A review of the game Valkyria Revolution

It would Seem that having a successful game to make a sequel will not be difficult. Just need to repeat what you've already done, eliminating the flaws of the original. In 2008, the publisher SEGA produces largely unique turn-based tactical gameplay of Valkyria Chronicles, which acquires a couple of sequels for the portable console PSP, and the remastered version in 2016. Full new great game in the series had to wait almost 10 years. And here it came. I wish it never happened.

For a start I suggest to find out what was so good Valkyria Chronicles. The first thing that caught my eye, — it's visuals. Yes, anime style is not to everybody's liking, but the panache was performed as in any other project: you seem to be staring at an animated pencil drawings. It is very difficult to describe in words, but everything in the game looked like drawings and sketches, coloured pencils. Having a surprise at first, visual style, Valkyria Chronicles immediately surprised and gameplay.

We stood at the head of a detachment of soldiers, who were divided into 4 classes. Later was controlled and military equipment. All the men had a special kind of "talent" that could interfere in the battle (for example, a warrior with an Allergy to pollen in a field of flowers dropped indicators) and to help. When it came to combat, the game once again threw up a surprise: it was a turn-based tactics in the spirit, if you like Jagged Alliance or Final Fantasy Tactics, but the only difference is that the characters you control during the course personally, in 3D shooter and in the same way make the shots. In addition, the game was extremely ramified system of relationships between characters, a fascinating story, the music is amazing, unique, unconventional setting and plenty of fine moments. No wonder Valkyria Chronicles became very popular, having 2 excellent sequel for the Playstation Portable and even the real anime series.

Why so much time is given to the first part of the series? Yes, because almost all the advantages of the original was thrown out by the developers in the bin. A feeling that Valkyria Revolution is not part of the famous series, and just kind of left the game, which is to raise sales, why the stuck the word Valkyria. But let's order. On paper we have a spin-off taking place in the world Valkyrie, but long before the events of the original. In Chronicles plays with the setting of the Second world war, but the Revolution we are in times of, inspired by the European industrial revolution. And the game immediately the problems begin. If flirting with the world was appropriate, and blotches anime was done very gracefully and dosed (I myself am not a fan of anime, but to spit at the sight of the game I don't have), then the continuation begins to come apart at the seams already here. The basis of the industrial revolution is the material Ragnite, which gave a leap not only technology development, but also gave the people the... magic. Yes, it's called alchemy, but the spells consume mana and look like real magic. Many «mojo» Jahan so much that the question arises: why in the future world war from these great things people are abandoned in favor of tanks and grenade launchers? It can be assumed that in the framework of spin-off there is a parallel universe, but the exact answer to this question, the game does not.

As no one will give you the answer and in whose light came up with the idea to make step-by-step tactics about the severity and hardships of war RPG in anime style. I'm not kidding, the game is radically changed the genre, becoming the most usual JRPG, with all the consequences: a three-metre swords, Japanese Teens jumping on roofs steeper than Peter Parker, and the extreme amount of pathos. Moreover, from a deep and well thought-out strategy is not gone. To manage from now on you are free to only one hero, and the others run up to you and behave according to prescribed patterns (which, by the way, you can continue to use). All that is required of you — it cut the sword, throw grenades, Yes, from time to time to give companions orders to do the same.

But that's not all! Looking at the screenshots, fans of the series probably already guessed that the visual style of the first part, for some unthinkable reasons, too, has gone under the knife. From a graphical point of view, sometimes the picture is still strikingly beautiful, but the feeling of an animated pencil drawing is no more. Before us is an ordinary in all respects the game. Just a Japanese action-RPG, some millions. The game has lost its face and it's very disappointing.

Fans of the JRPG genre may think that once the game have changed, according to the canons of the genre, she began to flaunt cool developed characters. No. This, again, was in the first part. In Valkyria Revolution more or less revealed only a couple of the main characters, and the other members of the big troop strength of almost 10 people — just "talking heads" without soul. If Valkyria Chronicles each character is revealed through actions, thoughts and interactions with other characters, changing in the course of the narrative and because of the circumstances, the new game series all the opening the cheapest way. It happens suddenly freeze, and the narrator pretentious voice reads the text: "This is such-and-so. He went to war because what happened to so-and-so. It became demotiviruet become a fighter and to avenge the family." In this role the character will stay until the end of the game. What can we say, with the mercenaries from the first part, which after the death on the battlefield was placed not in the infirmary, and the present cemetery, and then replaced with a new cannon fodder, to watch was a lot more interesting than the main heroes of the Revolution.

Amazing, but the story turned out pretty good. The emphasis placed on it in the first place for political games and undercover intrigue that looks quite fresh and interesting within the existing genre, and the music in the game is still just fine. Music — this is perhaps one of the few things that has been subjected to abuse by developers. And in General it's obvious that the potential of the game is just huge, but for some reason no one, except composers and artists, does not use properly. The graphics engine sometimes gives a magnificent panorama and arena battles become significantly larger and more detailed. It is a pity that the tactical skills they apply will not work. If we consider the game from the point of view that is of the RPG genre, everything is not so bad. We have the capital of the state, where we can take the job, purchased from vendors, crafted items or improve weapons. Here you can upgrade fighters. Pumping here is somewhat reminiscent of Final Fantasy X. each warrior has a grid of skills to unlock that you need a scope element, which in game 4. By investing in upgrading skills, we gain access to new types of spells. However, in battle you will use the strength of 4-5 skills and the rest will be «gather dust». Plus the combat system is designed and the system behavior of the associates: is in the smallest details to configure what, how, and under what circumstances will they do heroes. Fans of micromanagement will be satisfied.

As expected, the game has as side quests and the main story. And those and others are reduced, as a rule, monotonous set of actions: grasp all the bases, kill all enemies, kill boss. And if before such was offset by the interesting game situations, but now this can not be considered. Capture outposts, steal, kill. With this mission at the local not the most advanced picture loaded for inexcusably long time, and each change of scene during commercials is also accompanied by a nearly 30-second load.

the

Pros:

the

the
• Sometimes the picture is very beautiful
the
• Good music
the
• Good story with a bias in policy
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• not a bad combat system

the

Cons:

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the
• All the advantages of the original was lost. A radical change of genre did not go to play the benefit
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• Not the most interesting campaign setting
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• is Very long and frequent loading

The monotony of the game situations the

• Flat characters, which are interesting to observe
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• Visual style of Valkyria Chronicles is lost forever

To sum up, the Valkyria Revolution — this is a pretty average JRPG is strictly for fans of the genre. I am genuinely unclear why the developers cut down the branch on which he sat, and cut off from the game, making the original favorite players. If SEGA was afraid that the tactical game is already useless (although the success of X-COM says otherwise), they could test the waters by releasing a remastered version of the series Valkyria c PSP. In General, fans of tactical games in General, and Valkyria Chronicles in particular is nothing to do here. I put the game 5 out of 10 and suggest to play Valkyria Chronicles, forgetting about the existence of the Revolution....