Valkyria Chronicles(Spoilers Ahoy!)

[Masami von Weizegger]

What, do I have to champion every mediocre Japanese RPG not made by Square-Enix or something?

So, Valkyria Chronicles is a strategic RPG set in an alternate world that focuses on the war between the small nation of Gallia and the evil East Europan Imperial Alliance based very, very, very loosely on the Winter War of 1939/40 while "Europa War II" rages between the aforementioned Empire (Commi-Nazis who combine Imperial Russia with black Nazi uniforms and kind of miss the point) and the Atlantic Federation (cynical European Union, scum in their own way).

As someone who likes games which feature nations in the least shit way possible, I suppose I'm reasonably pleased with VC on that account. But I guess, that's not what the game is really about so let's move on.

The gameplay is more than tolerable, even if the unit types are unbalanced (Scouts are gods). As grades for battles, which directly reflect the amount of experience and money you get, are determined entirely by finishing a mission in a little turns as possible, regardless of loss of life on any side, the game can become less about attempting strategies and wiping out the enemy than simply trying to crack a formula to load your scout up with parameter boosting abilities and having them run towards the enemy base like a lunatic (capturing the flag is the standard method of finishing missions).

The story is also adequate, with many spikes and dips in its quality. The love story at its core is about as well done as it can be in a Japanese RPG (which means it's incredibly smaltzy and crops up in the middle of vital battles to save the nation and so on). Its showcasing of political intrigue and military politics is nowhere near perfect, but again, it's more than you'd expect from most RPGs c. 2009 so it's still something of a pleasure.

The B-plot, which is used to tie into the main plot at the send to give you a suitably ridicolous Ultimate Final Battle of Ultimate Destiny, revolves around the discrimination against the Darcsen people (thinly veiled Jewish-analogy) and how they are blamed for being dangeroius black magicians in antiquity who threatened to blow up everything until stopped by the Valkyrur (the titular Valkyria). Would be upset if I spoiled that it turned the Valkyrur were just jerks who invaded the continent and enslaved the Darcsen and made that preceeding up to justify it? No? All right then.

The issue I have with that is that it's used as the great "out" for the Darcsen people. "They didn't try and blow things up 2,000 years ago, so they shouldn't be discriminated against!" whereas my view as kind of that even if 2,000 years ago the Darcsens listed their national sport as lynching the homeless and their national dish as deep fried baby, that doesn't mean you get to treat their descendants like shit and send them off to camp and the like in "1935 EC".

And, I know the game is really about the Federation/Empire war but would it have hurt to throw me a dumb bone at the end about it? I like the Federation, dammit!

Overall, despite its flaws,I like it a lot and am looking forward to its sequel, even if it is on the, sigh, PSP. But enough about what I think, what do you relative view who have this game think? Should Welkin have allowed Alicia to blow up the Marmota? Is the Valkof just a really stupid concept? Was Selvaria Bles just a gigantic dumbass or what?

Thread title edited-Bean

[born in shadow]

What, do I have to champion every mediocre Japanese RPG not made by Square-Enix or something?

I think there was a thread on this a while back, actually.

The gameplay is more than tolerable, even if the unit types are unbalanced (Scouts are gods).

What? No way! Giving the units with the longest range a high accuracy and relatively strong weapon a bad idea? Nooooo.

(thinly veiled Jewish-analogy)

Lies. It wasn't veiled at all.

And, I know the game is really about the Federation/Empire war but would it have hurt to throw me a dumb bone at the end about it? I like the Federation, dammit!

You liked them? Spoiler

After they show up on a diplomatic mission and steal the Queen? I thought that was sort've a dick move.

Overall, despite its flaws,I like it a lot and am looking forward to its sequel, even if it is on the, sigh, PSP.

I do too...but are you trying to hurt me with this PSP talk?

Should Welkin have allowed Alicia to blow up the Marmota?

Seeing that she'd probably survive? Yes. Fuck the Marmota!

Is the Valkof just a really stupid concept?

It's just like most ancient super weapons, and ties into the Nazi hunt for magick! So yeah, it was a pretty weak attempt at making their country more important than it should've been.

Was Selvaria Bles just a gigantic dumbass or what?

Pretty much. Then again, I think it was supposed to be a "Love blinds you" sort of message or something.

I really enjoyed the game, even with the balance issues and uneven story. I'd love to see a more polished sequel that didn't center around a race for super weapons. At least Welkin wasn't screaming "IT BELONGS IN A MUESEUM!" every time he saw the lance and shield. It could do without some of the more retarded battles as well, like the fucking Batomys. The straight up war-torn almost Europe battles were without a doubt the best of the bunch, which of course left the last few missions lacking as they were all "Storm the giant battle tank and fight all-mighty Thor!"

[Vendetta]

The gameplay is more than tolerable, even if the unit types are unbalanced (Scouts are gods).

What? No way! Giving the units with the longest range a high accuracy and relatively strong weapon a bad idea? Nooooo.

And that's before we get to Little Miss Broken, who gets all the other advantages of being a scout, is all but immune to bullets, can heal to full randomly, sometimes gets two goes, and if she does get below half health gets such a significant damage boost that she can nail tanks with a rifle.

Seeing that she'd probably survive? Yes. Fuck the Marmota!

No, she wouldn't survive. The Final Flame is explicitly a suicide attack.

It could do without some of the more retarded battles as well, like the fucking Batomys.

I quite liked fighting off the nazi-wet-dream tank, though it would have been a lot more fun if it wasn't for the woman with the pew pew lasers trying to kill my doods.

[Thunderfire]

And that's before we get to Little Miss Broken, who gets all the other advantages of being a scout, is all but immune to bullets, can heal to full randomly, sometimes gets two goes, and if she does get below half health gets such a significant damage boost that she can nail tanks with a rifle.

Yes she is a one woman army during the later phases of the game. A good number of battles can be won with a scout and a few defense/offense boosting orders during turn 1. Scouts - lancers are so much better than snipers/stormtroopers - tanks.

[Masami von Weizegger]

You liked them? [The Atlantic Federation] Spoiler

After they show up on a diplomatic mission and steal the Queen? I thought that was sort've a dick move.

I much prefer their ruthless red tape bureaucracy to the Empire (whose flaws I don't need to elaborate on) or Gallia and it's vaguely disconcerting benevolent monarchy and underhanded parliamentary system (and its high asswipe to normal people ratio once you get above the militia).

If I was stuck fighting the Federation for the entire game, I'd probably feel differently but whatever they did in the game pales in comparison to what the Empire or even a lot of Gallia's generals did in the game and DLC (George von Damon is a bastard. That is all).

Seeing that she'd probably survive? Yes. Fuck the Marmota!

She would have died. But I wonder how many people were squished when the Marmota ran down the streets of Randgriz? Luckily that one street was exactly wide enough to take the Marmota in!

It's just like most ancient super weapons, and ties into the Nazi hunt for magick! So yeah, it was a pretty weak attempt at making their country more important than it should've been.

They did talk about Gallia having high amounts of ragnite (which is what the entire EWII was supposed to be about), but then I guess that wouldn't explain Maximilian's plot or how he became Mighty Thor at the end. (Unless he ate it)

The straight up war-torn almost Europe battles were without a doubt the best of the bunch, which of course left the last few missions lacking as they were all "Storm the giant battle tank and fight all-mighty Thor!"

Naggiar trench battles? Hell yeah, my favourite battle of the entire game. Running away from the Marmota while blowing up cliff faces was pretty poor as was the ultimate final battle with its "turn off the switches to remove the shielding" rubbish.

I quite liked fighting off the nazi-wet-dream tank, though it would have been a lot more fun if it wasn't for the woman with the pew pew lasers trying to kill my doods.

True, but it makes for a good "Oh shit" moment the first time it happens. I prefer the Batomys battle over the Marmota one. It felt much more like a struggle against the odds. Mainly because that tank could move and kick ass while for the Marmota battle, the Marmota and the Valkof aren't really the biggest threats in the mission.

Yes she is a one woman army during the later phases of the game. A good number of battles can be won with a scout and a few defense/offense boosting orders during turn 1. Scouts - lancers are so much better than snipers/stormtroopers - tanks.

True, but that doesn't stop me from giving my favourites all the same. <3 Catherine.

Although now that reminds me of all the "This is Squad 7 and we're a FAMILY!" bullshit, when they really mean just the main six, and the pig. What, Ted Ustinov wasn't part of the family too, jerks?

[Vendetta]

Yes she is a one woman army during the later phases of the game. A good number of battles can be won with a scout and a few defense/offense boosting orders during turn 1. Scouts - lancers are so much better than snipers/stormtroopers - tanks.

For many battles, if you want the A rank the best way to do it is soloing the map with Alicia.

They did talk about Gallia having high amounts of ragnite (which is what the entire EWII was supposed to be about), but then I guess that wouldn't explain Maximilian's plot or how he became Mighty Thor at the end. (Unless he ate it)

By that point in 2008 I was used to Lelouch pulling things out of his ass

[Samuel]

You liked them?
Spoiler

After they show up on a diplomatic mission and steal the Queen? I thought that was sort've a dick move.[/spoiler

]

Well, given that your countries leaders are morons and the population is extremely isolationist despite previously being invaded... I'd say that was a smart move. The Feds are manipulative backstabbers, but I can get behind that.

No, she wouldn't survive. The Final Flame is explicitly a suicide attack.

What stopped her from using normal attacks until the treeds broke apart? After all, the weak point of a land dreadnaught is moving.

I much prefer their ruthless red tape bureaucracy to the Empire (whose flaws I don't need to elaborate on)

I love their villiany. We randomly kill people in the street for no reason... but hostage taking is a death penalty offense Or the fact that they discriminate against the Darscans, use them for forced labor and hunt them down for the work or just to kill them... and were the first to deploy tanks. You know, machines entirely dependant on the materials the Darscans produce. In fact, the material the whole war was about.

Gallia and it's vaguely disconcerting benevolent monarchy and underhanded parliamentary system (and its high asswipe to normal people ratio once you get above the militia).

I think they are an absolute monarchy. The regent was an ass, but given the state of the country I would expect nothing else. Besides, what else was he supposed to do? Sure, he was a bit too enthusiastically villianous which got him killed, but when you are a tiny nation overshadowed by your neighbors you play nice.

The more disturbing part is the "national conscription" Gallia practices. Gallia has only 430,000 people but an army of 92,000. Most disturbing is the age of the troopers:

Aisha Neumann (shocktrooper) is 12
Nancy Dufour (scout) is 15
Homer Peron (engineer) is 15
Dallas Wyatt (engineer) is 15
Emile Bielert (sniper) is 15
Oscar Bielert (sniper) is 15

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps3/file/942165/56306

even a lot of Gallia's generals did in the game and DLC (George von Damon is a bastard. That is all).

You mean the poison gas that doesn't kill you? I thought it was the only smart thing he did in the entire war. Come to think of it, they should have used it when Selvaria unvieled he powers. Try to block poison gas with a shield!

Although now that reminds me of all the "This is Squad 7 and we're a FAMILY!" bullshit, when they really mean just the main six, and the pig. What, Ted Ustinov wasn't part of the family too, jerks?

That is because you can kill everyone else off. Presumably they wanted to avoid having dead characters interacting with the main cast. Which gets odd considering the amount of backround they gave to everyone- I think the only one that has minor characters is the Eddy Detachment.

[Sephirius]

FUCKING SPOILER TAGS ASSHOLE

[Ford Prefect]

Aisha Neumann (shocktrooper) is 12

To be fair to the characters, they are initially wary about Aisha ... but she turns out to be a bloodthirsty lunatic. She actually begged to be allowed to serve, almost certainly so she can kill people. It's actually unusual and ethically lax even by the stunning standards set by the Principality of Gallia.

[Samuel]

Aisha Neumann (shocktrooper) is 12

To be fair to the characters, they are initially wary about Aisha ... but she turns out to be a bloodthirsty lunatic. She actually begged to be allowed to serve, almost certainly so she can kill people. It's actually unusual and ethically lax even by the stunning standards set by the Principality of Gallia.

She is in good company. Do real military forces have soldiers who cheer whenever they kill anyone? If you think about it for a moment it is a bit disturbing that almost everyone in Squad 7 does that. Outside of the cutscenes only one character shows any sign of realizing that they are killing people (My hands are stained- what have I done?). Maybe it is the uniforms the Imperials where that makes them so easy to kill. Although it beats the god awful helmets we see the scout wearing in Selvaria's DLC.

Also, I apologize Sephirius. How do I get a mod to edit and spoilerize my remarks?

[born in shadow]

Spoiler

No, she wouldn't survive. The Final Flame is explicitly a suicide attack.

Oops, my bad. Been awhile since I played it hah hah

The whole "Squad 7 is a family!" felt pretty weak for the reasons listed. It would've been nice if they at least showed the other members of your squad like...hanging out or something during cut scenes. It'd be a pretty nice way to show you're fucking up if they're all dying, since you'd be hanging out in places that are normally crowded and there's...nobody.

Finding out some squad members were 15 or younger is rather...uhm...strange. I guess Galia is really desperate to defend themselves...to the point of wiping out the next generation with battlefield injuries and post traumatic stress disorder!
Spoiler

I think a lot of the Ragnite stuff would have worked better if it felt like "Holy Shit, someone who can use this stuff is using it! As it was, it just kinda was a reason listed for invading.

How is the DLC by the way? I've been meaning to get it, but I'm cheap and would like to avoid paying 10 bucks or something for one mission.

[Vendetta]

Aisha Neumann (shocktrooper) is 12

To be fair to the characters, they are initially wary about Aisha ... but she turns out to be a bloodthirsty lunatic. She actually begged to be allowed to serve, almost certainly so she can kill people. It's actually unusual and ethically lax even by the stunning standards set by the Principality of Gallia.

And she's not the only one. Jane is a total fucking psycho, and even has it register in gameplay (the "sadist" potential).

[Samuel]

Scream for me!

I love the afterward- Sadist Jane becomes her title at the boot camp amoung the new trainees.

There is also someone listed as "bloodthirsty", but that isn't really a surprise- the militia probably doesn't care about your insanity as long as you don't shoot your own side.

Finding out some squad members were 15 or younger is rather...uhm...strange. I guess Galia is really desperate to defend themselves...to the point of wiping out the next generation with battlefield injuries and post traumatic stress disorder!

Ages

12
15-5
16-4
17-6
18-5
19-5
20
21 Median
22-2
23-2 Mean
24-3
25-5
26
27-3
29-2
31
33-2
35-2
36
37
38
43
65

[Ford Prefect]

And she's not the only one. Jane is a total fucking psycho, and even has it register in gameplay (the "sadist" potential).

Haha, oh yeah, Jane. I spend a lot of my time when watching the (admittedly not all that good) anime thinking 'you know, this scene would be considerably improved with some Jane'. While I wasn't expecting it to be a particularly realistic depiction of warfare, at all, it could do with some uncomfortable elements.

[Vendetta]

I stopped watching the anime about five episodes in, when despite being in the OP/ED, Marina still hadn't had any screentime, and they'd managed, through some black and secret art, to make Faldio even more of a dick.

Fortunately I suspect that this meant I skipped the inevitable Edy fanservice.

Why, Japan? Why fucking Edy, what is the point of her? She's a distinctly average character for a Shock (Vyse, Lynn, Jane, and any number of others are better), and not a great looker either.

[Vendetta]

There is also someone listed as "bloodthirsty", but that isn't really a surprise- the militia probably doesn't care about your insanity as long as you don't shoot your own side.

Even then there are people who deserve shooting. Like Herbert, who sometimes refuses to do anything and wastes an order.

What's that? I get a medal for winning the campaign with someone permakilled? Looks like a job for the commissar!

[Andrew_Fireborn]

Why, Japan? Why fucking Edy, what is the point of her? She's a distinctly average character for a Shock (Vyse, Lynn, Jane, and any number of others are better), and not a great looker either.

Whilst I agree on the issue of Freesia, It's probably because of her one sided "rivalry" with Rosie. Though I haven't seen anything of the show. And in the game, it just makes a mediocre trooper worse.

[Samuel]

Fortunately I suspect that this meant I skipped the inevitable Edy fan service.

Why, Japan? Why fucking Edy, what is the point of her? She's a distinctly average character for a Shock (Vyse, Lynn, Jane, and any number of others are better), and not a great looker either.

Because they love cutesy and Edy fits it to a t? That and they probably play on the self obsessed and absorbed or comedy.

Even then there are people who deserve shooting. Like Herbert, who sometimes refuses to do anything and wastes an order.

What's that? I get a medal for winning the campaign with someone permakilled? Looks like a job for the commissar!

Adding a commissar could have made it better. How you'd fit it in is another question.

[Masami von Weizegger]

Even then there are people who deserve shooting. Like Herbert, who sometimes refuses to do anything and wastes an order.

Susie Evans is much worse for this, especially considering her position (Scout). "I'm a pacifist!" indeed.

Edy Nelson's Japanese popularity is due to her "tsundere" character archtype (i.e. cold bitch who opens up once in a blue moon) and her hairstyle, for some reason.

[born in shadow]

Thanks for the age list! Guess it always seemed younger since my squad was dominated by young'ns.

Wasn't Edy from another game? Maybe that's it.

[Ford Prefect]

Fortunately I suspect that this meant I skipped the inevitable Edy fanservice.

I'm 14 episodes in and Edy has basically had ... one very short line. She gets way less screentime than Rosie or Largo or Jann Walker, for example.

[Samuel]

Even then there are people who deserve shooting. Like Herbert, who sometimes refuses to do anything and wastes an order.

Susie Evans is much worse for this, especially considering her position (Scout). "I'm a pacifist!" indeed.

Edy Nelson's Japanese popularity is due to her "tsundere" character archtype (i.e. cold bitch who opens up once in a blue moon) and her hairstyle, for some reason.

Alicia has the same hair type though. As for Susie, maybe she thought that scouts didn't need to shoot at people (although engineer or medic would have been much smarter).

How is the DLC by the way? I've been meaning to get it, but I'm cheap and would like to avoid paying 10 bucks or something for one mission.

Which one? The Edy Brigade or Under Her Blue Flame?

Edy Brigade is a single mission that adds some personality to minor characters- in it we learn that Marina is not, in fact a sociopath. Maybe. Also that Edy is a bit nutty and delusional. The variety is in the endings depending on the rating- A is not necesarily the "best" to watch. Of course, you tube makes this a bit redundant.

Under Her Blue Flame follows the forces of the reich as they procede to batter down the fortresses defending Belgium. You know, you guys could have ripped off the Eastern Front. Anyway it is 3 missions- with the second having 2 varients depending on the first. If you get As for all 3, you unlock the 4th which is essentially Selvaria with her superpowers. Beat that and you get her gun for the main campaign. It is ever so slightly broken, especially if used with Vyse or Jane.

[Oskuro]

Comedy option, for those who have not seen these yet:
Unskippable
Stark Baiting Zero Punctuation
I did laught at "Harold Smicher, chancellor of Bermany"

[Samuel]

The problem with Yatzhee's review... well parts of it are blatantly wrong. The Feds being the good guys, Isara being a love interest, the main characters not dying, the fact there are multiple kinds of weapons, etc.

I liked unskippable more, if only for:
Spoiler

Of course- who do you think I am spying for?

[Masami von Weizegger]

Thanks for the age list! Guess it always seemed younger since my squad was dominated by young'ns.

Wasn't Edy from another game? Maybe that's it.

Vyse and Aika are the two characters from another game, Sega's Skies of Arcadia. So are the medics, in fact.
Spoiler

IVyse appears as leader of Squad 5 (I think) in episode 11 or so of the anime and gets gunned down dead within the first few minutes of the episode. Hah! I think a lot of Vyse fans had a fit that day.

15 seems to be the lower age limit normally for Gallian conscription. Aisha got her spot because she petitioned for it and was basically a genius. Why being a genius means you should be allowed be a shocktrooper at the age of 12 is another question entirely.

Anyway, now I'm wondering, seeing as it is incredibly easy to complete most missions with only a token amount of officers, which officers do people end up using even if it is not strictly best practice to field them. Marina is considered the best sniper, for example,yet I consistently field Catherine O'Hara over her. Jann Walker and Walter Nash often get fielded too even though Walter has some pretty negative traits.

One more query, has anyone tried tackling the Extra Hard optional missions yet?