Valkyria Chronicles

About

"Valkyria Chronicles" is a game set in a 1930s-inspired continent, where the Federation's 7th Platoon, led by Welkin, fights against the Empire's invasion of a neutral country, Gallia. The Empire possesses a secret weapon, the 'Valkyria', threatening the Federation's chances of turning the tide of the war. The game's unique "CANVAS" graphics engine brings the game's watercolor-like visuals to life. The war's outcome will determine the fate of Gallia and the hope for a better future.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,623 reviews

story2.8k positive mentions

grinding177 negative mentions

Unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time action, providing an engaging gameplay experience.
Beautiful watercolor art style that has aged well and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
Strong character development and emotional storytelling that resonates with players.

Frustrating ranking system that rewards speed over tactical gameplay, often leading to cheese strategies.
Clunky controls, especially for tank movement, which can detract from the overall experience.
Lack of quality-of-life features such as autosave and the inability to restart missions easily.

story
7,840 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story of *Valkyria Chronicles* is a heartfelt and engaging narrative set in a fictional version of WWII, focusing on the struggles of a small nation, Gallia, against a larger empire. Players follow the journey of Squad 7, led by Welkin Gunther, as they navigate the horrors of war, personal growth, and camaraderie, with a mix of emotional moments and light-hearted interactions. While the story features typical anime tropes and can be predictable at times, it is well-developed and complemented by charming characters, making it a memorable experience for players who appreciate narrative-driven games.
- “It's a tactics game with a lot of heart from a mechanical standpoint, and the story and presentation are just the icing on the cake that makes this extremely memorable.”
- “The story is well written, the gameplay is very good, the cartoon-like graphics make you feel like you're inside a manga.”
- “The story is engaging and the characters are deep, with a unique delivery that keeps you invested in their struggles throughout the game.”
- “The story is quite basic and extremely predictable. You can see the various events and plot twists coming from a mile away, and it has a lot of the usual anime-esque tropes that just get old.”
- “The story is a bit flat and doesn't have enough interesting stuff going on for a war story. It lacks serious depth, and the plot is very shallow.”
- “The story is juvenile in the extreme and the voice acting is cringe-worthy. It feels like the story is written for children, and the characters act and react the way a child would.”
gameplay
3,174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The gameplay of Valkyria Chronicles is a unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time action, allowing players to control units in a third-person perspective while managing tactical decisions on a battlefield. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and engaging combat, some criticize the game for its pacing, reliance on trial-and-error, and occasional frustrating design choices, such as unbalanced classes and the interception fire mechanic. Overall, the gameplay is generally well-received for its depth and variety, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its anime aesthetic and narrative style.
- “Basically, there’s so much variety to the missions that the game goes the extra mile to prevent tedium or boredom without being too mechanically intrusive.”
- “The gameplay is great and perfectly balanced in my opinion.”
- “The blend of turn-based combat with real-time aiming and movement gives the gameplay a fresh and dynamic feel, making each encounter engaging and rewarding.”
- “The gameplay sections' design is bizarre.”
- “However, a few mechanics don't feel intuitive while some operations simply have terrible design.”
- “The gameplay is very frustrating for a turn-based game; the real-time firing of the enemy with the slow animation of the characters ends up only in unwanted situations.”
graphics
1,976 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The graphics of *Valkyria Chronicles* are widely praised for their unique watercolor art style, which combines anime aesthetics with a hand-drawn quality, allowing the game to age gracefully since its original release in 2008. While some players note minor graphical glitches and the limitations of a console port, the overall visual presentation is considered stunning and immersive, enhancing the storytelling experience. The game's artistic direction, characterized by vibrant colors and a charming design, has garnered significant appreciation, making it a standout title in the tactical RPG genre.
- “The game has aged well with its 'history book' aesthetic and solid character/world design.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, sound is amazing, and the wide variety of recruits means you can build the squad you want to lead into battle.”
- “The game's beautiful watercolor aesthetic, gorgeous character design and battlefield presentation are not to be missed.”
- “I found the graphical style to be pretty ugly; it's like a sketchbook design that looks very washed out and scratchy.”
- “Graphics aren't normally the most important thing in a game to me, but these are worse than games that came out in the same era.”
- “The graphics are rather average and likely the least impressive aspect of the game.”
music
683 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The music in "Valkyria Chronicles" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere. Composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, fitting seamlessly with the game's narrative and gameplay, though some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and captures the hope that is needed to get through situations that these characters find themselves in.”
- “From the heart-pounding battle themes to the soulful melodies during emotional moments, the soundtrack complements the game's tone perfectly, immersing players in the world of Valkyria Chronicles.”
- “The music is stunning, with some tracks being fairly normal, while others are memorable.”
- “The music is generic and sleepy, the gun sounds are muted and soft, and combat mostly involves aiming at static targets and watching your unit shoot a volley.”
- “Honestly, even the music, sound design, and combat are boring.”
- “The music isn't too memorable for me.”
emotional
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Valkyria Chronicles" is widely praised, with players noting its heartwarming and often heartbreaking narrative that effectively engages them with the characters' personal journeys and struggles amidst the backdrop of war. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, from laughter to tears, particularly during pivotal moments and character interactions, making it a memorable experience. While some critiques mention occasional clichés or forced emotional scenes, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers a touching and immersive story that resonates deeply with players.
- “Valkyria Chronicles is a brilliant, innovative, emotional, gorgeously designed and somewhat flawed game that, sadly, has never risen to the place it deserves in the RPG pantheon.”
- “Their personal journeys, challenges, and growth form the emotional backbone of the game, ensuring players are invested not just in the war, but in the destinies of these characters.”
- “The story is deep and heartfelt.”
- “The game has a lot of issues including a boring story and characters, crashes, and bugs.”
- “After six whole chapters with boring storytelling, there is 1 'action' phase.”
- “After this long period of actual playing (less than 2 minutes for you), the boring story starts again for several chapters...”
grinding
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with some players finding it tedious and necessary for progression, particularly in later chapters. While some enjoy the option to engage in skirmishes for leveling up and find the combat enjoyable, others criticize the repetitive nature of grinding and the slow pace of battles, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while grinding can enhance character development, it often feels like a chore rather than a rewarding aspect of gameplay.
- “It is not tedious to build them up, since all unlocks and purchases are universally applied to each character within the class.”
- “Fun tactical gameplay - no grinding!”
- “Despite this, the game requires little to no grinding, which is a plus in my book.”
- “Of course it's too much grinding for experience and difficulty.”
- “Grinding is incredibly boring because there are only a handful of missions to choose from, and they are always the same.”
- “The final three missions are particularly noteworthy in just how tedious they become, one of which is literally nothing more than 'sit in one spot and shoot for about ten turns.'”
character development
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and emotional resonance, particularly for main characters and their relationships. While some noted that certain aspects felt predictable or lacking for side characters, the overall narrative and character arcs are considered strong, engaging players and enhancing the storytelling experience. The combination of well-defined character designs and meaningful development contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Character development and story: 10/10”
- “The story is amazing and the character development is above par.”
- “The character development is top notch as you progress through the story which gives the game 2 thumbs up from me.”
- “There's a sense there's not enough material, like portions of character development are missing.”
- “The endless cutscenes meant nothing and though there seemed to be attempts at character development, they all really just fall shallow.”
- “Most are just weak attempts at character development that drive home how bad the writing is.”
replayability
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of strategies and tactics available, particularly through skirmish missions and a new game plus mode that encourages different play styles. However, some reviewers noted that the linear nature of the story and predictable AI can limit the overall replay value, making it less appealing for those seeking extensive replayability. Overall, while there are opportunities for replay through challenges and rankings, the experience may not feel fresh after multiple playthroughs for some players.
- “The game has great replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and approaches to missions.”
- “With a great story and huge replayability value, I cannot help but hope for the ports of the other two games to PC!”
- “There is abundant side-content and replayability, ensuring that players have plenty to do even after completing the main story.”
- “Still, I have no desire to replay this game because I feel like once a player learns the maps and the mechanics, there's not much reason to replay this game while other strategy games have so much more replay value.”
- “Without much randomization or any multiplayer components, the game is also fairly lacking in replayability.”
- “The AI will always make the same choices on every turn in every mission, which really cuts down on the replayability.”
optimization
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
46%
9%
The optimization of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many users noting that it runs smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end machines, achieving stable frame rates of 60fps or higher. While some players experienced minor issues with controls and performance grading, the overall consensus is that the PC port is well-optimized, providing a solid gaming experience without significant bugs or crashes. However, there are suggestions for further improvements, particularly in control optimization for mouse and keyboard users.
- “The first thing that I need to mention in this review is to congratulate Sega for making such a well-optimized PC port.”
- “Game is really fun and the port runs very smoothly; I usually have performance issues with many games, but it ran as good as I could have ever wanted.”
- “Great game and runs at a smooth 60 fps 1080p on max settings on my HP notebook; it is a decently powered laptop, but this game seems very well optimized and should theoretically run smoothly on lower-end machines as well.”
- “This is a fun game that is not optimized for PC play.”
- “Early on when it was released on Steam, it was poorly optimized for PC (not even recognizing a mouse), but all that has since changed and I'm happy to say that it now works very smoothly!”
- “Had high hopes and been wanting it for years for me to just find out it's a poorly optimized, poorly ported game that has really bad design choices and physics.”
humor
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising its quirky characters, absurd situations, and hilarious dialogue that often contrasts with the serious themes of war. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements, such as funny character interactions, unexpected moments, and amusing glitches, which contribute to an overall charming and entertaining experience. However, some players feel that the humor can sometimes undermine the gravity of the story, creating a dissonance between the lighthearted moments and the darker themes.
- “From the snipers who are allergic to metal to scouts with a penchant for desert vegetation, these individual eccentricities bring both humor and depth to the gaming experience.”
- “In Valkyria 4, one of your characters is a timid female sniper and she apologizes after blowing an enemy's head off... it's freakin' hilarious 'sorry!'”
- “The game was a blast all the way through with lots of hilarious character interactions along the way.”
stability
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
1%
87%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly on the PC version. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly overall, issues such as unresponsive controls, graphical glitches, and occasional crashes were frequently mentioned, especially concerning tank operations and character animations. Despite these problems, many players found that the glitches did not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience, though they advised saving frequently to avoid potential frustrations.
- “Technically, the game runs great on PC.”
- “The port is solid, it runs great and the graphics benefit from being fairly stylized so they don't come off as dated as they might otherwise.”
- “It's also a surprisingly solid port, looks great and runs great at a bargain price.”
- “The game is very buggy, especially when it comes to pathing and driving tanks (which is a huge part of gameplay).”
- “I've encountered several technical glitches, including in-game crashing, which transmits an incredibly vulnerable feeling piece of software.”
- “What a piece of buggy crap, can't even play with the stupid menu, keeps switching up and down non-stop, another fail port, last console port I'll ever buy on Steam.”
atmosphere
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique cel-shaded watercolor art style and orchestral soundtrack, which together create an immersive and captivating experience. While some players note a contrast between the light-hearted visuals and the serious themes of war, the overall presentation, worldbuilding, and character development contribute to a rich and engaging atmosphere. However, certain dialogue and gameplay mechanics have been criticized for breaking the immersion at times.
- “The music helps the atmosphere and works along with other elements to fit perfectly into an interesting experience.”
- “The atmosphere, writing, presentation, and gameplay are all fascinating and enthralling.”
- “The unique combat system, engaging narrative, and immersive atmosphere really make this game stand out.”
- “Unfortunately, because of the game atmosphere and general theme of such genre at the time, there would be no bangers that could become a fine addition to your collection.”
- “Dialogs are just out of place and break any dramatic atmosphere the game could build up.”
- “If your idea of strategy is replaying missions for 1-3 times (I played the final mission 3 times before I beat it), then go ahead, but the whole cutesy atmosphere and cliché characters, as well as constantly unfair conditions, take away from the atmosphere of the combat and the game itself.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
89%
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with misleading advertising that misrepresents its genre and gameplay mechanics, leading to dissatisfaction among players. While there are no microtransactions, the game's difficulty and design choices have left many feeling that it lacks value for the price paid. Overall, the perception is that the game prioritizes profit over quality and player experience.
- “You can buy items with in-game currency, and there are no microtransactions, so there's no need to worry!”
- “The monetization model is fair, allowing players to progress without spending real money.”
- “I appreciate that the game focuses on in-game currency for purchases, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “What is this cash grab anyways?”
- “In reality, what they are doing with dishonest advertising has mulcted thousands of customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars...”
- “It feels like a cash grab by Sega rather than something they spent any time on.”

86%Critics’ scoreBased on 25 critic reviews

Buy Valkyria Chronicles

35h Median play time

32h Average play time

30h Main story

59h Completionist

10-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 55 analyzed playthroughs

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59%25reviews