Valkyria Chronicles Catch-All

Double post.

I am ok with the story and characters but i get why some don't like it. However, it's worth playing the game even just for the unique gameplay it offers and skipping the cut scenes. I have played only a couple of SRPGs (Final Fantasy Tactics, Jeanne D'Arc, attempted Disgaea twice but failed miserably) in recent years but Valkyria Chronicles is probably the most accessible one and yet still manages to offer a challenging experience.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:

I can let you borrow the game.

Thanks. If I had a PS3, I'd take you up on it. My plans to buy one fell through. Ah well, they'll be cheap someday.

Ah, I thought you did just pick one up. Moving on ...

No, that was Minarchist, my clone.

No, I just really want to. We're on budget lockdown right now due to the freelance landscape containing tumbleweeds. That's weird, too, because I also thought you just bought one.

Wait, you were going to, but you got the Kindle instead, right?

Minarchist wrote:

Wait, you were going to, but you got the Kindle instead, right?

Yep.

So now I'm confused: who just got a PS3? I'm just sad that it wasn't me.

Apparently nobody, because they're out of stock everywhere.

If you didn't pick up last week's DLC you should really consider it. It is probably the best DLC yet.

It's six separate skirmishes, which can be played at any time from the skirmish menu. Each one is a challenge devoted to the skills of a particular unit. For example the scout mission has a single scout moving through the woodland paths taking out other scouts, while the engineer challenge requires you to move small squad to a treadless tank and then escort it back.

Each mission gives you experience and money to spend in the campaign, like any other skirmish, and you can use whatever characters you like from your squad.

Some of these are really challenging too. I haven't finished all of them yet. The lancer challenge has you up against a virtual ocean of tanks, with none of your own. I would suggest that you don't attempt these missions until you have all your units up to elite status, you'll need the extra abilities and improved accuracy.

That's a good endorsement, Zoidberg. As a counterpoint, f*** Edy.

I'll consider it.

LobsterMobster wrote:

As a counterpoint, f*** Edy.

I actually don't think Edy is in it. The only way the Edy Detachment characters figure into it is that each challenge is offered to you by a member of the squad. There is no story segment to it.

There is one major problem with the DLC. The fail conditions aren't set up quite right and so you can be stuck in a position where you're going to lose but can't do anything about it. The menu system isn't set up to easily restart the battle without going out to the main menu.

The best workaround I have found is to make sure you save immediately before starting each skirmish. Then if you are going to lose, go to the menu and immediately load your saved game from there. It's annoying, but it's better than waiting 16 turns while you have no character on the field.

I think it's interesting that there's no voice acting in this DLC. Guess they couldn't get the band back together this late after release.

I'm finding them uneven so far, but enjoying them. The scout one was a cakewalk, while I've been wiped out on the lancer one several times. Seems like the rewards for these missions are huge, too.

How many chapters does the game have?

Zolos wrote:

How many chapters does the game have?

18 actual chapters, plus the prologue and a finale.

I think my first playthrough was 22 hours.

garion333 wrote:
Zolos wrote:

How many chapters does the game have?

18 actual chapters, plus the prologue and a finale.

I think my first playthrough was 22 hours.

Thx!

A criticism i have of the game is that the AI can be erratic sometimes. Uses CPs to just move units up and down without actually doing anything and leaving units that can actually do me some damage.

Also a question. The guy at the cemetery offered me an Order which i could not afford at the time. When i wen back he the order was no longer on offer. Does that mean i lost my chance to learn it?

You will probably get offered the order later, but it may be much later. On this go round I missed my shot at the medic request order early on and had to wait till chapter 16 to pick it up.

AmazingZoidberg wrote:

You will probably get offered the order later, but it may be much later. On this go round I missed my shot at the medic request order early on and had to wait till chapter 16 to pick it up.

Hmmm. I really hope it does not take that long to get another offer.

Switchbreak wrote:

For me, the story did grow on my a lot as I was playing. It's like a good TV show - it may not be Shakespeare, but you spend enough time with the characters and you find yourself caring about them. It did help that I used the Japanese voice over, so hearing the actors didn't make me cringe constantly. I don't think I could have made it through in English.

I actually prefer the English, because the English text doesn't match up with the Japanese, and my 3-year-old-level Japanese is just good enough to tell the difference.

Which means I'm usually sitting there confused and angry at the screen.

And that's a shame, because the Japanese voicework is quite good.

So, you get some unique weapons off the DLC skirmishes. One of which is an anti-armor sniper rifle. Being able to blow up a heavy gatling turret from with a single shot from across the entire map is oh so satisfying.

Also I've finished my third normal playthrough, and have started a newgame plus for the first time with any seriousness. I'm trying to work my way through the hard mode skirmishes this time around, which has been interesting and lead to an awesome in game moment.

I ran a scout up towards an empty enemy base in order to capture it and complete the skirmish. The only obstacle was a pile of sandbags which she easily jumped over only to hear a click as she landed directly on an anti-personnel mine. I spent the next two rounds running an engineer up to her to defuse the mine before moving on to capture the base.

I think you only one of the DLCs has new weapons. Is it the Selvaria one? You can also get her big-ass machine gun.

You can get the big ass gun from the Selvaria DLC, plus I believe every trial in the new DLC will net you a unique weapon. The anti-tank sniper rifle is the most interesting of the bunch. A clear shot at the radiator means a 1 shot kill from across the map. It makes lancers obsolete, now if only the snipers could cover more ground.

Lost my first man today. Coby was a good man.

I will get my revenge soon Selvaria.....that's a promise!

I am finally passed the point i left off previously. I spent 1-2 hours trying to complete the 1st mission in Chapter 8 (just Welkin & injured Alisha). Somewhat frustrating mission unless you figure out how to get past it. Great, great game!

Ok, I am loving this game but one thing that keeps coming up is how trial & error the missions can be when first positioning/choosing your units. This because you have no idea what type of enemy units you will encounter and also where the particular enemies will be located.

That's one of the things i loved about Jeanne D'Arc. It gave you a preview of the map and the units you had to face before positioning your own troops. Valkyria of course has the fog of war but still since you will be facing the same units at the same locations each time you try it, it defeats the purpose. Again, i am only referring to the starting positions/units.

There is some of that trial and error, yes. Enemy reinforcements can be a killer. Your units might not understand why you're moving them away from that malicious tree stump but they will, soon enough.

Your best bet is to take a few scouts (including Alicia), a few shock troopers (including Rosie), one engineer and Largo. No snipers unless you know you're going to use them since they take a ton of CP to move anywhere. Leave a few slots open so you can call in reinforcements as needed without spending CP on retreating.

Basically, as long as you keep the Edelweiss's radiator facing away from the enemy it will buy you enough time to do what you need.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Leave a few slots open so you can call in reinforcements as needed without spending CP on retreating.

Basically, as long as you keep the Edelweiss's radiator facing away from the enemy it will buy you enough time to do what you need.

Never thought of leaving spots open tbh until a certain mission where it was obvious that i would not have the CP to move them all. As far as the Edelweiss is concerned i protected it as if it was made of porcelain which meant that many times i did not use it properly.

Just finished the game. It's was fantastic. Sometimes it really felt like you are commanding an actual squad with flanking manoeuvres, covering fire, issuing proper orders and so on. Other times the missions require to be solved like a puzzle. I liked the touch of the extra missions where you learn more about the main characters.

Now it's time for NewGame+! If for no other reason than to try the first skirmish mission on hard. And while you're at it could you take a picture of your face when you see the enemy placement for the first time?

AmazingZoidberg wrote:

Now it's time for NewGame+! If for no other reason than to try the first skirmish mission on hard. And while you're at it could you take a picture of your face when you see the enemy placement for the first time?

Spoiler:

Is that when you're completely surrounded? They're on the bridge and up the road a little and you're smack in the middle?

That would be it.

AmazingZoidberg wrote:

Now it's time for NewGame+! If for no other reason than to try the first skirmish mission on hard. And while you're at it could you take a picture of your face when you see the enemy placement for the first time?

I was not planning to tbh and now i am scared to do it. But my curiousity is stronger. Will check tonight.

EDIT:

Also have you played the DLC? I would be interested to play it later on (right now i need a break after 39.5hours.......)

Is it worth buying?

EDIT 2:

LOL! i am reading reviews on VC and i only just found out that you can save mid-battle! LOL!

Zolos wrote:

EDIT:

Also have you played the DLC? I would be interested to play it later on (right now i need a break after 39.5hours.......)

Is it worth buying?

EDIT 2:

LOL! i am reading reviews on VC and i only just found out that you can save mid-battle! LOL!

1) If you really like the game, then all the DLC except the Hard EX mode is worth getting. You aren't missing out on anything huge if you don't get them though.

2) Almost 40 hours and you just found out you can save during battles? Whoa. That must've been frustrating as all hell.

garion333 wrote:

2) Almost 40 hours and you just found out you can save during battles? Whoa. That must've been frustrating as all hell.

That majority of the missions was ok. Some were quite lengthy though and if i lost at a late stage then yeah it was frustrating. For the final mission i stayed up until 03:00 on a working day to finally finish it successfully.

I am only laughing now in retrospect. I think it's Demon's Souls fault for making me not wonder about the lack of a mid-battle save.

If you enjoyed the characters both the Edy Detachment and Sylvaria campaigns are fun. The Sylvaria DLC is the better (and harder) of the two. The latest skirmish challenges are totally worth it.