SEGA Talk #66: Valkyria Chronicles (2008)

On this episode of SEGA Talk, Barry and George suit up and join the Gallian Revolutionary Army; exploring the 2008 SRPG classic Valkyria Chronicles. Sit down, grab some popcorn and let’s take a magical trip to Europa! Squad 7, move out!

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Valkyria Chronicles Remastered hits Nintendo Switch in the West on October 16

The Nintendo Switch has been given the name of a port console, so unsurprisingly we have a upcoming port of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered coming out for the Nintendo Switch on October 16, 2018 for $19.99. And yes, that means I will replay the game once again! SEGA has confirmed that the game will be digital only. This is a pretty good version, you can check out my Valkyria Chronicles Remastered review on the PlayStation 4.

If you pick up Valkyria Chronicles 4 digitally next month, SEGA will be giving you a 25% discount for Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, bringing the total down to $14.99 before taxes. SEGA has also launched a Valkyria Chronicles Remastered website here with more information.

Personally hope that SEGA works with Limited Run Games and squeeze this remastered into their Nintendo Switch line-up they have going. I want ANOTHER physical copy of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered!

Sammy teases upcoming Valkyria Chronicles pachislot machine

ValkyriaChronicles

Sammy, the division within SEGA-Sammy that does pachinko and pachislot machines, which is why no one is really surprised that they announced a Valkyria Chronicles pachinko machine. SEGA’s console division is reviving the Valkyria Chronicles brand with Valkyria Chronicles 4 in 2018, seems that Sammy finds the IP enticing enough for a pachislot machine. Sammy previously did a Bayonetta pachislot machine in 2015.

As far as when its coming, we don’t know anything outside of ‘coming soon’. I guess no one here will get to or want to play a Valkyria Chronicles pachislot game.  According to this tweet by Sammy, they will have a preview tomorrow.

SEGA launches a teaser site for ‘Valkyria Project’

Valkyria Project

I guess SEGA wasn’t kidding when they said that the Valkyria franchise wasn’t dead after Valkyria Revolution debuted as the worse selling entry for the franchise. SEGA has more in store for players and they will reveal what ‘Valkyria Project‘ is on November 20th. You can check out the Valkyria Project teaser page here. 

Outside of the date, there is also a blurry background picture featuring a clue but I can’t make it out. SEGA did reveal shortly after Valkyria Revolutions came out that they where still open on doing another SRPG focused entry, but who knows what this is. I mean, it could possibly even be a mobile game. Oh god, I hope not!

SEGA News Bits: Top 100 SEGA Games Discussion

On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we discuss the Top 100 SEGA Games list we posted up earlier this month, so if you haven’t checked it out give it a gander. Join us to listen to us rant about how the list was put together, which games surprised us on the list, which games didn’t make the list, how SEGA games are under-appreciated on other top gaming lists, and much more. Sadly we don’t cover all the top 100 SEGA games that are represented on the list, that would take too long, but I hope the games we talked about was entertaining enough. Let us know if you agree or disagree with the top 100 SEGA games list and what your top three SEGA games would be in the comments below.

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a like so it shows up on more like minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that new YouTube algorithm is.

Valkyria Revolution debuts as worst selling entry in franchise history

Valkyria-Azure-Revolution-Tokyo-Game-Show-2016-TrailerValkyria Revolution debuts as worst selling entry in franchise history and that isn’t clickbait. Valkyria Revolution (Valkyria: Azure Revolution)  moved 38,197 units on PlayStation 4 and only 18,219 on the PlayStation Vita. That means that combined, it did a total of 56,416 units. Even combined, its still the lowest debuting title in Valkyria franchise’s history:

  • Valkyria Chronicles – 77,698
  • Valkyria Chronicles II – 76,088
  • Valkyria Chronicles III – 102,779

The game got beaten in sales by other debuting games like Gravity Rush 2 (74,361) and Yoshi’s Woolly World (39,555) which both debuted with less sales than any past Valkyria Chronicles titles as well. Other factors we can look into as to why Valkyria Revolution debuts as worst selling entry in franchise history is the reception. We did a preview for the game and it just didn’t seem like the right execution for what the team was trying to do. Famitsu still managed to give the full game a rating of 8/9/8/7 [32/40], which is rather high.

It is not looking good for the Valkyria franchise with this being the lowest selling new release in the franchise’s history and Valkyria Chronicles remake only selling 24,156 units on its debut week. While the team behind Valkyria Revolution have been teasing about the possibilities of a new full fledged Valkyria Chronicles title, I don’t think SEGA would be as keen considering how these past two releases have sold (at least in Japan). I myself have mix feelings on how this title will do in the West and feel that adding a Xbox One version and not a PC version was a mistake. Considering that the PC version of Valkyria Chronicles has sold over 900,000 units.

[Source: Siliconera]

SEGA confirms Valkyria Chronicles series still alive

Valkyria-1If you guys didn’t know, Valkyria Revolution is the next game in the ‘Valkyria‘ series of titles, but what about the original Valkyria Chronicles SRPG games? Is the Valkyria Chronicles series still alive? In an interview with PlayStation Blog Japan, Valkyria Revolution director Takeshi Ozawa and Producer Youichi Shinmosato have confirmed that Valkyria Chronicles is still on-going.

If you didn’t know Valkyria Revolution is a side game, set in a totally different universe from the main Valkyria Chronicles. Ozawa compared it to Shin Megami Tensei and the Persona series where they share common theme and mechanics but the characters and story are very different. Could this mean that Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Revolution will be SEGA’s big RPG series going forward?

Ozawa also said he always thinks about how they will approach the next installment of Valkyria Chronicles, especially with all the power in current gen consoles. So what do you think? Is Valkyria Chronicles series still alive? Are you excited for Valkyria Revolution?

[Via: NicheGamer]

Valkyria: Azure Revolution box art revealed, introduction trailer released

The latest game in the Valkyria, Valkyria: Azure Revolution, has it’s box art revealed, along with an accompanying introduction trailer. The box art for the PS4 and PSVita versions share the same artwork, with a noticeably more depressing color scheme that mixes grey and blue colors and features the character Amleth, a departure from the more vivid colors from past games. Both box art covers can be seen here and here.

Meanwhile the new trailer acts as a prologue to the events that take place in Valkyria: Azure Revolution, about how the titular Azure Revolution helped expand the Rus Empire into conquering the majority of Europe, and Jutland being the only kingdom left that can stop it.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution will release on January 19th, 2017 in Japan. No release outside of Japan has been announced.

[Source: Segalization]

 

World of Tanks Blitz and Valkyria Chronicles collaboration live

Valkyria Chronicles got a surprise collaboration with the Wargaming title World of Tanks Blitz, which as the name implies is a mobile version of the MMO World of Tanks involving 20th-century war vehicles like varies types of tanks. The collaboration brings with it two new tanks, the Edelweiss—a fast and maneuverable medium tank with a good gun and stabilization from Valkyria Chronicles, and The Nameless—a heavy tank with excellent front armor and powerful armament based on the Nameless Tank from Valkyria Chronicles 3.

The event for these Valkyria Chronicles inspired tanks originally began on September 15th, 2016 (Thursday) at 18:00 UTC+8 (10:00 UTC) and is slated to end on September 30th, 2016 (Friday) at 17:00 UTC+8 (09:00 UTC). Players can buy both Edelweiss and The Nameless for the price of $44.99, or getting the two tanks separately for $24.99.

[Source: World of Tanks Blitz Website]

Rumor: SEGA Blast Heroes a new mobile SRPG gets leaked

SEGA-Blast-Heroes

According to the mobile game website PocketGamer there is a new mobile game by SEGA, which features classic game IPs. Not only that, mobile ads for SEGA Blast Heroes (the games name) have been popping up. The ads describe the title as a ‘strategy RPG’. The Facebook page behind the ads leads to a page called ‘SEGA Mobile’ which has a bit over 150 likes at he moment. If you click to download the app from the ad, it takes you to StoreMaven, which is a service to help test upcoming app store conversion rates.

Below are some screenshots of the supposed game called SEGA Blast Heroes. Of course, it looks like it would play like Chain Chronicle. Just looking at the screenshots leaked so far I see Samba De Amigo, Space Channel 5, Sakura Wars, Valkyria Chronicles, Jet Set Radio, Wonder Boy, Alex Kidd, and a lot of unknowns populating the screens. It also seems that you will be fighting generic looking villains, which is a bummer.

This game doesn’t surprise me considering SEGA’s mobile division put out a survey asking fans about classic SEGA franchises. What are your thoughts on the rumor? Would you play SEGA Blast Heroes?

[Via: Segalization]

Valkyria: Azure Revolution to focus less on action and more on strategy due to demo feedback

Valkyria-Azure-Revolution_2016_02-09-16_012

Valkyria: Azure Revolution, a spin-off from SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles franchise, saw a demo released in Japan alongside the retail release of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered for PS4 in early February. While Valkyria Chronicles Remastered was met with positive reactions, reactions to the demo of Valkyria: Azure Revolution were mixed to say the least. According to Siliconera, via Hachima, developer Media.Vision received three times the amount of player feedback than expected and plenty of it was harsh. Based on what they heard, the developer has since reworked the battle system, which was more action oriented in the demo, to be more RPG-like in the final game.

Added is a new action gauge for both sides of combat which will allow players to strategize. The new system will allow actions to be done once the gauge fills, and players will be able to stop time while using weapons and abilities – much like a traditional RPG. The game’s director, Takeshi Ozawa, believed that since this is a Valkyria title, a more strategic battle system was required. It’s great that Media.Vision is taking the feedback to heart, but it is kind of odd that it took them this long to realize that a Valkyria Chronicles game functions best when the combat has strategy involved. Makes me wonder if this early demo was a test to see if a action Valkyria game would fly with fans.

The next demo for the game should be available this summer.

[Via: Siliconera]

Project X Zone removed from North America & Europe Nintendo eShop

projectxzone

For reasons unknown, the digital version of Project X Zone has been removed from the Nintendo eShop. Starting around 2012 games produced for the system typically sport a retail and digital version, with a few exceptions that are retail exclusive or vise versa. Typically the digital version would need to be loaded into an SD card, but the main benefit of choosing digital is slightly faster loading times, the convenience of not switching 3DS game cards, and the option to re-download the game at any given time.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution Battle Demo Gameplay

Valkyria Chronicles Remaster in Japan came with a Valkyria: Azure Revolution battle demo (first print copies), now that some people have gotten their hands on it we can finally see some gameplay. Valkyria: Azure Revolution will drop the turn based strategy formula in hopes of a more real time, action based approach.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution looks really nice though, still using that canvas engine look but I do think some of the characters movements look a bit stiff. Tell us what you think of SEGA’s new approach with this title. Valkyria: Azure Revolution comes out in Japan on this Winter, only on PlayStation 4. No Western localization has been announced (yet).

[Via Gematsu]