based strategy games out right now, especially those coming out of Japan, are essentially identical grid based affairs. Sega just can’t seem to accept the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog is irreversibly dead. Indeed, it seems as if a turn-based strategy game by Sega would be as bland and monotonous as all get out and as Sega’s new title, Valkyria Chronicles, demonstrates, turn based strategy and Sega are two incredibly bland tastes that… taste surprisingly great together.

I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised, though. The game was developed by Sega Overworks, a division whose previous works include the Phantasy Star series and Dreamcast classic Skies of Arcadia, not to mention the popular (in Japan, anyway) turn-based strategy/dating sim mashup series Sakura Wars. The pedigree shows, and Valkyria Chronicles has turned out to be one of the most astoundingly fun, unique games available on any system. Indeed, the combination of turn-based strategy and third person shooter works so well that I can easily recommend it to anyone who owns a PS3, regardless of genre preference. I would even go so far as to call it the best game on the system, were it not for the presence of the sublime DIY platformer Little Big Planet.

Even if it isn’t the best playing game on the system, Valkyria is by far the best looking game on the system. The stunningly rendered graphics and watercolor shading give the game a unique look. The beautiful graphics are combined with textual sound effects (IE. When you fire a machine gun text appears onscreen going “RATTA RATTA RATTA”) to give the game the look of a living comic book. The world itself, an alternate version of 1930s Europe, comes alive with rich details and varied environments. All of the character models are amazingly detailed too, and each of the over 50 main playable characters comes across as a unique individual. Even bit characters are well developed and all play in to the narrative wonderfully.

The narrative of Valkyria Chronicles is, for the most part, a well told tale of war between a small nation and an overbearing empire. The tale is spun in the form of a fictitious history book, On the Gallian Front, and the format works amazingly well, providing an intuitive front-end and allowing the player to quickly jump between story events and skirmishes. A warning to the illiterate: while the cut-scenes in the game are fully voiced, there is a copious amount of supplemental text contained within three glossaries. Speaking of the cut-scenes, they do present a problem for the game’s narrative. You see, while the story is interesting and the characters likeable, the game suffers from MGS4 syndrome: too much of the plot is told through talking heads and long, if gorgeously rendered cut-scenes. Fortunately, the book format provides players with an out. The option to go into skirmish mode at any time diminishes boredom by allowing players to quickly get back in to the excellent game play.

When I say excellent, I mean it. The turn based combat works on so many levels that it’s insane. Fully 3D movement and unstructured battles allow for complex, dynamic strategies. The experience from battle to battle is varied and unique. Often it’s the terrain tha`t makes the battle, as only through effective use of cover and high ground can victory be achieved. While skill does play a major role in the battles, complex stat manipulation also plays a role in determining how accurate your shots are and how much damage each bullet does. Luckily, soldiers level up their stats by class, so you won’t lose your advantage if you swap out one soldier for another. As one of the freaks who actually enjoys tweaking stats to get the perfect load-out, I find this to be extremely fun. I must stress for the more ADD afflicted gamers, all of this leveling and stat adjustment is completely optional.

All in all, I must say that Valkyria Chronicles is a joy to play, and I recommend it to anyone who possesses a PS3 and a functioning brain.