For those that have never played Valkyria Chronicles, (I know there are a lot of you out there) the game is set in a fictitious continent reminiscent of 1930s Europe, divided in two and ruled by the Empire and the Federation. The Empire has set its sights on invading a small neutral country called Gallia, which is situated in the middle of the two great empires. The game follows a hero named Welkin and his fellow soldiers of the Federation's 7th Platoon that are fighting against the Empire, who are intent on unifying the continent under its power. The Federation discovers that the Empire possesses a secret weapon, known as the "Valkyria" - an ancient race with special powers thought to exist only in legends. With this new discovery, the fate of the Federation's ability to win the war and a hope for a better future hangs in the balance.

The art direction is one of the most unique things about the game. More of a sketchbook art style, it was like nothing else on the PS3. At 720p and 30fps, it was a great looking game, but now at 1080p and 60fps the game looks gorgeous. The World War II inspired setting looks and runs very smooth on the PS4. There are a lot of cut scenes in this game and with good reason. The soundtrack is very well done with memorable themes that are pleasant to hear over and over again.

Gameplay blends two styles, turn-based strategy and a shooter. You have action points that only allow you so many moves. You want to find cover before those points run out, as being left exposed could be costly. The shooter comes into play when you attack. You can line up your shots. Headshots do more damage and tank shots will do more damage when aiming at weak points like the rear of enemy tanks. You only get one action per turn, so you want to be sure to make each shot count. There are 5 classes in the game. Scouts, Shocktroopers, Lancers, Engineers, Snipers as well as Welkin’s tank. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses and you have to find witch ones work best in tandem in different battles. Between battles p, you can return to headquarters to train and upgrade any of the many characters that you can use to make up your squad. Each with their own backstory and some, when paired with ones they are friends with, will unlock bonuses in battles. You can even put points into things like research and development to make your soldiers and tank more powerful.

Overall, Valkyria Chronicles is a remaster done right. Nothing has changed from the original release gameplay wise and it shouldn’t have. The resolution and texture bump has made a great looking game look even better. The inclusion of the original DLC was a great bonus as well. This game is hands down one of the best games on the PS3 that was easily overlooked and is a welcome sight to bring interest back to the game and to a larger audience. This is coming from someone who is tired of seeing HD remasters this generation. At $30 this game is a steal and one of the best games available on the PS4.

Score 5 out of 5

Thanks to Sega for providing a code for review (And yes, I still bought a physical copy of the game)

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered Review