Valkyria Chronicles 4 Critic Reviews

When alls said and done VC4 is a behemoth of a game with insane replay value, and a great cast of characters. Here’s hoping the next entry can wow us all over again.

10 years after Valkyria Chronicles, the franchise is now resurrected thanks to Valkyria Chronicles 4. Deep and filled with interesting characters, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is breath-taking and is only marred by some minor flaws.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 weaves an emotionally charged tale about how war changes everything it touches and even through moments where winning felt just as bad as losing, I felt compelled to push forward to the end. As a title that carries the heavy burden of expectations following the original’s pedigree of excellence as well as having to make up for a string of lackluster sequels that followed, Squad E carries on with its head held high, exceeding lofty expectations as it improves on nearly every aspect of the original, proving with utmost certainty that this is one of the finest series the genre has to offer.

A game that justly pleases a small niche of players who know how to appreciate the finesse of a good tactical RPG...Valkyria Chronicles 4 is just the game we expected and the sequel that many yearned for since in 2008.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 has the unenviable task of reinvigorating a series that hasn't seen a mainline home console entry in over a decade, as well as washing away the bad taste left in players mouths after the dreadful Valkyria Revolution. That it succeeds so comfortably on both fronts is at once a surprise and a delight. The storyline is thoughtful and engrossing, the cast is varied and likeable, and the combat is challenging and rewarding throughout. This is the game Valkyria Chronicles fans have been waiting for, and one that newcomers to the series should be equally excited for.

Though familiar mechanics and units remain, excellent new features and conveniences transform the way you see the battlefield.

An excellent game, compelling in both its character roster and its gameplay.

For the first time since the very first Valkyria Chronicles, it feels like the series has realized its full potential. It’s easily the longest Valkyria game yet, but it doesn’t suffer for it. Longtime fans have a lot to love here and for newcomers, it’s the very best place to try the series out.

At the end of the day though, I want two things from a new Valkyria game. I want fun, challenging missions and I want to plunge into an overstuffed cast of JRPG soldiers. The game delivers on both counts in spades: the missions are better than ever before in the franchise and the characters are just what you’d hope for. The story is doled out at a bouncy pace and the localization is full of personality. Maybe one day we’ll get a fully realized next-gen Valkyria Chronicles, but until that day Valkyria Chronicles 4 represents the best the series has ever offered.

As a modern take on a fantastic formula, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is an easy title to recommend for strategy RPG fans everywhere.

Although it's essentially an extension of the first installment (right down to the presentation and mechanics), Valkyria Chronicles 4 is still an absolute must-have for VC fans, as well as SRPG enthusiasts who don't mind a little light-hearted character development.

Despite an hours-long tutorial, it takes some time to fully understand the mechanics of Valkyria Chronicles 4 and it remains a challenge from start to finish. That said, the time spent with engaging characters and their stories is immediately rewarding and it’s hard to resist being pulled into the drama, sacrifice and yet somehow buoyant positivity that motivates them. The focus is on tense and often tragic battles, but both fans of the series and newcomers to the franchise will appreciate Valkyria Chronicles 4 as an excellent sequel and the most accomplished realization of the concept to date.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 does the franchise justice, possibly more than any other Valkyria Chronicles title. If you are looking for a good new strategy game, this should be on your radar.

Valkyria Chronicles finally comes back to major gaming platforms, where it belongs. Despite some minor defects, the management of tactics and strategies in and out the battlefield offers a great experience. SEGA bring us a huge amount of high-quality content, but the tone of the narrative might not be in line with part of the western audience.

A valuable technical sector and an impressive soundtrack.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is an imperfect, flawed, and splendid game where the highs ultimately outshine the lows. A few seemingly minor iterations go a long way in adding a fresh layer on top of the existing battle system — which was already one of the more innovative hybrids of real-time and turn-based tactical gameplay found in any modern strategy game. Valkyria Chronicles has always been about managing risks and rewards, and it’s at its best in Valkyria Chronicles 4. And even despite some inefficiencies in plot delivery, it still manages to deliver a resonant payload through a series of small character moments, slow-building tension, and decisive moments. Also, there’s a dog with a hat.

Varied turn-based strategy in watercolor-anime style with a humane story and a resonating anti-war message.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the sequel I’ve been waiting for, returning to the roots of what made the first game so special.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a perfect comeback of the series after a not so good Valkyria Revolution.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 isn’t a huge evolution of the formula, but right now it doesn’t really need to be. If anything, this is exactly what the series needed -- to go back to what made many of us fall in love with the original and ramp it up to 11.Yes, some of the kinks still aren’t ironed out after all these years, and that’s something that can’t be overlooked. It’s not as groundbreaking as the original, but even after a decade, Valkyria Chronicles shows it still has the magic.