Valkyria Chronicles

Setting

The main games use the BLiTZ turn-based system and are set in Europa, a fictional continent loosely based on Europe. The Second Europan War involves the Atlantic Federation and the East Europan Imperial Alliance, both coveting resources of neutral Gallia, leading to an Imperial invasion. The first, third, and fourth games follow different groups fighting the Empire during this war, while the second game occurs after the conflict. The CANVAS graphics engine gives visuals resembling pencil-drawn paintings. Valkyria Revolution is an alternate setting with different lore and gameplay.

Games

The first main entry debuted on PlayStation 3 and later appeared on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch; the Windows port was handled by Little Stone Software. It takes place in Europa during the beginning of World War II, where Gallia's Ragnite ore attracts an Imperial attack, and players control a Gallian Militia unit. The second game moved to PlayStation Portable and is set two years after the first, focusing on cadets at a military academy preventing an ethnic cleansing campaign by a rebel group.

The third game, also on PlayStation Portable, occurs during the first game's events and follows the penal unit "Nameless" against Imperial "Calamity Raven"; it had no official release outside Japan. The fourth game, released in 2018 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, takes place during the first and third games and follows Gallian soldiers in the Atlantic Federation executing a plan to strike the imperial capital.

Other media

Four manga adaptations based on the first game exist. Valkyria Chronicles: Wish Your Smile, illustrated by Kyusei Tokito, was serialized from November 12, 2008, to January 22, 2010, in Comic B's Log, with two compilation volumes. A second manga, also titled Valkyria Chronicles, illustrated by En Kito, was serialized in Comp Ace from November 26, 2008, to March 26, 2010, and compiled in four volumes. Valkyria Chronicles: Anthology Comic was published in one volume on December 28, 2009, and Valkyria Chronicles: 4-koma Anthology on March 10, 2010, both by the Bros Comics EX label. An anime adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures premiered on April 4, 2009, directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto and written by Michiko Yokote. It aired on multiple Japanese networks, follows the game's storyline with some character differences, and introduces a unique character, Ramal Valt.

Reception

The original game won Strategy Game of the Year from GameSpy and is considered among the greatest games of all time. By 2015, it sold over 200,000 copies on Steam and shipped over one million on PlayStation 3. The second game sold 94,000 copies in its debut week in Japan, while the third sold about 100,000 units in its first week. The fourth game surpassed one million copies worldwide by 2020.