Valkyria Chronicles 1 & 4

Found these two games on sale in Nintendo's eShop, with a bundle for both games together for $16. Unsure if I should invest in these games; I'm really into Tactical Strategy games, but I heard these games feel more like puzzles and that the ranking system is based on how fast you complete each level, not on tactical strategic play. Plus I now much prefer games that focus more or gameplay than story, like most of these indie games I have Like Into the Breach, XCOM, Invisible Inc, and Battle Brothers where it's more of a premise than a detail story arc.

Any anon here has experience with these two games and how they compare to other big tactical strategy games? Would these games be worth it just on combat gameplay alone?

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  1. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Loved them, definitely worth the 16 bucks. Its very over the top anime though, so if you don't like "BAKA BAKA BAKA" and "japanese humor" you might not like it.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Is there an option to skip cutscenes and dialogue at least?

      Do the ranks at mission's end actually grant you something at the end of the campaign? Any benefits to rankings?

      Go in blind. Do not look up any strategies or tips. Just have fun playing the game. Yes there is a very easy cheese strategy for VC1, but unless you look it up on how to do it, it won't be an issue. Save that stuff for NG+

      So far I haven't yet, just reviews and gameplay footage.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      VC1 is pretty non-anime and i dont remember a single moe blob character.
      Vc4 on the other hand…im not complaining though

      VC4 on the other hand…

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Remind me again which one has the naive idealist moralgay MC who's always painted as being in the right who has a magical girl girlfriend whose superpowers stop the evil emperor and the plot constantly bends over backwards to reward everything they do?

  2. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    I got the same bundle but only played the first game, it was fun but you have to make yourself try to play it more strategically. Basically there's this Order mechanic that makes it super easy to break the game so as long as you don't use it it'll make you be more strategic (such as actually needing the antitank units to take down tanks) but you do need to ignore the ranks because indeed they are only a measure of how fast you go.

  3. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Go in blind. Do not look up any strategies or tips. Just have fun playing the game. Yes there is a very easy cheese strategy for VC1, but unless you look it up on how to do it, it won't be an issue. Save that stuff for NG+

  4. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    They are so good. A mix between an FPS/Xcom/Fire Emblem
    Yeah as wacky as it sounds it works somehow

  5. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    If you're willing to listen to a spic:
    They're some of the most braindead turn based strategy games you can find, the only games more simplistic than them being modern Super Robot Wars games.
    The ranks are dependent on the amount of turns you use to finish a mission so if you want a good rank you can safely ignore every class and every gameplay mechanic, and just pump the main character scout with buffs and then rush her to the goal / to the target and shoot said target on the face; actual strategy and tactics are not required and in fact will be a hindrance.

    >If the VC games are so bad, then why did you play them for a hundred hours?
    Because I like anime and I like anime games, even when they're mediocre.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      >spic
      >thinks VC is mediocre
      Like clockwork
      Hope you get shot in the head

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        From a gameplay standpoint VC is mediocre, anon.
        The only good things about them are the presentation and the character interactions, so for someone sorely on gameplay the series hold no value.

        Is there an option to skip cutscenes and dialogue at least?

        Do the ranks at mission's end actually grant you something at the end of the campaign? Any benefits to rankings?

        [...]
        So far I haven't yet, just reviews and gameplay footage.

        >Is there an option to skip cutscenes and dialogue at least?
        Yes, but the dialogue and cutscenes are the "meat" of the experience.

        >Do the ranks at mission's end actually grant you something at the end of the campaign? Any benefits to rankings?
        The better the rank the more money and experience points you get, allowing you to upgrade your gear, tank and classes faster. But the games are so easy you can get bad ranking and still be strong enough to finish the games.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          >Yes, but the dialogue and cutscenes are the "meat" of the experience.

          Ugh, heard the same about Hades and I thought that was mediocre gameplay-wise next to Dead Cells which I played later and found far more fun.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          >gameplay is mediocre
          >spic
          My god it keeps repeating itself, like an old clock

          Your comment is what I heard on other forums. I don't care so much on anime style but I am getting tired of usual anime tropes so if the gameplay is fine and I can skip story I can deal. But sounds like you have more experience with deeper strategy games to compare this game with.

          [...]
          Never heard of this order mechanic. But is there really no worth in playing strategic unless the gameplay is deep and tactical enough for it to be its own reward?

          OP do yourself a favor and GTFO this thread. Play the games, they are just 16 bucks for what is worth at least 60. Dont listen to the Hispanic, gameplay wise is simple but extremely well executed. On the other hand if you are just looking ways to abuse the system I hope you die of cancer

          • 2 years ago
            Anonymous

            >gameplay wise is simple but extremely well executed.

            I'm very frugal to where if I don't like them I'd feel I wasted my $16 I could've spent on another game to download. Didn't know if these games fared as well in terms of gameplay depth other games like the ones I listed in the OP since I see VC games in most Best Switch Strategy Games Ever lists from fairly knowledgable strategy game people.

            • 2 years ago
              Anonymous

              >listening to the 1 Hispanic shittalking the game instead of the other 3 people encouraging it
              Honestly frick off. If you are gonna act like that you deserve to get diabetes.

              Orders are special commands exclusive to the game's main protagonist, that consume a certain amount of points. Said commands allow things like retiring an unit from the battlefield or increasing an unit's defense. They break the game apart as you can realize.

              [...]
              >gameplay wise is simple but extremely well executed
              It's not just "simple"; it's "I just want to shoot things without thinking".
              For starters, the free aim makes fighting trivial because there is no chance to miss a shoot.

              You're recommending the game because you like it, without thinking if OP will genuinely enjoy it or just waste his money.

              Frick off Hispanic, I hoe you die of starvation

              • 2 years ago
                Anonymous

                Why wouldn't he listen to me above you? I actually played both games AND I'm willing to listen to OP's needs, unlike you.
                I only recommend games I like when I think that the person asking for will like them.

            • 2 years ago
              Anonymous

              >Best Switch Strategy Games Ever lists from fairly knowledgable strategy game people.
              Because if there is one thing the Switch lacks on its library is strategy games so anything you list will be a "top 20 game"

              Did that list mention Banner of the Maid? Because that game is pretty much this
              >games feel more like puzzles
              The game is not about strategy but about losing a mission several times so you know which units to place and where to move beforehand.

              • 2 years ago
                Anonymous

                Some have but BotM does not look appealing to me at all.

                I felt ripped off spending $20 on WarGroove since I a lot of combat and it's maps felt much more tedious than strategic than fun, so that's one of the reasons I've been cautious and researching online.

              • 2 years ago
                Anonymous

                I mentioned Banner of the Maid because it's a game that is as anti-strategy as Valkyria Chronicles so if a list recommends it as "top strategy game", it isn't a reliable list.
                And yes, I did play it. I'm a sucker for strategy anime games, but I'm willing to recognize their shortcomings.

                So, it's up to you. I can't recommend the Valkyria Chronicles series to someone who's sorely interested on gameplay and tactics.

              • 2 years ago
                Anonymous

                Appreciate your honesty at least, thanks.

                Was honestly thinking of getting Rogue Sky instead since I do miss playing flight combat games and that one sounded good.

                Even thought about other games like Reverie Knights, Fell Seal, Mercenaries but all looked and heard being lacking. Heard great things about Traingke Strategy and FE but both are story heavy that's critical to the overall game but sounds like it would be very intrusive.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Your comment is what I heard on other forums. I don't care so much on anime style but I am getting tired of usual anime tropes so if the gameplay is fine and I can skip story I can deal. But sounds like you have more experience with deeper strategy games to compare this game with.

      I got the same bundle but only played the first game, it was fun but you have to make yourself try to play it more strategically. Basically there's this Order mechanic that makes it super easy to break the game so as long as you don't use it it'll make you be more strategic (such as actually needing the antitank units to take down tanks) but you do need to ignore the ranks because indeed they are only a measure of how fast you go.

      Never heard of this order mechanic. But is there really no worth in playing strategic unless the gameplay is deep and tactical enough for it to be its own reward?

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Orders are special commands exclusive to the game's main protagonist, that consume a certain amount of points. Said commands allow things like retiring an unit from the battlefield or increasing an unit's defense. They break the game apart as you can realize.

        >gameplay is mediocre
        >spic
        My god it keeps repeating itself, like an old clock

        [...]
        OP do yourself a favor and GTFO this thread. Play the games, they are just 16 bucks for what is worth at least 60. Dont listen to the Hispanic, gameplay wise is simple but extremely well executed. On the other hand if you are just looking ways to abuse the system I hope you die of cancer

        >gameplay wise is simple but extremely well executed
        It's not just "simple"; it's "I just want to shoot things without thinking".
        For starters, the free aim makes fighting trivial because there is no chance to miss a shoot.

        You're recommending the game because you like it, without thinking if OP will genuinely enjoy it or just waste his money.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          >For starters, the free aim makes fighting trivial because there is no chance to miss a shoot.
          You sound like the kind of moron that defends nuXCOM hit chances.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Story is surprisingly not terrible, but simple, basically ww2 shit. Especially in 4. They're fun games,absolutely worth the money. They won't change your life, but they're very enjoyable.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Yeah, once I figured this out it kind of ruined the game for me. It should have been a mix of completing objectives/kills/losing members/turns that average out into a score. Want S rank? Just rush everything.

  6. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Definitely worth the 16 but DO NOT PLAY THEM BACK TO BACK.

    play 1 then 4 a after a few other games.

  7. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    >and that the ranking system is based on how fast you complete each level, not on tactical strategic play.
    Just play the levels how you want to play the levels and ignore the rankings. Do you pay attention to what ranking they give you at the end of an XCOM mission? Of course not.
    Also I recommend you go into both games completely blind and don't look up anything beforehand. You'll enjoy them much more that way.

    Both games are great, I highly recommend them especially at that price.

    The Switch port of Valkyria Chronicles 1 though is a bit subpar. It's sub native resolution, has lots of slowdowns in weird places, and docked mode doesn't fix it. Since the game logic is tied to framerate the slowdowns really bog down things. If you have a PC or PS4 I'd recommend you get it there unless if you plan on playing these on your commute or during a plane ride or something. It's not a deal breaker or anything, but at the very least look up some gameplay videos on youtube of Valkyria Chronicles 1 before you purchase.
    The Switch port of Valkyria Chronicles 4 is fantastic. It looks and plays great both docked and handheld, and you wouldn't even know it wasn't designed with the Switch in mind from the get-go. Would definitely recommend that.

  8. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    I bought the 4th one like last year but I haven't played it yet because the 2nd and 3rd is PSP exclusive and playing on emu is a hassle.

    I remember really liking the first one though. It's a good game and Selvaria is such a coombait

  9. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    16 dollars is a steal. Pirating it is a literal steal

  10. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    They're great and unique games. Play them on PC like an adult.

  11. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    You're literally just graded on speedrun strats
    Ignore any tactics and just blow up walls to move in a straight line to every objective

  12. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Very solid gameplay, it's like XCOM but done right. And the WW2 aesthetics are on point.

    That being said it's cringe japanime writing and yes, every mission is a puzzle if you care about getting the highest rank because you do have to perfectly rush through the specific units to capture the flag to win each round which is gay as shit. Still, it's fun and soulful for the price.

  13. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    I'm really really hopeful we'll get a Valkyria 2&3 remaster for PC. Please lie to me anons... I don't want to emulate them.

  14. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    All Darksens must fricking hang.

  15. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Very fun srpg/rts, it has a pretty unique system too so once you beat it, you'll have a hard time finding somewhere to scratch that itch.

    Some maps/missions are infamous for being annoying and even be full on trial and error but once you get the mechanics, you can probably cheese through some of them in a single turn. Pro tip: Orders are broken as frick and turn the game into baby mode.

  16. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    I personally think they are some of the better srpgs out there.

    They feel very first party, I played the on the switch and the amount of fun, variety, amount of units with unique personalities and great art and mechanical design is awesome to me!

    I think they are very similar to old Fire emblem but in HD and modern.

    Hope a Vallyria 5 is in yhe future.

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