Spoils of War

The Steam edition of Sega's tactical RPG Valkyria Chronicles 4 has been updated and is now Valkyria Chronicles 4: Complete Edition. All previously released DLC is now included in the purchase and, best of al??l, eve??ryone who has already purchased the vanilla edition now gets all of the DLC for free!

Released in 2018 for PC and consoles, Valkyria Chronicles 4 continues the story of the Second European War, telling the tale of ragtag outfit Squad E and their efforts to stave off the Imperial Invasion. As with its predecessors, Valkyria Chronicles 4 combines dramatic? anime storytelling with tactical turn-based combat.

As part of t??he Complete Edition, players will now receive the following six DLC packs:

• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - A United Front with Squad 7
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - Advance Ops
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - The Two Valkyria
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - Expert Level Skirmishes
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - Squad E, to the Beach!
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 - A Captainless Squad
  

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is available now on PS4, PC, ??Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

The post Valkyria Chronic?les 4 Steam update adds all DLC ??for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Main game now $30

If you've been waiting to jump into Valkyria Chronicles 4, your patience has paid off. Sega has released a "Complete Edition" digital bundle for the strategy game that includes the main title and all of its DLC for $49.99. Available for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch (via their respective digital storefronts), this pack is mainly an easy way for you to get everything that Valkyria Chronicles 4 has to offer with little hassle.

If you don't want all of the DLC and are just looking for the base experience, Sega has permanently reduced the price on the main game to $29.99 for all platforms. An all-in-one DLC pack will also be available for $24.99 should you wi?sh to upgrade down the road. I suppose a savings of $5 isn't so bad, but I also am one of those people that has no interest in DLC.

The post Valkyria Chronicles 4 g?ets a com??plete edition at a reduced cost appeared first on Destructoid.

Welkin is back!

[Update: I made an error with the announcement of this DLC. The "United Front with Squad 7" pack was available with the collector's edition of Valkyria Chronicles 4 on console?s and eventuall?y came to digital storefronts on December 23, 2018. This news is specifically for the PC launch of the DLC, which had been delayed. Sega offered it for free to make up to the delay.

The story has been corrected below]

Sega has unleashed finally unleashed the final DLC packs for Valkyria Chronicles 4 on PC today. Both introduce the members of "Squad 7" from the original title. Due to a delay from the console versions, both are being offered for free to anyone that pre-ordered the game or purchased one of the other DLC packs. The headliner, titled "A United Front with Squad 7," will give players the chance to recruit six characters from the first Valkyria Chronicles and even use the "Edelweiss" tank.

Unlike the other DLC chapters, the Squad 7 pack can be accessed fairly early in the game. Once you reach chapter two, you can go about adding Welkin, Alicia and co to your team. If you do get them killed in 4's main missions, though, they will disappear. The second free pack, "Advance Ops," will u??nlock Edy for recruitment and a special wea??pon.

No season pass is available for Valkyria Chronicles 4, so you'll just have to pick any random DLC pack if you didn't pre-order the title. I don't know much about which one is the longest or offers the best value, but there are three different packs available for $4.99 ("The Two Valkyria," "A Captainless Squad" and "Expert Level Skirmishes"). $5 to get the cast of Valkyria Chronicles doesn't sound bad to me.

Squad 7 return in Valkyria Chronicles 4, free with any DLC [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

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Not to be confused with ValKilmera Chronicles, of which we have no copies

Dtoid is the best gaming site around -- no contest! Except this contest. Which is for Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Steam.

Can you believe tha?t, after a month and a half of giving out free games every single day, I haven't given out a single one featuri??ng a dog wearing a hat? And not just any dog -- one that's a trained medic and will rush into battle to help fallen soldiers?!

Who's a good boy?! You're a good boy, Ragnarok!

Do the responsible thing and win a free Steam copy of Valkyria Chronicles 4 so you can give Ragnarok treats.

Take it away, SEGA!

A Continent Engulfed in the Bitter Flames of War! Commander Cl?aude Wallace and his childhood friends set ou?t to fight in a desperate war, but bone-chilling blizzards, waves of imperial soldiers, and the godlike powers of the Valkyria stand between them and victory.

Game features include:

• A Coming-of-Age Story in a Time of War - Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes place in the same timeframe as the original Valkyria Chronicles, but focuses on a whole new cast of main characters. Players will take command of the eager, young Commander Claude Wallace, engineer/heavy weapons extraordinaire Riley Miller, hotheaded Darcsen Raz, ice-cold ace sniper Kai Schulen, and more. Together, they will experience the painful realities of war--but will the bonds of Squad E's friendships survive the frozen battl???efield?  
• The Next Generation "BLiTZ" Battle System - The part overhead turn-based strategy, part RPG, and part real-time 3^rd person shooter "BLiTZ" battle system returns to the field. New features include an explosive new class called the Grenadier, numerous offensive/defensive battleship support options, chances for a unit to have a "Last Stand" action before death, and more. Plus, fight the imperial threat with more units ?on larger-scale maps than ever before.
• CANVAS Aesthetics - The series' signature hand-drawn visual style is back and overhauled for the newest generation. Inspired by watercolor compositions, the CANVAS Graphics Engine blends visual elements of reality and imagination to create an expre??ssive world filled with colorful emotions. Watch the journey of Squad E unfold like an interactive painting!
• The Return of a Legendary Composer - The illustrious Hitoshi Sakimoto, original composer of the Valkyria Chronicles series and countless other emotional epics, returns to provide a sweeping orchestral score for Valkyria Chronicles 4.

In addition to being an awesome game, the PC version supports supports 4K resolutions and an unlocked framerate. Ho??w's that for PC perks?

To enter for your chance to win, comment below telling us your favorite animal trained for combat situations. My flamingo, Eduardo, was a world-renowned martial artist. He exuded confidence and stood for balance in all facets of life. He's the only soldier to date to ever win the ??Pink Heart, the most prestigious award a flamingo can earn. He will be missed.

Our 11 Steam winners will be?? drawn on Friday, October 5. Make sure you comment using a Dtoid account, and that your profile is up to date with your current email address. If I can't contact you, I can't send our dog medic to come rescue you, and you'll have to stick with Jeff the human. He sucks.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is available now on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.

The post Contest: Win Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Steam appeared first on Destructoid.

War Is...Hell, It's Anime

If you were to tell me that your Uncle Who Totally Works At Sega said that Valkyria Chronicles 4, the latest game in the tactical role-playing franchise, was actually developed in 2009 as the original sequel to 2008's Valkyria Chronicles, and then locked up in a vault for ten years before finally being released this month, I would believe you. Sure, I'd be suspicious because the game is called Valkyria Chronicles 4 and not 2, but your case would otherwise be convincing.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is absolutely a sequel to Valkyria Chronicles 1, for better...and for worse.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: September 25, 2018
MSRP: $49.99

Paying attention to Valkyria Chronicles 4's development and marketing over the past year or so since its announcement, this isn't a shocker. Sega has explicitly positioned the game as a return to the roots of the franchise, following the divisive Valkyria Chronicles 2, the nonexistent (at least outside Japan) Valkyria Chronicles 3, and the disappointing Valkyria Revolution.

And they weren't kidding. Virtually every aspect of Valkyria Chronicles 4 oozes reverence for the conventions, visuals, and mechanics of its original forebear, almost to a fault. The only way Valkyria Chronicles 4 could be more like Valkyria Chronicles is if it was a PlayStation 3 exclusive.

This is not to say that that's a bad thing, mind you. Sure, I may have liked the sequels - at one point a younger, dumber version of me even argued Valkyria Chronicles 2 was the best one - but there's no denying that Valkyria Chronicles is the most well-known and well-regarded part of the franchise. Attempting to recall th??at old glory is understandable, and even preferable, all things considered. It's a gorgeous glory to recall, after all. 

More than any other installment (thanks to being on modern platforms instead of the PSP), Valkyria Chronicles 4 looks better than ever. Even at a time when there are at least half a dozen absolutely excellent games rocking an anime-style aesthetic on shelves now, nothing looks quite like a Valkyria Chronicles game. Detailed dieselpunk mechanical designs cribbed off 20th-century military hardware, the sharp-edged characters of artist Raita Honjou, and the painter?ly colors and comic-book special effects of the game's custom CANVAS engine make for an aesthetic triple threat that Sega has done well not to mess with. The game even takes the opportunity to change things up by transitioning to a winter environment halfway through, just to show all the ch??aracters in sweet-looking fur-lined snow jackets and the like.

As with the original, the tension between the game's peaceful look and its warlike nature is reflected in the storytelling. Set once again on the fake-European continent of "Europa" Valkyria Chronicles 4 runs in parallel with the original, occurring du??ring the "Second Europan War" between the Atlantic Federation ??- a vague approximation of the real-world Allied powers - and the Empire, a menacing amalgamation of Germany and Russia's imperial periods, with a predilection for wacky science experiments and silver-haired super-soldiers. The first game followed the plucky youngsters of Gallian Militia Squad 7 as it fought to repel the Imperial invasion of Gallia (aka Anime Belgium). This fourth game picks its plucky youngsters from the Federation's ranks this time, specifically the Armored Ranger Squad E, tasked with salvaging the Federation's war effort...by counter-invading the Empire's capital city.

That's pretty dramatic and all, but in general the plot of Valkyria Chronicles 4 is pretty straightforward, bordering on painfully earnest. The bad guys are mostly bad, the good guys (your guys especially) are mostly good, and no matter how bad things get, there's always some time for a cutesy rom-com gag, an inspirational platitude, or beach episode DLC. And that's fine, for the most part. It's not as if the franchise is known for nuance, and the Empire itself has just enough actual Nazi analogues in its portrayal that no one really wants to take its side. That said, veterans who did get to enjoy the deeper lore of Valkyria Chronicles 2's civil war plot or the "dark history"  angle of Valkyria Chronicles 3 may see 4's campaign as a step back. 

To its credit, Valkyria Chronicles 4 plays to the series' strengths at characterization. The core cast, a group of childhood friends that signed up together after the Empire torched their Gallian hometown, is appealing in its chummy dynamic. Their personal clashes and dilemmas are even touching at times, though predictably cliche, and overall the game’s interactions strike a better balance between the schoolyard antics of Valkyria Chronicles 2's academy students and 3's po-faced penal battalion. Things shine brighter as one explores the dozens of available squadmates, each made that much more real by their biographies, their “Potentials” - passive traits based on their personalities - and their bonds with fellow squaddies. Between this and optional “Squad Stories” side missions, Valkyria Chronicles 4 continues the franchise’s grand tradition of making your squaddies feel like more than little bundles of statistics, and does so well enough that it's no wonder that users modded similar gameplay features into other franchises, like XCOM.  

As far as world-building goes, the game's historical inspirations are as obvious as a pinup girl painted on the side of a bomber's nose. I've always thought the comparisons between the Valkyria Chronicles setting and real history are a bit overblown - often by fans a little too desperate to get non-anime-watching types to pay attention - but it’s saying something that I can roughly describe the entire first half of the game exclusively using World War II analogies. For example, the movements through the first chapters are pretty much "Market Garden transitioning into Operation Barbarossa, with similar results". The story does go to wilder places, particularly in the back half of the campaign, as the game puts a face and personality to its antagonists, and as the t??itular Valkyria start getting involved. Be advised: Those looking for a more grounded war story, or with a low tolerance for what might lovingly be called "anime hijinks" a?re best served elsewhere.

The folks that are well-served by Valkyria Chronicles 4 ;are those whose definition of a good sequel is ??"Like the first o??ne, but with more and better stuff." It appears that Sega's approach to putting the game together involved expanding on the original while cherry-picking the best ideas from its sequels. 

As ever, combat in the game is handled via the franchise's signature blend of turn-based strategy and quasi-real-time combat. During their phase, each side is given a budget of "Command Points" (CP) to spend directly controlling members of their squads. Multiple CP can be spent to make a soldier perform actions in succession, and can also be spent issuing "Orders", powerful temporary buffs to performance. Squads are made up of a mix of di?fferent classes. The classic quintet of nimble Scouts, tough Shocktroopers, anti-armor Lancers, versatile Engineers, and deadly Snipers are all present, though the shielded Armored Tech class introduced in subsequent games is missing in action.

Instead, the sixth soldier class this time is the the Grenadier. Grenadiers carry a massive portable mortar on their backs, and are capable of firing artillery at any enemy in range - even over cover - so long as other characters can spot for them. Grenadiers are even capable of interception fire, and can make any approach a no-man's land during both enemy and player turns. Simply put, they're a game-changer in terms of the tactical texture of Valkyria Chronicles, since their long range and indirect trajectory enables all manner of interesting gambits (even taking into account that artillery-like weapons were available in the o?ther games). Grenadiers also make Engineers an actually useful class this time, since they need frequent resupplies of ammo and he??alth.

Other additions to the feature list include "Last Stands" that allow a mortally wounded soldier to carry out one last attack (or "die" dramatically and refund their cost in CP), and a trick from Valkyria Chronicles 3 that allows an o??ffice??r to piggyback two other squaddies in their action turn - a very useful mechanic for getting the most out of the less-mobile classes, like Lancers and Grenadiers.

Even the mission design shows the lessons learned from three games spent iterating on these foundational mechanics. While every outing can usually be boiled down to one or two core objective types (such as capturing a certain checkpoint), scripted events and environmental gimmickry keeps the structure from getting stale, and challenges players' initial deployments. A mission might begin with a ground assault against a defended capture point (perfect for a squad of Shocktroopers with Grenadier backup), but then, without warning, change over to a fighting retreat, forcing some creative thinking to keep the slow, vulnerable Grenadiers out of harm’s way. Others might demand specialized objectives, like using snipers on the high ground to deny parachuting foes a smooth landing. Twists like that can result in surprisingly brutal battles. I took more casualties in Valkyria Chronicles 4 than in any other installment, and even failed outright multiple times in a row on normal difficulty towards the end, something that never happened in the other three games. Missions can get tougher still in the more explicitly puzzle-like Squad Stories and challenge maps, such as those that stick the player with a specific squad makeup or use super-tough elite enemies. Thankfully, the benefit of foresight and optional skirmishes to grind for exp and cash can soften the sting of defeat, and I got through my run without permanently losing a soldier.

If there's one downside to this approach, it's that it clashes with the reward structure of the game. Like the other games in the series, Valkyria Chronicles 4 hands out experience points and money primarily based on speed, i.e. completing a mission in as few turns as possible. This emphasis on speed can frustrate more methodical players, and can also encourage a style of play that is very "game-y", one that emphasizes running past enemies to capture objectives practically abusing the Order buffs to break the "rules". This quibble isn't unique to Valkyria Chronicles 4, and I've personally made my peace with it, but suffice to say that people who like their squad-tactics games "realistic" may end up frustrated by the mission grades they receive. Further, though the game bills itself as a hybrid of strategy and shooter, the “shooter” portions are dreadful if taken by the standards of dedicated action games. Animations are fiddly, aiming is slow, terrain is awfully specific about what can can can't be traversed, and shooting has the Fallout 3 problem of ultimately being determined? ??by the roll of the dice rather than the player's aiming skill.

There are more subtle improvements to be perceived, especially for veteran players. Grenadiers, as well as balance-related changes help to curb (if not eliminate) the gonzo Scout-rush antics that ultimately broke the other games. Even relatively simple-seeming changes, like AI behavior that actually t?argets soldiers left exposed (or tanks left with visible weak points) has made for a better (if tougher) experience overall. But other minor annoyances were present as early as the first game remain, like the way it backs out to the menu every time a cutscene changes, or the too many button presses required to do almost anything of substance in the Headquarters UI. I understand the desire t?o evoke Valkyria Chronicles as much as ?possible, but these are, fran??kly, things that could’ve been ditched without much outcry.

But that's just me, and I will readily admit not quite being in the target demographic Sega aimed to reach with Valkyria Chronicles 4. Those people that might have played or heard about the original on PS3, or the remastered edition on PC and PS4, while missing out on the interesting, but ultimately doomed PSP sequels, are who matter (rather than diehards like me who would've bought it anyway), and that crowd are going to be happy with Valkyria Chronicles 4's unqualified success in terms of expanding? and improving on the original's visuals and mechanics, while building out the story and setting.

Ultimately, despite being the fourth game in its series, Valkyria Chronicles 4 really is the sequel Valkyria Chronicles needed, and I have to say that I'?m ??pleased that war has never looked more pleasant.

[This review is based on a reta??il build of the game provided by the publisher.]

The post Review: Valkyria Chronicles 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Answer the call

[Update: The demo should be rolling out today on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Valkyria Chronicles 4 is now available to pre-order digitally ahead of its ??????????????????????????release on September 25. Huzzah!]

We are bearing down on the Western release of Sega's charmingly brutal strategy title, Valkyria Chronicles 4. For those of you with a PS4 and a Europea??n PSN account, however, you can catch a glimpse of the anime warfare right now.

A demo has popped up on the European PlayStation Store for the upcoming release,?? which launched in Japan in March of this year. Any progress made in this trial edition will be carried over to the full game, should you be impressed enough to pick up the full release??. The demo is currently not available on other platforms or in other PSN territories, but it is more than possible that the North American store will join in the fun soon.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 recounts the ongoing story of the war between the Atlantic Federation and the Eastern Imperial Alliance, as a squad of brave men and women fight across in the continent o?f Europa in a last-ditch effort to capture the Imperial capital and end the war.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in the We?st on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switc??h on September 25.

The post (Update) Valkyria Chronicles 4 demo now a?vailable on PS4, Xbox One and Switc?h appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm ready for more pondering on the futility of war

If you're excited to see the Western return of Valkyria Chronicles (let's all please forget Valkyria Revolution happened), why not take a gander at the opening cinema??tic?

Sega has uploaded the trailer to YouTube fo?r your viewing pleasure and it just looks wonderful. Sadly, the original Japanese title track is missing, but those are notoriously absent from basically every Sega localization. Record labels really suck.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 Opening Movie [SegaAmerica via YouTube]

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Coming in September

It's kind of hard to believe that the Valkyria Chronicles series is st??ill going.  I mean the original is a classic at this point (it's been a decade, we can call it that), but aft??er that Sega kind of lost that momentum, especially in the west. 

Instead of a full console follow-up we got a PSP sequel, which didn't gel with some fans of the original, and Valkyria Chronicles III just plain wasn't released outside of Japan. From there Japan got a free-to-play card game that fizzled (Chronicles D), and a weird action-RPG follow-up in Revolution. Now, seven years after the release of the last proper entry, we're getting Valkyria Chronicles 4 in the west, with a Switch port no less!

If?? you're interested? in how that'll look, Sega just rolled out a Switch-centric trailer that you can watch below.

The post Get a quick look at Valkyria Chronicles 4’s Switch port appeared first on Destructoid.

Beautifying the brutalities of war

My appointment with Sega and Atlus at E3 probably could have gone a lot better. Nothing was really planned for me, and as such, my handlers for the session didn’t have everything in place for me to try out their games properly. There were no headphones, and while I was able to power through two songs in Persona 5: Dancing Star Night, it wouldn’t be right for me to comm??ent on them here. I c??ouldn't hear a goddamn thing from the puny television speakers.

I also didn’t get much time with Shining Resonance Refrain, though I did get to meet one of the creators of the original game as he was in my demo office playing it because there was nobody around who spoke Japanese to tell him we needed the room. I felt bad about having him leave because playing Refrain was a trip down memory lane for him.

Most of my hour was spent with Valkyria Chronicles 4, the latest entry in the celebrated but sales-challenged tactical RPG series from Sega. Currently available in Japan for the PlayStation 4, the game will launch out west on September 25 for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The latter version is the one I asked to t??est out and thankfully, the team had a dev kit Switch on-hand to show it to me.

I was told Sega is expecting this title to be its big release for the year; strange given its history and the fact the company is releasing a new Sonic racing title this fall. I don’t k?now if this game will do for the franchise what the previous entries couldn’t, all I know is I can&rs??quo;t wait to play the full game.

My demo consists mostly of the first mission of the game, i.e. the tutorial. It walks me through the basic units I’ll be working with in the final game and introduces a few strategies for taking out opposing forces with finesse. I take control of a tank, a sniper, and a gunner as I wipe my enemies from the beautiful battleground. Chronicles 4 looks stunning on Switch and, when compared side-??by-side with the PlayStation 4 version, holds up pretty damn well. This parity is possible ??because of the art direction chosen for the game.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 employs a colored pencil aesthetic, bringing the game to life like a sketch artist doing impressi?onist drawings at a park. It looks as good in action as it does in any trailer or screenshot, and it’s the little touches that really make it shine. The picture doesn’t fill the screen entirely but rather fades in ever so slightly to give the appearance the game is playing out on a piece of parchment. When I swivel the camera around, I notice a filter on the picture that gives fleeting glances pencil strokes, solidifying the game’s grasp of this visual concept.

If I had a larger vocabulary I could continue gushing about my love for the look of this game, but I imagine some people want me to talk about how it plays. The Switch build, from what I am told, is a week old at the time of my hands-on session. Another build was sent earlier in the day but wasn’t available to play. Doesn’t really matter though because this build holds up splendidly. The transition from overhead map to moving my troops on the ground is seamless, and while the zoom of the sniper could be a bit more clear on the Switch screen, it doesn’t stop me from la??nding those headshots.

I have, I believe, three copies of Valkyria Chronicles sitting unplayed on my various devices right now (thank you, Humble Bundle). When I bought the first of those copies, I was content to just add the game to my backlog. After spending just 20 minutes with Valkyria Chronicles 4, that game has moved to the top of my list.

The post Valkyria Chronicles 4 releases this September and it’s a work of art appeared first on Destructoid.

Back to the battlefield

During this week's E3 festivities in Los Angeles, Sega released a new trailer for the localised version of their lovely-looking anime wargame, Valkyria Chronicles 4.

The new video features clips from the strategy sequel, including a look at in-game mechanics such as the Blitz battle system, the game's blend of action and turn-based tactical command, and the all-new Grenadier class. We also get to hear, for the first time, samples of VC4's new English dub.

Having released in Japan in March of this year, the Western localisation of Valkyria Chronicles 4 will also add Xbox One and PC to the list of platforms, so most everybody will have the opportunity to lead the?? brave?? men and women of Squad E against the overwhelming might the Eastern Imperial Alliance.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in the West, late??r thi?s year, on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.

The post E3 Valkyria Chronic??les 4 trailer features English?? dub appeared first on Destructoid.

Yakuzin for a bruisin

E3 is next week and Sega will be present on the show floor along with Atlus. The two companies will be showing off a bunch of their upcoming titles with the likes of Yakuza Kiwami 2, Valkyria Chronicles 4, Total War: Three Kingdoms and Team Sonic Racing taking the spotlights. There will also be gameplay from Shining Resonance Refrain and a brand new trailer for Catherine: Full Body.

While there won't be a formal conference for either company, Sega will be streaming every day from the E3 show floor. This is where you'll be able to catch the new Catherine trailer before the internet spoils anything for you. You can find them on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube, where they wi??ll be holding i??nterviews with developers behind the games and showing off some "exclusive content."

With Kiwami 2 coming shortly, I'm more interested to see what Total War: Three Kingdoms has in ?store. I'm dying to see Lu Bu just annihilate a couple of thousand people with ease.

The post Sega and Atlus’ E3 includes Yakuza, Total War and Valkyria Chronicles appeared first on Destructoid.

Tanks for the memoirs

Sega have revealed some new details on the Western release of the anime warfare title Valkyria Chronicles 4, which launches in North America and Europe later t??his year.

A new trailer, which you can check out below, introduces you to the members of Squad E (although I feel like I've met them about thirty times already). Lead by tactician Claude Wallace, and backe?d up by a brave platoon of medics, snipers, technicians and even a doge in a jaunty?? hat, Squad E are read to take the fight to front line of the Imperial Alliance.

Also revealed, for the more hardcore fan of the series, is the game's Premium Edition. This "Memoirs from Battle" set includes a copy of the game - complete with two side-missions featuring the awesome Squad E of the original Valkyria Chronicles - a 100 page art book stylised as Claude's journal and a vinyl statue of the "Hafen"; Squad E's trusty tank. This set is expected to go on sale for around $100 and you can find various pre-order links at the game's official site.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is out now?? in Japan. It is coming to PS4 and Switch worldwide this Fall.

The post Valkyria Chronicles 4 gets new trailer and ‘Memoirs from Battle’ Premium Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you want the good news, or the bad?

Sega, at their ongoing Fes event in Akihabara, Tokyo had some mixed news for Valkyria Chronicles fans, regarding the Japanese Nintendo Switch release? of th??e series' latest entry.

The bad news is that Valkyria Chronicles 4 has been delayed on Nintendo's hybrid-console. Originally scheduled for release in Summer, VC4 will now arrive sometime in Fall. A clip of the game running on Switch was recorded by Nintendo Everything, and can be viewed below.

In happier news, the original Valkyria Chronicles game will also be released on the Nintendo platform. So at least, come Fall, Japanese Switch owners will have two great strategy titles to take on their daily commute. Whether this delay will also push back? the Western Switch release is unknown.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is out now on PS4 in Japan. It is currently scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018, with a recent rumour pointing to October 16.

The post Japan: Valkyria Chron??icles 4 for Switch delayed, original game to be re-released on the platform appeared first on Destructoid.

Bash at the Beach

There's a famous saying that only two thing??s in life are cert?ain: "Death and Taxes". But I'm really starting to think that the idiom needs updating to "Death and Passes".

Sega have revealed a Season Pass for their upcoming strategy warfare game Valkyria Chronicles 4. Buying the Pass enables the player to receive a selection of post-release DLC content, which will take the Federation Army and their battalion of ??tanks to the sea-side, among other locations.

Four new scenarios will be added to the main campaign: Squad E to the Sea! (March 29), Captainless Squad E (April 5), The Two Valkyrias (April 19), and the amazingly titled Raid Battle Hard EX! (April 12) Several of these scenarios can only be playing after reaching designated points in the main campaign. Completing Squad E to the Sea will also unlock beach?wear for Riley, Minerva, Claude, Kai and Raz, perfect for frontline warfare.

It is undenia??bly unfortunate that all four scenarios have release dates within a month of the game's Japanese launch date, as it reeks of "Cut-out content". However, such matters are sadly no longer a surprise. The Season Pass will be available alongside today's Japanese release, and is priced at ¥4,000, or around $38.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan today on PS4 and Summer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018, with a recent rumour pointing to October 16.

The post Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan and unv??eils Season Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

If you want peace...

The official English website for Sega's upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4 has opened its pre-??order page. Vario?us outlets, linking from said page, list a supposed release date for the game.

Clicking the pre-order link on the official site offers up several digital retail stores, with both Amazon.com and Videogamesplus.ca listing Valkyria Chronicles 4 as landing on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo ?Switch on October?? 16. This date would, obviously, fit snugly with the game's previous "Fall 2018" release window.

Obviously ??this is not an officially announced date from Sega themselves, but hopefully its more than just a placeholder, and budding soldiers of the Federation Army can start to prepare themselves for the upcoming f??racas with the Eastern Imperial Alliance.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan March 21 on PS??4 and Summer on Nintendo Swi??tch. It is scheduled for release in the West on  PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018.

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Naval frigate brings support to the troops

Sega has put out a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming strategy title Valkyria Chronicles 4. The new video features the Edinburgh Army's pride and joy: war frigate The Centurion.

The Centurion is an almighty ship that can arrive ashore within the upcoming ?sequel's harsh, icy terrain. Players can use "Ship Order" turns to allow The Centurion to supply them with support ?in battle, either through the delivery of extra units and vehicles, repairing damaged utilities, or simply letting rip with its almighty cannons.

In the game's lore, The Centurion is the second of three such ships, designed to provide backup in inhospitable terrain, bringing help to it's allies and devastation to its foes.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan March 21 on PS4 and Summer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, X??box One ??and Switch later in 2018.

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Shoot stuff, don't get blown up

Sega have released an extended video looking at the in-game battle system of their upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4. T?he video showcases the series' turn-based warfare, as well?? as advertising some of the new iterations classes.

Obviously the video is in Japanese, but any VC veterans will instantly recognise most of the mechanics on display here. The series has been praised in the past for its interesting and intense tactical combat, and it looks like this latest chapter in the dramatic series will be no ?exception.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan i?n March on PS4 and Sum?mer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018. A demo is currently available on the Japanese PSN store.

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Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

Japanese PlayStation 4 owners can now download a demo of Sega's upcoming turn-based battle title Valkyria Chronicles 4. The demo wen?t li?ve on the PSN store in the East earlier today.

Weighing in at a somewhat hefty 5.3GB, the demo lets players play through the sequel's opening, coming to an end at the second chapter of the main campaign. Save data from the demo will? be carried over into the main release of the title, which lands in Japan next month.

Of course, sneaky fans in the West may be able to access the demo through alt acc?ounts, though I assume that there will be some trial-and-error involved in making your way through the ?games menus, but such trivial matters wouldn't stop the soldiers of the Federation Army, right?

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan in Ma??r?ch on PS4 and Summer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018.

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Featuring battle doggo

Sega continues its marketing drive as the release of strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4 approaches. A new trailer introduces us to more heroes from t?he Federation Army, se??t to take the fight to the Eastern Imperial Alliance.

The new trailer catches glimpses of grumpy hipster Minerva Victor, tank expert Dan Bentley, out-of-place child Angelica Fanarby and Medic Karen Stewart, comp?lete with her jaunty-hat-sporting sidekick, Ragnarok. Also making an appearance are the cheerful Miles Abegg and the no-nonsense tank commander Ronald Albee.

So far, all of these trailers and reveals paint the game as little more than a tweaked, expanded and improved sequel to previous Valkyria Chronicles titles. They aren't reinventing the wheel here. But those games are pretty damn good, so I guess it's just a ca?se of "If it ain't broke". Now, if only we had a PC announcement...

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan in March o??n PS4 and Su??mmer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018.

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The front line of Division No.1

Sega have started a new series of trailers featuring the characters of upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4. The latest chapter in the series features more young men and women t?hrust into the dramatic conflict between the Atlantic Federation and the Eastern Imperial Alliance.

This first trailer stars the soldiers of The Edinb??urgh Army, Division No.1, or Squad E, led by the game's lead, Commander Claude Wallace. Wallace is backed by his ?loyal troops, including childhood friend and weapons expert Riley Miller, expert sharpshooter Kai Schulen, and brash assault trooper Raz.

These four characters make up the game's protagonists, and the player's eyes into their violent, unforgiving world. They will meet many allies and enemies along the way, which we will no doubt meet in further trailers in this series.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan in March on PS4 and Summer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on? PS4, Xbox One and Switch lat?er in 2018.

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Alicia & Welken return to the battlefield

Sega have released a new two-minute DLC trailer for upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4. The exclusive mission is featured as part of the game's Lim?ited Edition release.

Joint Operation will see the new band of heroes from VC 4's Squad E team up with the recognisable faces of Squad 7, the heroes of previous Valkyria Chronicles titles. Alicia Melchiott, Welken Gunther, Isara Gunther and others ?will return to face the opposing forces of the Eastern Imperial Alliance.

Upon completion of Joint Operation, the Squad 7 characters will be available to use in VC 4's main campaign mode. While there has been no? confirmation that the DLC will feature as a part of the game's Western release, we all know how this is going to play out.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches on PS4 in Japan in M??arch 2018?, with a Switch release to follow in Summer. The Western release is scheduled for sometime in 2018.

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Japan only, too

It seems with any new game coming out in Japan, there is a themed PS4 console to go along with it. If you're a fan of Valkyria Chronicles and are eagerly awaiting the upcoming 4, why not import this garish looking bea??st? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

This model is a PS4 Slim and it comes in 500 GB (33,480 yen) and 1 TB (38,480 yen) variants. You'll also (obviously) get a copy o??f the game with this bundle alongside a PS4 theme to show off to ??????????????????????????your friends. This console will be available the same day as the game, which comes out March 21 in Japan.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 Gets A Limited Edition PlayStation 4 In Japan [Siliconera]

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Preparing for battle...

Details have emerged about the Japanese Special Edition for Sega's dramatic war sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4.

The "10th Anniversary Memorial Box" comes with a 72-page book, featuring art from all titles in the series. Also included is a soundtrack CD, which contains 25 cuts from Valkyria Chronicles' emotional score. Rounding off the package is some exclusive DLC. "Joint Operation with Squad 7" will see previous VC heroes Alicia Melchiott, Welken Gunther and co. return for one more char??ge up the battlefield.

The 10th Anniversary set will retail in Japan for around ¥13,000 -- roughly $120 -- but there is unfortunately no news as to whether the set will be localised for the game's release in North America and Europe. Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan March 21 on PS4, and on the Switch in Summer. It will follow in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch sometime later in 2018.

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Let battle commence...

[UPDATE: You can watch the entire three-hour live stream here, featurin?g screenshots, trailers, and an abundance of in?-game footage]

During a Japanese live stream earlier today, Sega revealed the first gameplay footage of upcoming strategy sequel, Valkyria Chronicles 4. ??The video featured some of the game's new characters in action, as well as refreshing us all on some of the series' classi?c mechanics.

The video contains footage? of the game's all-new Grenadier class as well as the game's customisable vehicles. We can also see the classic Command Point system in effect, all of which is showcased in the game's iconic watercolour aesthetics and "Photo Album" presentation-style. A trademark of the series.

The live stream is part of Sega's huge marketing drive on the title, which has seen numerous features in Japanese publications such as Famitsu, intended to familiarise fans with the new heroes, villains, classes and medical doggos of Valkyria's latest entry. Now that there's some footage out there for fans to get their teeth into, what do you think? Do you like what you see?

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is scheduled for release on PS4, Xbox One and Switch in? 2018.

Sega live stream Valkyria Chronicles 4 gameplay [Dualshockers]

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Watercolour warfare

Sega will host a live stream next week to showcase the first ever gameplay footage of upcoming strategy title Valkyria Chronicles 4.

The broadcast is set for December 27 at 20:00 JST/ 03:00 PT/ 11:00 GMT. It will be available to watch live on Periscope, LINE Live, or, for the more traditional among us, YouTube. Hosted by Valkyria Chronicles mega-fan Hashiyan Kousaka, and featuring voice-actors Naomi Ohzora and Yukiyo Fujii, the stream will give us a glimpse of? the beautiful but war-torn imagery in the anticipated sequel.

Sega have not been shy with info for the game, releasing a lot of images and data concerning characters, classes and mechanics. Hopefully all this hype and hope will pay off when Valkyria Chronicles 4 hits PS4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in 2018.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 live stream announcement [Official site]

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MEDIC DOGGO!

The latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu features more details on battle-based sequel, Valkyria Chronicles 4. The articl??e reveals some new cast members and contains information on the new game's leveling mechanics.

Minerva Victory is a squad leader who remains calm under pressure and respects chivalry. Angelica Farnaby is an amnesiac civilian, described as "cheerful, selfless and kind". The new character reveal is rounded out with medic Kare?n Stewart. Karen was raised in an all-male household, which apparently means she is "skilled in the treatment of men".  I guess female soldiers will have to settle for treatment at the paws of medic canine Ragnarok, a dog wearing a JAUNTY HAT.

In VC4, players will level up classes, rather than individual soldiers. So, should you level up Karen, for example, all of the medics in your squad will hit that level. I think this is a pretty g??ood idea, as it will provide variety in team-building, rather than have you just stick it out with the same top-tier? squad.

Amazingly for a game that is still clouded in mystery, we are already receiving info on its Day One DLC. Joint Operation with Squad 7 will see the heroes team with the Gallan Militia's Squad 7, and will also feature the return of Welken Gunther from the original Valkyria Chronicles.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is expected to launch in Japan on PS4 in March. Th?e?????????????????????????? game will come to PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch worldwide sometime in 2018.

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Games without frontiers, war without tears

Japanese mag Famitsu, which appears to be single-handedly pumping out info for Sega's Valkyria Chronicles 4, has revealed a selection? of all-new characters who will be arriving on the battlefield next year.

The most attention in the article is paid to the won?derfully-monikered Crimaria Revane. Crimaria is a new Valkyria, dressed in elegant military garb and rocking long, icy hair. She is shown accompanied by her wolf companion, Fenrir, and appears armed with snowflake-shaped weaponry.

The other five characters mentioned in the article are Forse, Nikola Grev, Krautz Voltz, Ber??ger and Kiara Rosina. These new characters will join the game's ranks of dedicated, world-weary soldiers??. The can be spotted in the bottom-right of the picture below.

Also revealed was a new in-game mechanic k??nown as "Brave". On the verge of death, a soldier may be granted one of two options: "Entrust" will award one Comma??nd Point and boost a nearby ally's abilities, whereas "Rise Up" awards one Action Point and allows for one invincible turn.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches on PS4 in Japan? in March 2018, with a Switch release to follow in Summer. The Western release is sche?duled for sometime in 2018.

Thanks to Gematsu, Ryokutya 2089 and Hachima Kiko for images and translations.

The post New characters and mechanics revealed for V??alkyria Chronicles 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Minor spoilers below

Sega has updated their official site for real-time-strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4,?? which was announced last week on multiple console platforms.

The update tells us a little more about the state of play within the game's war-torn universe, as well as expanding upon the characters Raz and Kai Schulen, who were revealed in a Famitsu article at the weekend. The details are as follows (Translation courtesy of Gematsu.)

World:

Characters:

Raz (voiced by Kazuya Nakai) 

"Edinburgh Army 101st Division No. 1 Battle Brigade No. 32 Armored Ranger Battalion Squad E division officer and Assault soldier. His rank is sergeant. He is aggressive and quick to get into fights, and talks with a rough tone. He tends to misunderstand due to h??is clumsy personality, but he is extremely caring of his friends."

Kai Schulen (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto)

"Edinburgh Army 101st Division No. 1 Battle Brigade No. 32 Armored Ranger Battalion Squad E division officer. She is a sniper master sergeant. She is Claude, Raz, and Riley’s childhood friend, and is usually silent and blunt. With the nickname “One Shot Killer,” she is a prodigy sharpshooter whose eyes conceal a strong purpose."

In addition to the new lore details, a story trailer has been released. It all looks very exciting. Hopefully Western audiences won't have to wait to long to get their hands on a local?isation of the game, which launches on PS4 in Japan March 2018, with a Switch release to follow in the?? Summer.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 new details [Official Site via Gematsu]

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Game development '90% complete'

The latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu features a wealth of art, screenshots and info on upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4, which surprised fans with its sudden announcement earlier this week.

Very minor spoilers ahead, of course...

Claude, the game's hero, will lead his comrades into battle via his mid-sized tank,?? The Hafen, which is named after his hometown. Backing him up is his estranged childhood friend Riley and an emotionally curt sniper (aren't they always?) named Kai Shuren. Claude must rely on his allies, the Hafen and his intuition about the weather (apparently) to garner victory in battle?.

Infantry classes will be divided into Scouts, Lancers, Shocktroopers, Snipers, Engineers a?nd the all-new Grenadier class. The latter are very long-range attacker who fire RPGs, mortar-style, across the battlefield, flushing the enemy out of cover and providing high-dama?ge against vehicles, they are very weak at short-range combat.

Though no?? further information was given about a specific release date, it was mentioned that the game development is a solid 90% complete, so here's hoping it will rolling into battle worldwide soon.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 ar??rives on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo?? Switch in 2018.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 Famitsu article [Siliconera]

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Alive and kicking!

Earlier this year, the Valkyria franchise was in a bad state with the release of Valkyria Revolution, which released to poor scores and some of the worst sales in the history of the franchise. It seemed like it was about to be laid to rest, among the numerous IPs in the Sega graveyard, desp?ite the success of the re-release for the original game. However, it w??ould appear that those fears were for nothing, as the company has announced the next main entry in the franchise will be deploying in 2018.

Oh, and?? also that it will be coming to all major consoles instead of just? Sony consoles.

Many features of what made people fall in love with the original will be returning in the newest installment. Hitoshi Sakimoto, the composer for the series and other works such as Final Fantasy XII, will be in charge once again for the orchestral soundtrack. The CANVAS graphics engine will be returning as well and overhauled for the new generation of consoles, providing the distinctive visuals the series is known for. However the biggest confirmation is the new features to the battle system, such as a ne??w Grenadier class, a "Last Stand" action before a units death, along with promises of larger-scale maps than ever before.

There is one curious absence from the announcement trailer however. While the game was confirmed for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, there is no announcement of a PC port. Which is a shocker, as what numbers can be found indicate it sold ju??st over 900 thousand units, and can be partly attributed to the rev??ival of the franchise internationally.

That being said, I'm just happy to have more Valkyria Chronicles. It's one of the few franchises that I can say I double dipped on, buying the PlayStation 4 port despite having the PC version. Hopefully it lives up?? to t??he original game, which I consider to be one of my favorite games of all time.

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