Valkyria Chronicles.

[Deslock]

Wow, what can I say? As a supreme lover of tactics and strategy, this game is the BOMB !!!!

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I highly, highly recommend this game to any person that likes this genre. The mix of strategy, 3rd person shooter, and luck, is damn near about as perfect as it gets. This game makes you think, and then some. One bad move, one lucky enemy shot, can literally cause you to lose a battle.

Wow, just wow.

Deslock.

[keyser28146]

Wow that does look awesome.

I still have Disgaea 3 in the wrapper. As a Strategy Rpg fan, I watched the vid and may go pick it up TODAY. Looks like it has just a touch of Ring of Red (AWESOME fun) and Advance Wars (the KING) in it's blood as well.

[Kamui]

Interesting, I thought I was the only one who played Ring of Red around here, then again I never asked about Ring of Red.....it was quite interesting to me....I should pick it up again someday. Cost five dollars used now.(Ring of Red)

Wish I could try Valkyria Chronicles, my only chance there it to play it from my brother's house whenever I end up going there again.

[Deslock]

Here is an official review, and goes more in depth.

This game is truly, truly amazing. It's a perfect blend of Strategy/shooter.

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[keyser28146]

Well. It's official. I have to go pick up QoS tickets for a ladyfriend in a bit, so I'm gonna pick it up on my way out. Another one I think I'm going to save for a bit (like Disgaea 3).

Ring of Red was GREAT. After the initial opening bit I knew it was something really special.

I'm a HUGE fan of Disgaea, FF Tactics, Advance Wars, and Fire Emblem... and this appears to be a healthy mix. I prefer firearms and tanks to swords and shields BY FAR, so Ring of Red was a massive success for me, and no doubt this one looks fantastic. I also enjoyed the Metal Gear Acid games as well. Just can't get enough strategy!

[RaceDriver53]

Valkyria Chronicles does look very good. I downloaded and played the demo, and the game was much better than I expected. Seems like a fun strategy game. I have seen a lot of good reviews for it, I will probably think about buying the game also.

[keyser28146]

I bought it but it's still in the wrapper

[keyser28146]

Busted it out, it ROCKS.

I was doubting Deslock... very story heavy through the first chapter or so, until you get into the upgrades and barracks and leveling system and all that... VERY impressive.

I very much dig it!

[Deslock]

#1. Don't doubt me.

Lol. Just kidddin'. ;)

The game is amazing in it's depth. Some maps have suprises in them, such as unexpected enemy re-inforcements. Didn't plan for that enemy tank to show up? oops. You lose. Forget to check the stats and put a scout with pollen allergies in a field? They'll miss every shot. Or put a Darcsen with another teammate that hates Darcsens? Oops. This game really makes you think, and then some. There is also a luck factor involved too, to keep you on your toes.

Sometimes a Sniper will make a miracle shot accross the battlefield, and then miss an enemy soldier in plain view in range. That way you get the "cool!" moves, and the "Oh noes!!" also.

I cannot reccomend it enough, if you like this genre.

[Capthemfoos]

Reminds me of FF Tactics. Too bad its a PS3 exclusive. I would love to play this.

[keyser28146]

It's really got it's own thing going on, BUT, if you are looking for similar experiences, I'd highly recommend:

1) X-Com: UFO Defense (PC, PS1) What a hell of a game, will carry a LOT of the troop xp, individual unit stuff, tactical ap type system, etc.
2) Rebelstar: Tactical Command (GBA) Everything #1 has, except fits in your pocket, and you lose the shooting down of alien spaceships and randomness factor... still amazing game though.
3) Fire Emblem. (GBA, GC, Wii, DS soon) Holy shit what a series! Similar because losing a friendly unit is permanent, different because it's MUCH more severe when it happens because 1) you can't medic them out in FE, and 2) since experience is gained by individual, not by class, losing a unit REALLY hurts brutally.
4) Advance Wars. (GBA, DS) The Military Strategy Cham-Peen of the WOOOORLD! Don't get Days of Ruin, though... cool in some ways, but not the best, Dual Strike is probably the best all round greatest strategy game ever created, bar none.
5) FF Tactics (PS1 BEST, PSP not good, GBA not great, DS FANTASTIC) Awesome strategy, great story, ends rather quickly, but a masterpiece. Get the PS1 version at all costs.
6) Disgaea (PS2= 1 and 2 are both awesome, PSP FANTASTIC, PS3 GREAT, DS passable) Want to beat the game at around level 60 something... you can... but you can level up everything to level 9999, level ANY ITEM up from a blue potion to a cotton shirt to a bamboo pole to level 99, and still fight crazy strong enemies and hidden stuff forever. I've put at least 700 hours into D2, my guys are at like level 3000, and a single enemy at level 3200 can be massive trouble against my 10 characters. It is FFT on viagra, crack, and mescaline.
7) Ring of Red (PS2) One of the closest in a lot of ways to this game... A turn based strategy in alternate universe except I think it's in the 60's but it does have some real time elements to it as well.
8) General Chaos (Genesis) So DAMNED good. This needs a VC release on Wii or a downloadable update version NOW. More of a run and gunner, but some of the concepts are represented in it.


I'd say it's closest to Ring of Red conceptually, with a huge dose of Fire Emblem concepts and a management and battle system in the vein of Xcom... the classes are very reminiscent of General Chaos, but the Rock Paper Scissors combat aspects of Advance Wars, the art stylings of FFT and the level grindability of Disgaea, but not to anywhere that excessive an extent.

The class leveling is a great idea, and the individual peculiarities of each troop keep it interesting in that front.

[Kamui]

I'd like to throw in Battlion Wars and Battlion wars 2 as well. Battlion Wars 2 is online, but its problem is the lack of miccrophone to communicate with your team. All nintendos fault on that part otherwise it'd be a fun game strategizing with your troops.

[keyser28146]

BW let me down, but mainly because it was Advance Wars units without the strategy... I need to give it another shot though... it was just far too easy and didn't feel right.

I understand 2 was far better though, and I haven't given that one a shot... I was very happy they changed the name from AW to BW after playing it, though. Konami should change the names of the "3d castlevanias"... they just AREN'T Castlevania in any way shape or form.

[thedooku]

Valkyria Chronicles for $30

If I was an RPG fan, I'd be getting it.

[keyser28146]

It's actually more like Ring of Red or something than an RPG