Valkyria Revolution Review (PS4)

Valkyria Revolution is a big step away from what we know and understand about its parent series, Valkyria Chronicles, as it opts for more action-based mechanics. While it’s easy to see why fans would be wary of this new approach to the strategy, turn-based RPG series, this fresh take on the Valkyria series is a welcome one.

 

Four games in, the Valkyria series has yet to see an installment that could be described as a dud and, you know what? Valkyria Revolution might be my favourite installment in the series thus far. When the small country of Jutland is invaded and taken over by the hostile Ruzi Empire (who’ve quickly become powerful after acquiring Ragnite, a rare resource), they strike back in a bid to win their independence.

 

valkyria revolution review

Europa really does feel like a living, breathing world.

While both nations wage war, there are five people who are working behind the scenes known as the “Five Traitors”. But are they really as traitorous as their name suggests? The game will keep you on your toes as you battle against the Ruzi Empire and unravel the mysteries of the Five Traitors of Jutland. Lengthy cutscenes flesh out the story and there are optional scenes you can watch to learn even more, and I recommend doing so. Having grown to like much of the cast, I was eager to check out every bit of content that Valkyria Revolution has to offer.

 

Downtime in-between missions lets you spend time with your squadmates and see what citizens think of your efforts, giving room to become attached to your friends as well as to become more engaged in your actions in the war. Valkyria Revolution is well-written and has grand ambitions that it reaches. Europa really does feel like a living, breathing world where you can bring peace to the citizens of Jutland, or cause them to become sick with worry — it’s not just your teammates that you have to think about, but the nation.

 

valkyria revolution review

The Valkyria series has always told intimate stories of war, and Revolution is no exception.

The Valkyria series has always told intimate stories of war, and Revolution is no exception. What has changed greatly is the combat system which gives you more control than before. Instead of having a finite amount of time to cover ground and make a move, you can now run around freely. The only things that are limited are when you’re able to attack, use an ability, or an item — you can guard and dodge at any time, though. You can flick between your team members to make the most of this timer though, and you can give orders to your teammates on which action to take next — they sometimes like to just stand and watch, so this gives ’em the kick up the arse they need.

 

Feels very much like a bona fide Valkyria game.

It might not be as strategic as Valkyria Chronicles — this new style of gameplay is more reminiscent of something like Final Fantasy Type-0. But, it’s engaging and fast-paced, and the use of elemental attacks alongside a variety of melee and ranged weapons means that you still need to prepare for each individual mission, and each character has a specific class which makes them best suited for certain objectives. Mechanically it may seem less strategic when in battle, but in the end there’s more you’ll need to prepare for beforehand. Creating and upgrading equipment plays a big role in this, and takes the interesting approach of being applied to your whole squad.

 

A sweeping orchestral score doesn’t betray the game’s 1850s setting.

Valkyria Revolution features a different art style from its predecessors too, having less of a focus on looking like a watercolour painting in motion, and 3D models and environments that aren’t nearly as cel-shaded or hand-drawn-inspired. It still attempts to look as if we’re glimpsing into a history book via the game’s unique scratchy overlay though, and it’s a lovely looking game despite being a far cry from what we expect from the series. Each playable character stands out, there’s an abundance of colour and flair, and it still feels very much like a bona fide Valkyria game.

 

We have zero complaints about the voice-acting and soundtrack, both of which are superb. A sweeping orchestral score doesn’t betray the game’s 1850’s setting, and it’s an utter joy to listen to. The voice-acting is lively and emotive, breathing life into the game’s emotional tale, and each fit the personality and role of the character that they’re given. There’s really nothing negative to say in regards to the audio, as it’s a strong show overall.

 

If this change is what can breathe life into a stagnant series once again then I’m all for it.

Valkyria Revolution shouldn’t be skipped solely because it isn’t what you expect from the series, because you might be pleasantly surprised with how great the overall package is. If this change is what can breathe life into a stagnant series once again then I’m all for it and, who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing two different Valkyria branches going forward. Either way, this is indeed a revolution for the Valkyria series.

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