Sega Nerds

IGN: Valkyrie Chronicles the best Sega RPG in 10 years?

by Graham on May 6th, 2008

Valkyrie Chronicles is one game that a lot of Sega Nerds have been waiting for. We got to play an early demo way back last September at TGS, and were left with very high hopes for the game. IGN Australia has been able to get their hands on the full game, imported from Japan, and from the sounds of it the game is living up to expectations.

It’s been a while since we played a truly brilliant RPG from SEGA. Thinking about it, the last one was probably Skies of Arcadia on the Dreamcast back in 2001. Part of the problem in recent years has been SEGA’s lack of focus, with a handful of mediocre Shining Force spin-offs and dilution of Phantasy Star Online doing little to remind us of the Big S that was responsible for publishing such awesome RPGs as Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga. From what we’ve played of the Japanese version so far, Valkyria Chronicles could be right up there among SEGA’s finest

As we all know the graphics look great, but let’s get IGN to tell you again :o)

Probably the last game to really grab our attention like this was Okami, so you can count on Valkyria Chronicles to impress your art-fancying side.

It’s not just the watercolour overlay that’s impressive, either. The game moves at 60fps throughout, running at a native 720p resolution. It’s generally sharp and solid. There are a few glitches here and there, but overall Valkyria is one of the most eye-pleasing RPGs we’ve seen in years.

What some of us don’t know (well I didn’t) is how the story is told, in the form of a book, which aptly applies to the watercolour visuals from the sounds of it.

Again choosing to move away from accurate history, Valkyria Chronicles drops the menu-based battle systems of old RPGs and even manages to find a new way of presenting its story – in the form of a book.

When you begin the game, you’ll literally be on the first page. Outside of storytelling movies and battle sequences, the game’s main window is displayed as an open book, with each page broken down into four or five frames like a comic. Starting from the top of the first page and working down, new ‘episodes’ appear inside previously blank frames, which when clicked on lead to cutscenes that move the story along.

Overall the game is sounding pretty spectacular, I cannot wait to get my hands on the full version, which might happen fairly soon (watch this space).

SEGA’s latest shows all the signs of being able to satisfy your wish list. It could end up being the best SEGA RPG in almost a decade.

Check out the full article and impressions for the game, here.

[Images from Sega/IGN]

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POSTED IN: G, News, Sony PlayStation 3