Valkyria Chronicles Remastered Review

The remastered concept seems like the right thing in today’s shortage in rapid AAA title releases. So companies like Sega hear the feedback fans have and push out a cult classic like Valkyria Chronicles for the PS4 platform. I will be bleak with most of the gameplay itself and focus on its enhancements and base this review on that grade alone. I will however still mention some gameplay as well so that way for folks who might be new to the game will not feel lost. To go over the game in a whole it was not originally well received. Under the hood was a quality game, just not a completely as solid. It featured a pretty enjoyable political story with likable characters.

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered handles it self with very bright and pretty landscapes. It had a interface that was left to be desired but offered much to stare at. Controls wise the game is pretty simple to use. You navigate your troops by clicking on icons representing each unit or character.  Then once you pick them you are brought to third person perspective where you navigate the unit to where ever on the battlefield.  On a PS4 controller this feels natively comfortable. However movement comes at a corrective cost. At the start you are given a set of three golden medal like token that subtracts one per unit moved, attacking, and or positioning. this expands later on during the game. With further progression. You also gain more characters and or items at your disposal.

The story itself is not over the top amazing. It provides some decent production. Drawing you in a bit with very likable characters. It takes place in a land called: Europa. The year is 1935 C.E. the setting is matched up to World War 2 in terms of weaponry, outfitting, and the lot. The continent of Europa is dominated by two superpowers: The autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance in the east and a commonwealth of loosely allied democracies known as the Atlantic Federation in the west. The economies of both powers depend on a precious multipurpose mineral called Ragnite. Its growing scarcity results in the Empire declaring war on the Federation, sparking the Second Europan War. The Empire uses its military superiority to quickly put the Federation on the defensive. Emboldened by their progress and momentum, the Empire decides to invade the neutral Principality of Gallia to seize its rich Ragnite deposits. When Imperial forces launch an attack on the Gallian border town of Bruhl, Welkin Gunther, son of the country’s hero General Belgen Gunther, is forced to fight for his life alongside the town watch captain, Alicia Melchiott. Together with Welkin’s adopted sister Isara and using Belgen’s prototype tank from the first war, the Edelweiss, they escape to the capital city of Randgriz and join the Gallian militia. Welkin is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assumes command of the newly formed Squad 7, with Alicia acting as his non-commissioned officer. Members of the squad initially question Welkin’s qualifications due to a lack of combat experience. He quickly gains their trust and loyalty, however, with his brilliant tactics. Welkin and Alicia soon become romantically engaged, and Isara is shot and killed by an imperial sniper.

I can say this much about this re-mastery of Valkria Chronicles. It is done a great justice. Visually pushed up a notch with a slight cartoonish filter to give off that comic cook vibe to the storied cut scenes. The controls are sharp as before. With a smooth frame rate during everything. The sound and voice acting is same as before as I used my PC copy as a reference. Another positive point is the price range. Being thirty dollars is pretty darn reasonable. Usually whenever I see remakes or remasters they recharge sixty dollars. Which it is like I can understand up scaling a game but for sixty dollars? Are they nuts?

In Closing:

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered offers something for the core cult fan base of the game. At the same time offers something fresh for new fans or people potentially interested in the game and do not own a PS3 or a decent enough PC.  It still offers what the original version of the game had, but with some improvements. At least visually notability. If you have missed out on the game originally and would like to dive into a unique experience in the fields of action like tactical rpgs.

Highly Recommended – If you loved the original game and decided to upgrade your console a while ago. Love a good live-action tactical game.