Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
- February 10, 2016
- Media.Vision
Valkyria Chronicles is a must-have for any tactical RPG fan,and even if you’re not a fan of the genre, the story is worth the purchase alone. Valkyria Chronicles is still one of the best tactical RPGs this century.
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered brings the World War II-inspired story, the beloved characters, and the mythology of the Valkyrur to life. The stunning, painterly graphics return, but this time in 1080p/60fps high definition quality! Battles and cutscenes are conveyed like a vibrant tapestry in motion. In the world of Valkyria Chronicles, the year is 1935 E.C., and the continent of Europa has been …
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
PlayStation
Reviews
- Valkyria Chronicles Remastered features a unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time action, providing a refreshing take on the genre.
- The game boasts a compelling story with memorable characters, enhanced by beautiful visuals and a well-executed score.
- All previous DLC is included, offering additional depth and insight into the game's narrative and characters.
- The gameplay can favor Shocktroopers too heavily, leading to imbalances in class effectiveness.
- Enemy turns cannot be skipped, which can lead to frustrating moments as the AI moves around indecisively.
- The remaster lacks significant visual upgrades and new mechanics, making it feel dated compared to modern standards.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is a complex blend of genres that combines the harsh realities of war with personal narratives, offering a deeper insight into both heroes and villains through included DLC. While it may take time to engage with, many reviewers find the plot rewarding and memorable, enhanced by a unique art style and a compelling soundtrack. Overall, the narrative is considered a significant draw for both tactical RPG fans and newcomers alike.
“An esoteric mishmash of genres with an art style that belies the more somber elements of the storyline.”
“All of the DLC from the PS3 version is also included and can be accessed from the start, providing extra insight into both heroes and villains apart from the original story.”
“Its mix of real-time movement and tactical, turn-based decision making still feels unique, and the proceedings are carried by a story that blends the harsh realities of war with more intimate, personal narratives.”
“An esoteric mishmash of genres and with an art style that belies the more somber elements of the storyline.”
“It needs sticking with in order to reach the meat of the plot, because there is a decent story in there, even if a little predictable.”
“Its mix of real-time movement and tactical, turn-based decision making still feels unique, and proceedings are carried by a story that blends the harsh realities of war with more intimate, personal narratives.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a unique blend of anime-inspired art and comic book aesthetics, which effectively contrasts with its darker themes. While the visuals are generally enjoyable, some players feel they appear dated and could benefit from enhancements in model detail and polycount. Overall, the remastered graphics are appreciated, but there is a desire for more substantial updates to fully modernize the experience.
“The dark themes are contrasted through a slight anime-styled and humorous set of characters and gorgeous visuals that give off a comic book impression.”
“Remastered sketchy visuals are thoroughly enjoyable to look at.”
“The in-game graphics look dated, and although the canvas style helps a lot in hiding many of the game's shortcomings, the models could use more retouching and an increased polycount.”
“An esoteric mishmash of genres with an art style that belies the more somber elements of the storyline.”
“None of the new mechanics from VC2/VC3 seem to be included in this remastered original, which is a shame as it's a perfect opportunity to expand upon the game.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players noting an overreliance on luck that detracts from strategic depth, while others appreciate its unique blend of tactical JRPG and third-person shooter elements. While the remastered version retains its charm, it lacks new mechanics and content that could enhance the experience for returning players, leaving some feeling that it doesn't fully justify a purchase. Overall, the game offers a clever take on the genre, but its execution may not satisfy all fans.
“Unique tactical JRPG/third-person shooter gameplay, gorgeous cell-shaded/penciled anime style, long game with lots of depth.”
“An overreliance on luck and a gameplay design that goes against the nature of skillful strategy in order to achieve ranks lets it down, but it is a title that is worth experiencing for its clever take on the SRPG formula.”
“None of the new mechanics from VC2/VC3 seem to be included in this remastered original, which is a shame as it's a perfect opportunity to expand upon the game. Although I understand that remasters are not remakes, I would appreciate more additional content that would validate the purchase of the game for users who already have it in their PS3 or PC collection. The inclusion of all previous DLC is welcome, but exclusive PS4 content would've been even better. The in-game graphics look dated, and although the canvas helps a lot in hiding many of the game's shortcomings, the models could use more retouching and an increased polycount.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark themes and lighthearted, anime-styled characters, complemented by stunning visuals that evoke a comic book aesthetic. This contrast enhances the overall experience, providing a unique comedic touch amidst the more serious elements.
“The dark themes are contrasted through a slightly anime-styled and humorous set of characters, complemented by gorgeous visuals that give off a comic book impression.”
“The humor in this game is cleverly woven into the storyline, making even the most serious moments feel light-hearted and enjoyable.”
“I love how the quirky dialogue and funny character interactions keep the gameplay fresh and entertaining!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is somewhat diminished by the lack of new mechanics and content in the remaster, which leaves players feeling that the opportunity for enhancement was missed. While the inclusion of previous DLC is appreciated, the overall dated graphics and limited improvements may not evoke the emotional engagement that fans hoped for.
Critic Reviews
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered PS4 Review
An esoteric mishmash of genres and with an art style that belies the more sombre elements of the storyline.
86%Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
There’s little fault to find in Valkyria Chronicles, but there are a few nitpicks worth mentioning: despite the overall solid balance between classes, the game still seems to favor Shocktroopers the most thanks to their devastating firepower (it could take several Scouts in several turns just to take out one enemy Shocktrooper, while also praying that they don’t get torn apart by their gunfire). Enemy turns cannot be skipped either, forcing players to watch the AI occasionally run around indecisively around the field. Likewise, the rag doll animations for fallen foes and friendlies can also veer on the comical side, though the PS4 version does enjoy the increase of 60 frames per second during battle. Like the PC version, however, cutscenes are stuck at 30 fps, though they also appear a bit sharper compared to the PC version’s compressed cutscenes. All of the DLC from the PS3 version is also included and can be accessed from the start, providing extra insight to both heroes and villains apart from the original story.
90%Valkyria Chronicles Remastered Review
Unique in more ways than one, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered should not be missed by any strategy fan, although is perhaps geared more towards those less experienced in the genre. The dark themes are contrasted through a slight anime-styled and humorous set of characters and gorgeous visuals that give off a comic book impression. It needs sticking with in order to reach the meat of the plot, because there is a decent story in there, even if a little predictable. An overreliance on luck and a gameplay design that goes against the nature of skilful strategy in order to achieve A ranks lets it down, but it is a title that is worth experiencing for its clever take on the SRPG formula.
70%
