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Valkyria Chronicles 1 is one of my favorite games of all time. Not owning a PSP, I was never able to play VC2 or 3 (which I also heard were both meh). Meaning that the last time I was able to get my hands on a Valkyria game was Azure Revolution which was...absolutely awful, made by a different team, and had nothing to do with the other games in the series. So you can imagine my excitement to finally be playing VC4, 10 years after the initial game released. And boy is it worth the wait.
Quick summary: VC is a tactical RPG where you pick (usually) 10 units to send into battle, and then move them around a map by selecting them from an overview mode (think Fire Emblem), then physically controlling them in a third-person shooter style. The setting is an alternate universe's version of the the early-mid 1900s with the Empire basically being WW1 Russia (Russian Winter + some characters in Russian attire) combined with WW2 Germany (concentration camps and segregation of specific group of ppl, scorched earth, weird experiments). Then sprinkle on some fantasy elements with Valkyrur having strange powers and Ragnite, a mineral with crazy energy that works like this world's electricity.
The good:
-The game still has that great "sketch" look with hand-drawn textures and a subtle filter over the screen.
-Character models are far more detailed and expressive.
-Visual effects are majorly improved. Sandbags fall apart with physics, ragdolls aren't as silly as VC1, snow actually gets pressed down when characters/vehicles move across it, and even some really nice attention to detail such as tank ragnite engines giving off tons of steam during winter missions.
-TONS of new gameplay mechanics: Captains can move with 3 other ppl, APCs, call in special assistance from command, Grenadier units, Elite snipers can now intercept fire, mortar lancers, etc.
-Missions are way more varied and interesting. VC1, as fun as it was, was typically just "kill all enemies/capture all bases/kill boss unit". This game mixes things up quite a bit with more objectives as well as changing objectives multiple times in a mission.
-Squad isn't just randos. In VC1, your squad mates had personalities, but that was about it. They were relegated purely to just being the forces you deployed and didn't exist outside of gameplay. In VC4, not only do your squad mates appear and take part in cutscenes and dialog, but they even all get their own side missions. Doing these side missions gives you a look into the characters as well as gets rid of some of their negative Potentials with positive ones (ex- being around tanks lowers AP changes to being around tanks increases defense).
-TONS of new customization options. You can now equip accessories, there are more branching paths in R&D so you can tweak individual squadmates (ex- make one shocktrooper have high defense and high attack w/ poor accuracy so their playstyle is now running face-first into gunfire to decimate enemies from up close). You can also tweak your tank's emblem for different stat boosts.
The game isn't flawless, however.
The bad:
-Enemy AI still isn't very great. They still have a bad habit to run directly in front of your troops or even run past them while getting shot before finally stopping to shoot back. This might be different in harder difficulties, I haven't tried yet.
-Some dialog and cutscene transitions are a little weird and animation can be stilted at times. Doesn't really ruin anything, but it does make some of the viznovel style scenes a little janky.
-Some crazy difficulty spikes. There's a point pretty far into the game, I think around chapter 12 where the difficulty SKYROCKETS. I'm talking rarely having any of my troops get downed to suddenly having half my troops getting gun downed in a single turn. Probably also doesn't help that this mission also introduces an enemy ability to essentially undo your entire previous turn.
-Some weird hitboxes/collisions. It doesn't happen often, but there were a couple times where I had a clear line of sight to an enemy only to have the bullet hit the collision of a wall/rubble that extended way too far off the 3d model. Only happened maybe 2 times, but it was frustrating nonetheless.
Overall, this game is fantastic and exactly what I wanted out of a series that I've been waiting to get more of for an entire decade. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves tactical RPGs (Fire Emblem, FF Tactics, etc), if you enjoyed the first game, or even if you're a newcomer (this game takes place during the first game so you can play this without knowing anything about the previous entries).
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From the manufacturer
This is a tale of a bittersweet adolescence: the failures and triumphs of young hearts struggling to find themselves amidst the chaos of the battlefield.
Valkyria Chronicles 4: Memoirs From Battle Edition - PlayStation 4
A Chilling Gaze into the Flames of War.
Hundreds of miles awayfrom Gallia lies a battlefieldwith tales of sacrifice hidden beyondthe snow, waiting to be uncovered.
In the year 1935 EC, the continent of Europa is split between the Federation and the Empire. As the Imperial army dominates the Eastern Theater, the Federate forces launch Operation Northern Cross, a last-ditch effort to tip the scales. The commander of Squad E tests his will against the bonds of his allies, the weight of their trust, and the sacrifices they all must make.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2018
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2018
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
I love Valkyria Chronicles and have no doubt I will love this game. I am the third review (as I type this) and began to get worried as people posted their bad reactions to the physical product.
My tank is incomplete, it is missing the flag. The flag is nowhere in my package. There is a hole on top of the tank where it is supposed to go.
As someone who almost never orders special editions, it is disappointing that the one time I do, someone takes a ****in my lunchbox.
The art book looks great, the digital code for the missions (the main reason I got the special edition) is there, the doggo controller skin is inside the game box, etc.
The tank is just disappointing. I expect a complete product. Shame on the company for the poor quality control.
This is not a review of the game. I can tell you at minimum this game will likely get 4 stars from me. This poor review is for the special edition. Go ahead and avoid it. If you get lucky and everything is in the right shape, I am happy for you. Personally, I still like the tank, I’m just upset in principle on not getting the full product I plopped my hard earned money down for.
EDIT- Roomate was screwing with me, hid the flag. We are good. I did note some tread damage as another review stated, but it was so minor I bent it to normal shape. Since the flag was there, I’m satisfied and increasing the stars. The flag not being painted is disappointing but not a huge issue.
My tank is incomplete, it is missing the flag. The flag is nowhere in my package. There is a hole on top of the tank where it is supposed to go.
As someone who almost never orders special editions, it is disappointing that the one time I do, someone takes a ****in my lunchbox.
The art book looks great, the digital code for the missions (the main reason I got the special edition) is there, the doggo controller skin is inside the game box, etc.
The tank is just disappointing. I expect a complete product. Shame on the company for the poor quality control.
This is not a review of the game. I can tell you at minimum this game will likely get 4 stars from me. This poor review is for the special edition. Go ahead and avoid it. If you get lucky and everything is in the right shape, I am happy for you. Personally, I still like the tank, I’m just upset in principle on not getting the full product I plopped my hard earned money down for.
EDIT- Roomate was screwing with me, hid the flag. We are good. I did note some tread damage as another review stated, but it was so minor I bent it to normal shape. Since the flag was there, I’m satisfied and increasing the stars. The flag not being painted is disappointing but not a huge issue.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
DL
The good and bad, in depth review
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2018Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
DL
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2018
Firstly, the star of this show - the Hafen tank. As others have stated, it definitely feels pretty small. However, relative to scale model tanks, this tank fits right in, so if you're also a tank hobbyist, this tank is for you. The detail on it is decent, but definitely not to the level of a hobby grade model tank.
An issue that some reviewers have stated is the tank's quality control is pretty poor. Wheels are misaligned, the ragnite heatsink on the back is bent, and a few other things. Fortunately, it's made out of vinyl so it becomes soft and pliable under heat. If you want to fix your tank, all you have to do is gently heat it with a hair dryer until it's warm and soft, reposition the part, and cool it with cold water.
One personal problem I have with the tank is the paint and detail are lacking and inaccurate. It doesn't have the same sheen as the prototype shot, which works out in its favor since tank metal is not supposed to be shiny anyway. But overall it looks too much like a toy, and some parts that are supposed to be colored weren't. So I decided to take out my old acrylic paints and make a project out of it. I added weathering to it to make it look more dirty and realistic, and painted in detail that was missing. This included some yellow accents, silver buckles, the black front axle cover, and the Federation flag. I also filled the title logo, which was questionably unpainted. I've posted pictures of it my work, which you can compare with others' review for a "before and after" to see what you'd be missing or want to paint if you want to try this project out for yourself.
The artbook is fairly substantial compared to other limited edition art booklets. It's got some heft to it, with a solid bound spine, a soft texture to the cover, and high gloss paper inside. The content isn't as comprehensive as a full scale Valkyria Chronicles artbook unfortunately, but is a nice collector's item. The main characters are covered, as well as all the Squad E soldiers with their bios, some weapons, a few tanks, including some spoilers, and all the decals you can obtain in the game are showcased.
The box itself has a nice build, with various photos from the game decorating it. It definitely looks like a memento box, or some sort of ammo case and fits with the theme very well. Unfortunately, the inside packaging isn't that great. It's just formed plastic that holds everything in place well enough, but I think more could be done here.
The DLC content, as of right now, is exclusively accessible through the limited edition and can't be bought on the Playstation Store yet. The content is a good amount to chew on, spanning several missions across a few hours of play time. It's a sort of "dream team " scenario where Squad E collaborates with Squad 7 in a few missions. Completing these missions unlocks the main characters from Squad 7 as playable soldiers in Squad E. They're pretty powerful - right up there with the leader characters.
The second piece of DLC included is a simple mission that after completion unlocks the ever-popular Edy from Valkyria Chronicles 1.
The game itself is absolutely amazing. If you enjoyed the first Valkyria Chronicles, you will feel right at home, and even more challenged. The introduction of new weapon classes, new interesting abilities, and enemy types is not only refreshing, but adds to the challenge with new tactics. The overall feel of the game is very much like Valkyria Chronicles 1. If you played Valkyria Chronicles 2, or Revolution, and was horribly disappointed by how much they departed from Valkyria Chronicles 1 then you won't be disappointed here.
The challenges of each level captures the intensity of the great moments in the first game, but even more so. You always feel like you're on the cusp of losing a soldier, but not so much that things feel impossible or insurmountable. Every turn feels like you're teetering between the brink of defeat and the edge of victory.
Overall, I think that this limited edition isn't an absolute must. It has some good items, and the quality is decent, but feels a bit short of perfection. Fortunately, the tank can be a fun project if you're inclined, and the manufacturing defects are entirely fixable by anyone. It not having a separate soundtrack CD for the amazing score is quite a letdown. If you do like hobby painting, or just like to collect limited editions, what's included does have that "cool collectible" factor to it. You'll be brimming with nostalgia years later when you open your limited edition again to check out the artbook or admire the tank.
Valkyria Chronicles 1 was an amazing game that didn't do so well because of poor marketing and distribution on Sega's part, leading to the poorly made Valkyria Chronicles 2, and the decision not to localize Valkyria Chronicles 3. If you feel that this game is for you, but the limited edition isn't, definitely pass on the limited edition, but buy the regular edition of this game.
Images in this review
Abner Torres
Juegazo
Reviewed in Mexico on February 24, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Richard.H
Disappointing quality on the tank figure, does not match promotion pictures
Reviewed in Canada on September 27, 2018Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Richard.H
Reviewed in Canada on September 27, 2018
There was no issues whatsoever with the artbook, decal, special box or the code itself. The artbook is actually pretty impressive considering some other collector editions throw a pathetic 20ish page artbook in or toss in some whimpy little booklet (Hello Fire Emblem Awakening). This Premium Edition for Valkyria Chronicles 4 gives a nice 100 page artbook instead and while it's nowhere near as detailed as the full artbooks published by Udon for Valkyria Chronicles 1-3, it is enough to get a good look at all the characters in the game and some vehicles and weapons too.
Now for the most important and most disappointing object in the edition: the Hafen tank.
As you can see in my pictures:
- The paint job is nothing like the promotion pictures, there's no metallic look at all on this tank. The metallic green and gold paint from the promotion pictures are gone and the tank is made with flat green and brown parts.
- The rear radiator of the tank has taken a hit right out of the box and is bent inwards and outwards. (Picture #2)
- The flag is a joke. Just take a look at that dirty white flag of surrender and compare that to the promotion picture. (Picture #3)
- I had to fix this issue myself but my tank came with bent treads and I had to pull the back treads really hard to straighten then out. A minor issue that can be fixed yourself if you also have it. (Picture #4)
I have no doubts that the game is going to be great from reviews calling this game a return to form after being trapped on the PSP and the terrible Valkyria Revolution. It's just disappointing that the Premium Edition is nearly double the price of the standard here in Canada and we get a tank figure with the quality control of a happy meal toy. Judging from the reviews over on Amazon.com, I am far from alone with these issues.
If you're buying the Premium Edition for the tank, just forget about it. If you're collecting artbooks, better to wait and see if a full size artbook similar to the ones VC 1-3 got gets published. The decal is forgettable and the DLC will probably be available separately later on.
Overall, the difference from the tank in the promotion pictures and the actual tank is pretty much deception and I'm giving this 2 stars specifically for it along with the damaged radiator on my tank.
If you want this game, I recommend getting the standard edition. If you bought the Premium Edition already I strongly recommend that you open it immediately and check for damage or poor quality work.
Images in this review
Mr. Oscar ^-^
Para fans de Valkyria Chronicles y más...
Reviewed in Mexico on February 6, 2019Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
Arturo
Esta bien, pero tal vez el tanque no lo valga
Reviewed in Mexico on February 17, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: Memoirs from Battle EditionVerified Purchase
