Valkyria Chronicles (v2015.02.19)

Europa’s wartime drama blends turn-based strategy with the personal stakes of a character-driven anime series. Set in an alternate 1930s-era continent, the story follows nature-loving student Welkin Gunther and Gallia’s underfunded Squad 7 as they resist an imperial invasion driven by the valuable mineral Ragnite. The conflict begins as a struggle to defend a small neutral nation, then grows more dangerous when the Empire’s connection to the legendary, superhuman Valkyrur comes to light. Its tone shifts comfortably between military tragedy, earnest romance, oddball squad humor, and high-stakes fantasy.

Battles run on the BLiTZ system, which gives players command points to spend on individual units before dropping them into direct real-time movement and aiming. Scouts race ahead to reveal enemy positions, shocktroopers clear entrenched infantry, lancers hunt tanks, engineers repair equipment, and the Edelweiss tank provides mobile firepower, so smart squad composition matters as much as marksmanship. Every move consumes action points, while enemies can fire during movement, making sightlines, cover, terrain, and careful positioning crucial. Between missions, recruits earn experience, weapons and tank parts receive upgrades, and a large roster of soldiers with different strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits lets players tailor the platoon. Optional skirmishes, tougher EX encounters, and included side campaigns add more tactical material beyond the central story.

The hand-painted CANVAS presentation remains its most recognizable feature: maps, portraits, and cutscenes look like a watercolor storybook brought to life, yet the battlefield consequences stay surprisingly harsh. Rather than relying on grid-bound combat, it combines the planning of Fire Emblem or XCOM with the pressure of physically navigating a soldier through hostile fire. Missions often reward creative approaches, whether that means flanking a bunker, exploiting a map’s terrain, or sending the right specialist through a narrow route. Valkyria Chronicles suits players who want a substantial single-player tactical RPG with memorable characters and cinematic storytelling, especially if they value deliberate strategy over fast reflexes.