Valkyria Chronicles: 2008 Winner For Most Under-Appreciated?

Over the past few weeks, we at PSX Extreme have begun to notice an interesting trend: there is a small, yet very vocal, group of gamers are are shrieking at the top of their lungs that everyone should pay more attention to Sega's fantastic tactical RPG, Valkyria Chronicles. We noticed several of our own readers continually mentioning the game if the topic of "Best of 2008" is broached, and we're hardly the only site to have its fair share of VC supporters.

And yet, due to the combined launch window (it had to compete against several blockbuster titles) and the general North American dislike for the genre, Valkyria Chronicles has gone largely overlooked. Even us, who scrambled like mad to bring you every big review ASAP during the insanity of October and November, fell prey to this and pushed VC to the back burner; to this day, we don't yet have a review for it. We apologize greatly (although in our defense, y'all should count up how many reviews we did in a 4-5 week span...) and we promise to play it ASAP. But if you check the acquired critical acclaim, it's almost unbelievable that such a well-received title would go lacking for sales. We have always prided ourselves on only rewarding the quality productions; we're different from other entertainment industries because the best games of the year are almost always the best sellers, too. But every once in a while, a game like VC slips through the cracks. Look at GameRankings: it average 87% with scores of 9.0 from IGN, 8.5 from GameSpot, 9.1 from GameTrailers, 9.0 from 1Up, 8.8 from RPGFan, etc. Clearly, this is not a game that should be ignored. And yet, that vocal minority can't seem to convince the majority, if the sales numbers are any indication at all.

We have difficulty finding any other title in 2008 that has fared so well but has also been lost in the shuffle. Hence, we may have to give the unfortunate "Most Under-Appreciated Award" to Valkyria Chronicles this year. Anyone disagree?

Related Game(s): Valkyria Chronicles

12/27/2008 Ben Dutka

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Comments (61 posts)

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N a S a H
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:14:06 AM
Reply

My friend plays RPGs 90% of the time so when he told me this is the best one he's played in years, I believed him.

I agree, I can't see any other game which is as under-appreciated as this one in 2008.

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AluShady
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:16:57 AM
Reply

Agreed. Honestly, however, I'm just waiting for you guys to get a chance to play it so you can understand why it's a great game. Not my personal GOTY (Fallout 3 for me), but it's very engaging and hell it might even end up as my GOTY when I finish, who knows.

Maybe through word of mouth it will sell over the upcoming months like a few games do. It's rare to see that trend in the entertainment industry though. Usually games/movies start at the top and move down. If I recall, No Country For Old Men did the opposite so it's not too far fetched, just unlikely. And I don't know of a game that has done that, have you?

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crapreviews
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:22:17 AM
Reply

Frankly it's the devs of VC's own fault. Put out a crappy shi**y demo that most will hate, including myself, and you expect to sell the game?

That demo had me bored and annoyed from the moment i started to try to move my first chara.

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/27/2008 12:23:53 PM

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King James
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:02:15 PM

I liked the demo.

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crapreviews
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 3:34:41 PM

sorry bout that ben. wasnt trying to get passed the word filter thing.

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www
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:43:14 AM
Reply

I think the artistic style wasn't that brilliant like PoP,the colours look dull...now that,put me off.

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Qubex
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:45:25 AM
Reply

Sorry guys, I tried to play it but I couldn't get into it. Like the 3D cell style graphics though... see a lot of work went into it but not my cuppa tea!

Q!

"i aM hOmE"

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kreate
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:50:13 AM
Reply

nothing wrong with the game. somethings wrong with sega. im assuming this is a new ip?

why would they launch a title like this on a presidential election day let alone on the same day with Resistance2? and like 5-6 days before gears of war 2? along with a short gap with fable2? (ps3 owners also have a xbox u know)
right after little big planet?

on top of that in the month of november? they dont know ppl are saving money for black friday and x-mas? in a situation like this, and with all these other titles, of course valk chron will be overlooked.

titles like this should be launched in months where not so many hot titles launched simultaneously especially away from the holidays. this isnt the first time this happened.

many titles for the ps2 also died becuz of situations like this. many 'could of been' hit titles died on its first time around. and no sequels were ever created.

Last edited by kreate on 12/27/2008 11:51:18 AM

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King James
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:58:48 AM

Although I do agree with u, Kreate. I think the problem could have been solved with effective advertising. All I ever saw was web ads. No viral vids, no tv ads, nothing. Just great reviews.

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kreate
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:07:45 PM

i dont really watch tv but on titles such as these, they dont usually show ads like that on tv. but i saw the ads of this game in game magazines.

now i dont know if sega made money or lost money on this title so far, but in my opinion, if they would of ran tv ads, they would of lost money.

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GoldenShadow
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:51:10 AM
Reply

This game was first on my wishlist for Christmas. It was the first thing I opened and it took all of my self control not to abandon the family on christmas for it. But I have hardly set the controller down in the last couple of days.

Great voice acting, good graphics, fun gameplay, and an entrancing storyline are just a few of the wonderful qualities of this game.

Last edited by GoldenShadow on 12/27/2008 11:51:53 AM

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King James
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:07:23 PM
Reply

This is my next game to purchase. After I played the demo and read the reviews, I considered it at least a "must-play". I just ran out of $$ in november and never got back to it in December. I think Sega/Sony could have drop Valkyria in late Jan/early Feb; just b4 the fiscal year ended. It would've done much better. I think VC should be put in bundles next year like Uncharted.

Last edited by King James on 12/27/2008 12:11:32 PM

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kreate
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:08:32 PM

see my point?

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King James
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 2:43:20 PM

Oh yeah. I still agree you.

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Zorigo
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:09:50 PM
Reply

i know it's good but don't have money to buy it.

Last edited by Zorigo on 12/27/2008 12:09:56 PM

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Jordahn
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:13:49 PM
Reply

I want this game, but I have to carefully pick and choose because of my backlog of games. I want to stay with what's current, but I need to also play what I already have. So as much a I want VC, I need to ride the hype for White Knight when it comes out since it's higher on my want list.

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Dante399
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 12:58:22 PM
Reply

Sounds like a good game.
I'm buying it.

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Ultimadream
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 1:30:30 PM
Reply

played the demo, didnt like it, not convinced still.

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aaronisbla
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 12:30:22 AM

with the exception of a few select games, most demos suck ass to me. Resistance fall of man had a horrible demo, but the game was kick ass

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Sir Shak
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 1:50:39 PM
Reply

this game should have come out in august or september ,now i'm out of cash and haven't even got pop yet.
good game-bad marketing-worse timing.

Last edited by Sir Shak on 12/27/2008 1:51:48 PM

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 3:13:13 PM
Reply

Strategy is always a gamble, if it were a straight forward RPG I would buy it.

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kreate
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 4:06:05 PM

exactly

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Arvis
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 12:20:35 PM

As someone who loves straightforward RPGs, I can tell you: If Valkyria Chronicles were a straightforward RPG, IT WOULD NOT BE AS GOOD OF A GAME.

Play it, and believe.

-Arvis

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phantom93
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 3:21:44 PM
Reply

I agree that the demo was not a good indicator of the greatness of VC. I bought the game in spite of the demo and I could not be more pleased. Another minor factor, in my opinion, is it not being available to rent at Blockbuster (at least not in my town). I guess us fans need to lavish praise on message boards and possibly lend out our copies :)

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coolistic
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 3:30:24 PM
Reply

Yes, Valkyria Chronicles is a great game.

It's the return of old Sega, which has been gone a long time. In my opinion it wasn't just the best game of the year, but a new entry in my top 10 best games ever list.

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Alienange
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 8:41:36 PM

Nice hype. Do you care to explain why? Top 10 ever... I doubt it.

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Arvis
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 12:22:59 PM

Alienange, you have no idea.

I can think of VERY FEW games I have enjoyed more than Valkyria Chronicles. As a diehard Final Fantasy guy, I rank it higher than Final Fantasy IX and XII, and it is easily the best PS3 game I have ever played (yes, I like it more than MGS4).

Play it, and believe.

-Arvis

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phantom93
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 3:35:28 PM
Reply

I agree with Sega finally making its way back. I'd love to see a new Skies of Arcadia with the same artistic style as VC.

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Naga
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 4:37:11 PM
Reply

I would buy this Game instead of LBP

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LightShow
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 4:42:19 PM
Reply

waitasecond, is VC an RPG or an RTS?

cuz i've heard it was an RTS, which I despise. If it's an RPG, i might pick it up.

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GoldenShadow
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 8:05:45 PM

It is a SRPG, however your characters are part of an army, so you have guns to shoot with (first person). But when you are shooting you can take however long you want to aim and fire. The real time element is in the moving around of the characters.

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Alienange
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 8:40:23 PM
Reply

I'm torn on this one. I love RPGs, but Strategy RPGs are a tough sell. If someone said this was Fire Emblem for the PS3 I'd buy it tomorrow. As it stands I don't feel I'm going to enjoy constantly looking at map markers of my soldiers.

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AluShady
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 10:26:09 PM

You do look at a battle map but it zooms you in on movement and play. Im guessing you already know this though because the demo has been out awhile. So technically you should know how the game works.

The game isn't as boring as the demo. However if you didn't like the basic mechanics of the demo, then no, this probably isnt your cup of tea.

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Alienange
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:15:00 PM

Maybe the demo did ruin it for me. I don't see dropping 50 bux for this one.

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ec0li
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 8:47:43 PM
Reply

I've got this ordered up...schweetness! Don't worry Sega, I never ever stopped loving you. *wink*

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ec0li
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 8:58:11 PM
Reply

blockbuster.com coupon code - holidaysurprise
30% off

credit goes to Frenchy

Last edited by ec0li on 12/27/2008 8:59:05 PM

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PhilipJWitow
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 9:08:09 PM
Reply

I think it may also have something to do with trophies.

Without trophy support, a lot of trophy whores won't even bother looking at this title. :\

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Alienange
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:16:13 PM

There's no trophies either?? Bummer.

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aaronisbla
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 12:31:36 AM

im really doubting it has anything to do with trophies, as everyone isn't in it for the trophies, its the bad release time, thats all

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aaronisbla
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 12:32:22 AM

terrible graphics? what kinda tv you playing this on? looks stunning on my tv

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cegmp
Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 11:20:14 PM
Reply

The game is under-appreciated, imo, and so is the genre. The genre isn't for everyone even more so the game itself, since it mixes a lot of things together. Maybe Pure SRPG fans didn't like the real-time touch to VC, or that some people don't like the characters anime looks or the graphics of the game, and so on and so forth. But, for me, what the developers tried to do with the game is very commendable. It stands out among the rest, as clearly explained in the different reviews.

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Advent Child
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 1:53:45 AM
Reply

I am thinking about buying 100 copies and selling them to the local gameshops within a 200 mile radius just so more people will get it used or something!

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kreate
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 2:26:18 AM

u unlocked a new trophy!
'vc cannot succeed without advent child'

can u buy 1 and sell it to me?
i pay 5 dollar more than the gamestore. =)

Last edited by kreate on 12/28/2008 2:30:34 AM

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Advent Child
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 3:19:57 AM

Yea sure I just need your info.

Last edited by Advent Child on 12/28/2008 3:20:35 AM

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SHADOW [Moderator]
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 3:01:43 AM
Reply

Well this game intrigues me. I want to get it but it has "huge discounts coming real soon" written all over it. I'll get it for like thirty bucks sometime before the summer. Does that make me a bad person?

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cegmp
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 10:25:24 AM

Well, I don't think you are. I can even say that you are a smart buyer, from an objective point of view of course.

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BigT_1980
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 12:30:34 PM

It could go in the bargain bin or it could be one of those titles will go out of print and Ebay sellers will be asking ridiculous amounts money for it because so far it has only sold around 40,000 copies in the US so far. All I can say that it is worth picking up. And as far a waiting for the price to drop on a game before purchasing it, I have been guilty of the as well.

Last edited by BigT_1980 on 12/28/2008 12:35:55 PM

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King James
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 1:28:50 PM

Naw Shadow that doesn't make u bad. But I does make up cheap. :O

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AceTatsujin
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 3:11:10 AM
Reply

The game is super awesome. Please play it! It is one of the best RPGs I have ever played and I am deeply in love with this game. Anime style, beautiful graphics, awesome characters, superb story and the battles keep you thinking of what your next move should be.

I'm patiently awaiting a review on this game from PSX

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Frenchy17
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 4:29:22 AM
Reply

The demo is about as basic as you can get on this game. I think the only thing more boring than the demo was the introduction level. Trust me, it gets better and better as you go on! Whoever said the graphics sucked needs an eye exam!

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tanner1
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 6:08:14 AM
Reply

I will purchase this in uk 4 £20, however i am playin; res2, bioshock (survivor mode), waw, lbp, pop, farcry2, & pacific rift, so i honestly cant fit it in @ the moment

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Qubex
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 6:12:37 AM

I am a little dissappointed with CODV, World At War... the campaign is good, however I don't really feel it has moved on much from CODIV. I noticed graphical anomalies that displeased me, considering how much these games cost...

I also find the multiplayer a littled tired. I don't know why but I seem to have more fun playing CODIII multiplayer than CODV. CODIV is inbetween for me...

I honestly think Killzone 2 will simply wipe the floor with most shooters. Would have like to have had a go with FarCry 2; seemed an interesting game, and technically well done...

Q!

"i aM hOmE"

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shaydey77
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 3:56:47 PM
Reply

No way! Everyone knows HAZE deserves most underappreciated game of the year!!

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coolistic
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 4:22:54 PM
Reply

...

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BigBoss4ever
Sunday, December 28, 2008 @ 11:49:51 PM
Reply

biggest problem --- its the cartoonish look and lack of sharpness in the graphics that instantly bored me. and i guess same goes for many other gamers.

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BigT_1980
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 1:20:56 AM

I'll take gameplay over graphics any day. Yes the game does display a cartoon art style, but I am not sure what you mean by lack of sharpness. On my 42 inch display the picture is very sharp and crisp. I haven't notice any jaggies or frame rate issues. Personally I'm glad that every game doesn't look like GeOW, MS4 and R2. The good narrative and interesting characters is what keeps me entertained with this game. All I have left to say is if you like a good story you should give this game a try.

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King James
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 1:33:55 PM

the game is beautiful.

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robinhood2010
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 8:57:26 AM
Reply

I got this game for Xmas, and it is fantastic. Anyone doubting, and are fans of RPGs should pick it up straight away. Just check the local second-hand section of your game store. It wont be there, because anyone who got it, loved it.

I think if anyone thinks the graphics are sub-standard, they should stop thinking the havok and unreal engines are the bees knees. Anime style graphics is not as common in NA or Europe anymore.

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Arvis
Monday, December 29, 2008 @ 12:29:48 PM
Reply

Yeah, I went a little crazy in the comments in the last article you guys wrote about Valkyria Chronicles. Sorry about that.

But seriously, it is a TRAVESTY, an ABSOLUTE TRAVESTY, that you guys have not reviewed this game. And yet, you have a review of Winter Sports 2: the Next Challenge on the PS2. What the crap?

-Arvis

Last edited by Arvis on 12/29/2008 12:30:06 PM

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atomaweapon
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 11:17:56 AM
Reply

I just started playing it and must say I do like it. I do hope though that it gets a little more in depth. As of now I wish I had more control over th elook and feel of my characters. In games like Disgaea and FF Tactics, you could create your own characters, name them, and give them different skills and styles. I'm not quite sure if you can do this later on in the game as I'm at the begininng, but that would be a nice feature for me.

I do like the game overall though so far.

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Arvis
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 1:14:57 PM

I can understand that. But believe me, you will begin to get attached to each individual squad member. And each member has their own unique backstory that you can fill out by using them in battle.

And if you want in-depth, wait until you get up to and beyond Chapter 8. And also, wait until you start leveling up your job classes to "Elite" status. A whole WORLD of new strategies opens up to you!

-Arvis

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