After two mainline releases on portable gaming devices — one of which was a Japan-only exclusive — Valkyria Chronicles makes its return to PC with Valkyria Chronicles 4, harkening back to the complex tactical RPG gameplay, stunning watercolor canvas aesthetic, and nuanced character development that made the original Valkyria Chronicles such a hit.
Like the original game, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is set in the fictional continent of Europa, which is embroiled in the Second European War. The narrative and setting borrow heavily from World War II history, depicting a conflict between the Atlantic Federation and the Eastern Imperial Alliance over a precious resource known as Ragnite that’s used as an energy source for a variety of processes (from powering tanks to healing wounds on the battlefield).
The main protagonist of the game is Claude Wallace, a first lieutenant fighting on the side of the Atlantic Federation who’s serious yet compassionate towards his fellow troops. The game’s narrative and garrulous energy, however, are driven by an ensemble of characters that are each imbued with distinct personalities. For instance, there’s Kai, a cold, collected, and incredibly deft sharpshooter; there’s Raz, a shocktrooper who’s rough around the edges and has a hot temper; and there’s Riley, a grenadier who remains positive and courageous even in the face of danger.
These and Valkyria Chronicles 4’s many other characters not only constitute the units the player will deploy into the battlefield but also grant the game a buoyancy that fills the space around the core gameplay with life. Their interactions and relationships to one another provide narrative intrigue and can have direct effects on the game.
Take one of Raz’s “Potentials” (passive abilities that are specific to different characters), “Mad Dog,” which decreases his defense if he’s near a character he doesn’t like. This added dimension is a creative way of requiring the player to be invested in the relationships between characters for the sake of the gameplay and not just the story.
What ultimately sets Valkyria Chronicles 4 apart from other tactical RPGs is its clever mix of gameplay mechanics. Altogether, the flow from one action to another feels less like a patchwork tapestry of elements borrowed from different genres than a complete, satisfying gameplay system.
Players select and review formations from a top-down view and can spend “Command Points” or “CP” on ordering different units to move. The amount of space in which individual units can move in a given turn is determined by their “Action Points” or AP, during which they can also perform a single action. Aiming a weapon, however, is done manually with the player adjusting the crosshair to make a shot.
The result is gameplay that allows the player to maintain an intimate control over every step of the process. Different weather patterns and terrain add welcome changes in pace during different missions, which requires the player to be flexible and equipped to deploy the right composition of units for the right battle scenario.
Even if you missed the first Valkyria Chronicles game, Valkyria Chronicles 4 serves as a perfect introduction into what the series got right the first time around, refining the gameplay systems that allow the series to hold a special place in the hearts of seasoned tactical RPG players.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 comes out for PC today.