Valkyria Chronicles

Gaming Age

We've been through years and years of Final Fantasy Tactics lookalikes and play-alikes, many of which I've enjoyed and will continue to enjoy. Valkyria Chronicles, though, is truly a much needed step forward for the genre. It proves that SRPGs can look great and can even further push the envelope of human tactics in a video game. Hands down, this is the best RPGs on the PS3, one of the best of the entire genre, and one of the best games this generation.

Thunderbolt

Valkyria Chronicles is a long, sweeping epic of a game that every PS3 owner should play. Its rich story, unique premise, and reimagined sense of strategic role-playing shouldn't be missed.

GameShark

One of the best PS3 games to date.

RPGamer

The game is a complete package of truly innovative and engaging gameplay, an extremely well-written and well-executed storyline, and a stunning presentation on every level.

Absolute Games

Every fan of tactical strategy genre will be happy to spend at least 30 hours with such a smart, captivating game as Valkyria Chronicles.

Playstation Universe

Valkyria Chronicles offers 25-30 hours of gameplay that features tremendous amounts of replayability. Any PS3 owner that loves RPGs and is expecting developers to continue to offer these exclusive titles on the console should go out and purchase Valkria Chronicles.

RPG Fan

Valkyria Chronicles shatters all strategy RPG conventions.

Gamer 2.0

Sega’s done an admiral job in updating the strategy RPG clichés to better fit the gameplay expectations brought on by the games of this generation so far for Valkyria Chronicles.

Worth Playing

There's something about a Sega game that makes it "Sega," and Valkyria Chronicles has that unmistakable touch to it that the Shining Force titles on the Genesis and Dragon Force for the Saturn have had. It's one of the best games that I've played for the current generation, and strategy-minded JRPG fanatics might want to book a trip to Gallia for a unique experience on the PS3.

GameZone

It’s games like Valkyria Chronicles that make me glad I’m a game reviewer. This is a game that weaves a deeply moving and powerful story while adding an action-packed strategy twist to the genre. In other words, this is a PlayStation 3 game destined to become a console favorite.

IGN AU

Valkyria Chronicles is a truly magnificent outing for Sega. It dares to be different, it scoffs at genre conventions and finds its own path, and in doing so succeeds brilliantly as both a deep strategy experience and a wonderfully story-driven RPG.

1UP

This is so innovative and so polished a game that if you pass it up, the real moron is you.

GameTrailers

If you're looking for an RPG that strays off the beaten path, go buy Valkyria Chronicles. From the gameplay to the visuals, it's one of a kind. It has appeal for both strategy heads and role-players who find high fantasy to be low on their interest scale.

GameFocus

Valkyria Chronicles is one of the best looking games because of its unique water color art design gives the game a great look and feel. One of the few Playstation 3 only Role Playing titles that is actually worth owning and replaying, so run out and pick up this game today.

ZTGameDomain

Unconventional and beautiful, Valkyria Chronicles delivers a game that is both deep and whimsical.

DarkZero

Valkyria Chronicles is a game that deserves to be played by everyone. It’s so innovative, fresh and blends different features of other genres so well that you’d think Sega WOW had already done this before.

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Put turn-based strategy, pure shooter and role playing games into one melting pot. Add alternative world setting, stylish visuals and you got Valkyria Chronicles in all its beauty. [Feb 2009]

AceGamez

If you own a PS3 then you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to try Valkyria Chronicles; it's sure to provide many hours of enjoyment with its fun gameplay, tragic yet heartwarming story, and its appeal to something deeper with its messages than just playing another mindless videogame.

GameSpy

It's easily one of the best looking games we've played this year, but thankfully there's plenty of strategic depth and engrossing gameplay to back it up.

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

The story is a real hoot. [Dec 2008, p.78]

IGN

With such a robust collection of extras to back up an already impressive mission roster and gripping story, Valkyria Chronicles comes highly recommended.

games(TM)

The new perspective works well, injecting some much-needed action into the genre without sacrificing tactical choice. In fact, the switch actually creates more choices if anything. [Dec 2008, p.102]

Gamer.nl

Despite some minor flaws Valkyria Chronicles is full of quality and offers unique gameplay. When playing Valkyria Chronicles you'll probably get the feeling that you're wandering inside a big aquarel painting. Offering a decent challenge, versatile missions and easy to master controls Sega delivers a turn-based classic that will keep you hooked onto your PlayStation 3 for weeks, maybe even months, if you like a great story and are a sucker for tactical gameplay.

Gamervision

Valkyria Chronicles is an absolute gem that owners of the system are lucky to have. Even in this crowded holiday season of triple-A titles, this one somehow snuck in and stole my heart, and I found myself putting other games on the back burner to spend more time with Valkyria Chronicles.

Gaming Target

With its combination of an enthralling story, interesting blend of gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a gripping soundtrack Valkyria Chronicles is right up there with Final Fantasy Tactics as one of the best SRPGs to ever be released.

Extreme Gamer

Valkyria Chronicles does an outstanding job making the most out their ambitious title.

WonderwallWeb

Loads of depth and fantastic presentation makes this a game which should be hard to pass by.

PSX Extreme

Valkyria Chronicles is indeed one of the best games of 2008, and certainly the best strategy/RPG of this generation.

ImpulseGamer

At the end of the day, Valkyria Chronicles is an interesting RPG tactics title that has quite an innovative movement and control system which is thoroughly enjoyable and at times frustrating. As the tactics are quite diverse, you can mix and match what you do on the battle.

3DJuegos

Valkyria Chronicles will remain unnoticed in Spain due to not arriving translated to our language, but it's a terrific videogame. It is not for everybody but is an innovative, engrossing and admirable proposal that fuses genres with obvious skill.

Play.tm

Visually and aurally it's a real tour de force, the plot pretty much stays the right side of the crazy line and on the whole combat feels fresh and well designed. There are a few hiccups and they do take the gloss off things more than the rest of the game deserves, but they shouldn't be enough to put you off.

Game Informer

There are some things you never knew you wanted in a strategy game. The third-person view does wonders to get you invested in every decision, and it’s great to have a worthwhile story. The gorgeous presentation and versatile combat make Valkyria Chronicles one of the best surprises of the year.

BigPond GameArena

The story is great, the teen girl soldiers are hilarious, and it’s definitely worthy of a look for those wanting to commit to a lengthy and challenging romp in a war-torn anime world.

Console Monster

Valkyria Chronicles is a wonderfully presented game which is easily accessible to all. It's not without its quirks, but these can be overlooked simply because the game is so enjoyable to play and watch.

PSM3 Magazine UK

Beautiful, a tad self-indulgent, but packed with tactical warfare. [Dec 2008, p.74]

Meristation

With its beautiful visual style, interesting characters and compelling story, Valkyria Chronicles tries to go beyond the usual Japanese SRPG mechanics, embracing a new system that combines direct and turn based action to great effect. The result is a game with true tactical sense, where different tactics can be succesfully used according your play style.

Gameplayer

This is a niche product. It has an anime look, and a novel-like pace. Yet the biggest difference from your run-of-the-mill WWII shooter is that you have to think very carefully about what you are doing. The combat system is straightforward, yet merciless. You will make mistakes, and you will be forced to learn from them. But if you're into this sort of thing, you will get your rocks off — and that's what matters.

Destructoid

Valkyria Chronicles is a visual feast. It maintains a high level of difficulty in a new and rather innovative renewal of the tactical genre that provides enough of a challenge to entice fans of the genre, but is not so stuck in its ways as to keep normally averse gamers away.

PTGamers

More than an ambitious title, it's a work of love by its creators, and it constantly shows. Even those not used to tactical RPGs may fall for the beautiful design and polished game mechanics.

PALGN

Valkyria Chronicles succeeds in bringing genres together and provides a memorable experience that not only proves that strategy can be done on consoles, but brings something completely new and great to the table.

GameSpot

A boldly refreshing strategy RPG that is both beautiful to look at and fun to play.

Games Master UK

Like the graphics or not, Valkyria Chronicles is an accessible, challenging strategy game. [Christmas 2008, p.82]

Cheat Code Central

SEGA has delivered a standout title, one that pushes past its strict genre boundaries and deserves to be played by not only fans of tactical RPGs, but also those that have never touched the genre. Turn-based strategy doesn't get much better than this.

GamingXP

Valkyria Chronicles is a very entertaining game. A good story, likeable characters and a strong visual performance!

Game Revolution

The vast-majority rest of the time, Valkyria Chronicles offers a unique take on RPG-strategy, a truly involving story, endearing characters, and a chance to reflect upon—or wonderfully, hopelessly anachronize— whatever sense of real-world history you may still have in your head.

Play UK

Japanese RPG and tactical RPG fans will fall in love with this game, but even if you can’t stomach the plot, the cut-scenes are skippable and the gameplay chapters are well worth waiting for.

D+PAD Magazine

The glorious visual style in which the world is rendered is a long way from the bloody realities of war, yet the game still manages to present a challenging and believable conflict. Underneath its polished (and undoubtedly quirky) presentation is a confidently delivered and engaging experience that doesn't hold itself a prisoner to convention. It's tempting to think that SEGA may very well have delivered a cult classic.

GameDaily

It looks great, it sounds great and it plays great, and it won't feel like something you've played before. Try it.

NZGamer

Valkyria Chronicles is an excellent game and it gets better the more attention you pay and the deeper you go.

G4 TV

When Valkyria Chronicles is on its game, there’s nothing else like it on the market.

Eurogamer

Make no mistake, Valkyria Chronicles is a really, really, really good tactical RPG, and fans of the genre should pick it up without delay, but beneath the inviting exterior and thoughtfully designed battle system lies a game with a few too many clunky inconsistencies which directly impact the strategic heart of the experience.

TheSixthAxis

It’s all numbers, of course, but dressed up in gorgeous visuals and oodles of charm and individuality. You’ll never once feel like you’re in a real war, this isn’t Call of Duty, but you will feel attached to the main protaganists and the various plot twists along the way will keep you entertained.

Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's a lively way to breathe new life into RPG battles, which are often ugly and hard to follow. [Dec 2008, p.112]

Level7.nu

In a genre that hasn't really made progress since the era of 16-bit consoles, Valkyria Chronicles manages to innovate while at the same time being an utterly charming experience. The presentation is certainly easy on the eyes and is reminiscent of other aesthetically innovative experiences such as Otomos Steamboy, Miyazakis Howl's moving castle and Level-5's Jeanne D'arc. A welcome addition to the PS3-library.

GameCritics

I very much enjoyed this game, and the good elements definitely outweigh the bad, but I sincerely hope that a sequel gets produced someday, because with a few changes and some better writing this could be among my all-time favorites.

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

Strategy and RPG heads alike cannot miss this gem. [Summer 2009, p.82]

PS3bloggen.se

Though Valkyria Chronicles is one of the first real strategy games for the PS3, it doesn't play it safe. With original watercoloured graphics and gameplay choices, such as the command point structure, this war is not one easily forgotten.

Kombo

If you want a focused single player game with a heavy reliance on strategy that blends genres in a unique way, you need to play Chronicles.

Gamestyle

It’s a shame that this could be destined for obscurity because it’s certainly one of the most unique games this year and a series we wouldn’t mind seeing continue.

Edge Magazine

Simple and elegant, it takes influences such as Konami’s Ring Of Red and even Pandemic’s Full Spectrum Warrior and elaborates on them to create something unique and interesting. [Christmas 2008, p.100]