[Games] Valkyria Chronicles is the best game I've played in years

I just started playing it. Very standard Silent Hill so far. I've only encountered a few zombie nurses in the hospital (where they start you.)

I'll give you an update as I progress.

It seems, based on the reviews, that it's a can't miss game if you're a fan of the series.

 

Really? I saw some more mixed reviews, putting it closer to SH4 or SHO (which I skipped) than the first 3 SH games. Then again, I guess the overall impressions were still somewhat more impressive than I expected. Maybe I'll give it a shot too, assuming your impressions are pretty positive (of course, I'd want to check out Dead Space first).

 

I actually kind of like the idea of the spaceship environment. It is partly what got me interested in the game early on since it gave me some Event Horizon/System Shock vibes...although according to the Zero Punctuation guy, it didn't do this very well (but then again, he does hate nearly everything). I'll probably just rent it anyway since it seems to be only around 10 hours or so. That's assuming I can find it anyway.

Anyway, to get back somewhat on-topic, I ordered VC from Amazon today. This might start a trend of Sega purchases on my part...assuming Sega does bring over Yakuza 3 (wish I waited until they gave confirmation before I started checking out videos for the game).

 

Not to mention see my grades drop. Oh well.

I just noticed that this is probably the 4th or 5th RPG game in a row I've played that has Dave Wittenberg voicing a major character. And I thought Johnny Yong Bosch was in a lot of games...

 

RC Did you ever play AR Tonelico? I just started it and will play the part 2 next. I was playing Tales of Rebirth in Japanese for awhile as well and it seems really good. Too bad it was never released in the states.

 

No, I haven't. It is one of those games that I've been somewhat interested in, but I usually end up playing other games. I think a friend of mine is into those games though (Ar Tonelico, Atelier Iris, etc.).

 

I've been trying to convince my friend to get this game, since he's the only person I know that owns a PS3.

 

The problem is that your Scouts will become so powerful that buffing them with Orders is often all you need to win the game on 1-2 turns. Which of course earns you more exp/money and you can further upgrade those scouts.....kind rolls on

In fact, that's often the only way to earn an A score on the mission.

 

Actually I rarely used orders ever throughout the entire game. I always felt having extra turns to move my units were worth more the buffs. What I meant by more difficult was that it felt like missions were more stacked against me in terms of surprises with enemy placements or with stationary guns.

To me getting A ranks were easier later on because the completion turns were longer giving me more leeway in achieving them. It's just that I had to also restart the mission more on them. Personally I liked to use snipers and pickoff as many units and advance with my tank to "spot" enemy placements and use my troopers to flush them out. I hated to use scouts to actually "scout" because they take too much damage if there's an enemy hiding.

 

Ok, I put a lot of hours into SHH this weekend. I have to say that I'm impressed. When I typed, "typical Silent Hill so far" I meant that the feeling was like other Silent Hill games, ie: I was in a hospital with a map showing locked/un-openable doors and passages in red. Same types of environments with the occasional transfer to and from "hell world." Typical Silent Hill zombie nurses/and other familiar enemies.

The main difference from other SH games is lots of new controls/moves. Previously, you just had like one melee attack, and no dodge/counter attack options. It feels like your guy is a lot more capable, which does takes away from the terror factor.

But I like the new streamlined controls. It feels, overall, like the production values are better. Much improved graphics, which is to be expected for the first next-gen Silent Hill game.

The story also makes a lot more sense than it does in the other games, too.

 

I tried to convince a friend of mine (same one referred to earlier) to buy this game. Turns out that he already bought it a few weeks ago.

VC sales + 2.

 

This game is spectacular. I love these types of games. Ogre Battle, FF Tactics, etc.

 

I use everyone, but because of the fact that one shot in the hole and the tanks dies, sometimes its better to not use it at all.

 

Once you receive the Caution order, you can literally run your Scouts through millions of bullets and emerge just fine. Throw a Defense Boost on top of it and you can stop your Scouts in front of enemy troopers and go use the bathroom if you like...

Of course it's cool that you found your way of doing things and enjoy it that way

I wasn't really in any rush to finish the game, but I just did not like using units that had so little Action Points so I eventually drifted to using Scouts more and more