Valkyria Chronicles: Where We Begin
It was an April of some years ago that I first caught eyes of this particular gem. It was at a GameStop in Ahwatukee, Arizona (before I used to work at that same store years later) during their Anniversary Sale. During this time several games were drastically reduced in their regular price. This particular game was on sale for 29.99 when it was (if you believe such a time) at the regular price of 49.99. The artwork was so unique, so alluring, that I immediately grabbed my debit card, the game in hand, and purchased it then and there before going home and playing it for the first time.
From the moment the game was booted, I was instantly in love. It was a role-playing game with the simple premise of a wartime setting combined with classic elements of strategy. Gameplay that was easy to learn, yet challenging to fully master. It was a simple story of war, love, and perspective. Each character, from the villains to the heroes kept me entertained. While not so overpowering that it would move me to tears...yet...I kept going and enjoyed it from beginning to end, as I bared witness to those that fought, lived, and died. I speak, of course, of "Valkyria Chronicles" (or Senjou no Valkyria in the Asian Sector) for the Playstation® 3 Console system, made by SEGA.
The year in which I purchased this game has long escaped me, but the joy Valkyria Chronicles brought to me has not faded with time. To this day, I still feel a part of Squad 7, as the leader Welkin Gunther, with his dearest friend Alicia Melchiott at his side. Largo and Rosie are seen as the elder brother and sister respectively, bring their own stories into the mix. Followed by Isara Gunther, Welkin's actual step-sister, and chief mechanic; many more squadmates would join your team as you save your homeland of Gallia from the brink of invasion, and thus preventing annihilation by the Eastern Europan Autocratic Imperial Alliance, otherwise known as the Empire. The ebb and flow of battles, the intricate tales of each member, and those lost in the fires of war had a lasting impression of the game as a whole.
The Diverging Path, and a Familiar Beginning
Now what does this anecdote have to do with "Valkyria Revolution" (or Valkyria Azure Revolution in the Asian Sector), you may ask? Truth be told, it is the core reason behind my not so colorful experience in playing this game. It's not a terrible game, not by any means, but there are too many flaws in Valkyria Revolution to really make it match the standards set BY its predecessor (and thus the archetype of the series). There are many reasons to suspect this, but I have broken them down into the four major areas of concern:
Over the next couple of weeks, I'll write from my perspective in detail in regards to these areas, and offer my analysis of the games and where they diverge from each other. Naturally, I am always open to comments and discussions on this topic, so feel free to leave a comment and let's begin our journey in the chronicles of this game together!
Comments