Publisher Sega has announced that the sequel to under-dog PlayStation 3 exclusive, Valkyria Chronicles 2, will be receiving receiving a huge downloadable content pack later this month.

DLC packs that were released in Japan via small parts will be released in the west in the form of one huge pack this month. However, Sega’s failed to deliver an exact release date for the DLC. New skirmishes and a revisit to the Mellvere Market will be a part of the new content. More information regarding VC2′s DLC is expected to be released in the coming days.

Additionally, Sega also issued a special code to unlock the Isara Gunther and Isara’s Dream Sticker. To enable the codes, insert this code into the titles’ Extras  menu.

• 37LRK5D214VQVFYH

More information on one of the game’s downloadable missions through Sega’s official blog. For more information on Valkyria Chronicles 2 be sure to check out PlayStation LifeStyle’s review.

[Via]

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

There was a knee jerk reaction by fans when Sega announced that Valkyria Chronicles 2, the sequel to the cult hit game on the PS3, would actually be coming out on the PlayStation portable. Horrified fans who were eager for another trip to Gallia on their PS3 were scared that the experience would have to be downgraded for the weaker handheld. However our hands on time with the game at E3 showed us that going to the PSP was not necessarily a bad thing as we were thoroughly impressed. So just how would a sequel on the PSP fair and would it live up to expectations placed on it by the original?

Valkyria Chronicles 2 takes place two years after the events of the first game, with Gallia now in the midst of a Civil War. As with the first game, the Darscen race are smack in the middle of the conflict as a group of rebels calling themselves the Gallian Revolutionary Army are out to exterminate them. Players with take the role of Avan; a carefree 17-year-old who joins the Lanseal Academy in search of his brother. This happy-go-lucky attitude earns him a trip to Class G, a place reserved for the ‘losers’ of Lanseal. Avan must now earn the respect of his peers and squad mates, while also keeping Southern Gallia safe from the rebels.

For those of you out there who never got a chance to play the first game (which you should remedy… immediately!); Valkyria Chronicles 2 is a Strategy RPG that does everything it can to break the label placed on traditional SRPGs. Battles here are broken into two parts; Command Mode and Action Mode. Command will place you in a top down view of the map where you deploy and select units for actions. This mode also allows for orders to be given and showcases your remaining Command Points. These points are used for giving actions to your squad, with each time you select a unit costing one or more points. Once you do select a unit you are taken into Action Mode, which is presented in a beautiful third person view. Here you can move units, attack, duck behind cover and crawl through grass. It’s a great combination between the two modes that makes for an amazing experience and a satisfying strategy game.

As you progress through the game you will unlock more strategic techniques to take on the stronger enemies that challenge you later on in the game. Seize control of enemy camps during battle to give a new place to deploy troops and in maps with 3 sections, you can use these camps as gateways to get from section to section. The same soldier classes are back from the original game though with a few changes and one addition.You’ll be able to take control of shocktroopers, lancers, scouts, engineers and the new class armored techs. Shocktroopers are your machine gunners, lancers your anti-tank defense. Scouts are pretty self-explanatory and engineers heal/repair troops and vehicles. The techs don’t actually use guns but instead carry a huge shield and big hammer, which is perfect for up close melee and high defense.

What better way to compliment an engaging battle system then by having an equally engaging story and characters? Outside of battle you spend almost all of your time at the Lanseal Academy and there is plenty for you to do while there. Whether its walking around the school and mingling with the students from your class or buying newspaper stories from the store, there is always something to be done. The game does a great job of making you feel as if Avan is really at an academy. One thing that VC2 does better than its predecessor is the depth of customization allowed in the game. Earn money and experience from battle and use both to upgrade troop classes and buy new equipment.

Add to this the ability to collect materials in battle which can be used to specialize selected units further. Here is where the skill tree comes into play as you can turn a scout into a sniper or give a shocktrooper a Gatling gun and turn them into a gunner. While on customization you can name your squad and vehicles, giving players even more chances to make the game their own. The changes don’t just come with the infantry as tanks are joined by APCs and now all equipment cost a certain weight amount, so pay attention to how much weight your vehicle can handle. Tanks and APCs will be fully upgradable; from light tanks to medium and better APCs to carry more troops. You can also change turret types and spare equipment such as a construction arm that can re-build bridges.

When you’re in the academy you will find plenty of missions each month to partake in that will help you level up your squad. Many of these battles can be replayed over and over, so players can take a shot at getting a better grade. Grades are given at the end of the battle and determine the amount of experience and money you are awarded. Troops will also be rewarded at the end of battle with a first place and runner-up performers for each battle. To progress the story along you must complete enough key missions in each month to unlock a story mission. Character missions will also become unlocked during the game and give players a chance to take on a task alongside a specific character. If you complete these missions you can unlock some great potentials for that character. Speaking on potentials, each squad member can have multiple potentials assigned to them which are awakened during battle. Both negative and positive potentials are present in the game so you have to make sure and pay attention to which characters you are putting into situations.

While Valkyria Chronicles 2 does a great job of bringing out the best presentation it can on the PSP, fans of the first game might feel a twinge of disappointment as the beautiful watercolor battlefields have gone missing from this version. The game’s story is told mostly through character portraits on-screen talking and interacting with each other. The audio in the game is among the best to be found in a PSP game with great music and solid voice work. Boss battles are again a high point in the game with these fights bringing out the best strategists in all of us. Fans of the original game will also be happy to find such a large number of cameo’s in the second game and these add well to the story without making new fans feel lost.

Valkyria Chronicles 2 has the depth of a console title but squeezed into the tiny confines of a handheld. VC2 will hook you in right away. The combat, customization and audio are top notch yet the story takes a bit of time to get started and early missions are overly easy – but once it gets going, you won’t want to put it down. While the trip from the PS3 to PSP scared many of us at first, Sega actually took what made the first game memorable and added a slew of new features to the game.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Deep and Engaging Combat Keeps the Action Fun Troop and Vehicle Customization Add A lot of Depth Story is Slow Going at the Beginning

-

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us

In the comments section on the PlayStation Blog, Sega of America’s Assistant Community Manager, Aaron Webber, gave us his answer on the subject…

“Valkyria Chronicles I is a PS3 exclusive, and Valkyria Chronicles II is a PSP exclusive. Taking a game from the PSP and updating for the PS3 is a pretty huge process, and I don’t think there are any plans to do that currently. An interesting question though!”

Aaron didn’t stop there though as he also went on to talk a bit about a trophy patch for the original Valkyria Chronicles, something that PS3 owners everywhere have been clamoring for.

“While there’s no news about a trophy patch for the original game, I do know there are tons of people out there who would love to see one, and I’ve passed that on as far as I can within SEGA.”

It seems as though PS3 owners are left to stick with the trophy-less original Valkyria Chronicles… Wait… that’s not so bad! If you haven’t tried the game yet, don’t let the lack of trophies deter you from enjoying this gem. Especially if you plan on picking up the PSP sequel.

[Source]

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us

SEGA has just unveiled the pre-order incentives offered for the upcoming Valkyria Chronicles 2 on the PSP. Those that choose to pre-order the follow up to the PlayStation 3′s biggest, best, sleeper hit will get some exclusive DLC along with what is sure to be an amazing game.

Much like the first game, which was actually on the PS3 (strangely, the sequel is on the PSP),  the DLC comes in the form of extra missions. Anyone who pre-orders Valkyria Chronicles 2 will get the following extra missions:

• Exercise vs. Class E – An exterminatory war exercise against rival class E using all the areas of Leanbluff Forest. Destroy all enemies in each area to win this challenge.

• Exercise vs. Class F – A defense exercise against rival class F. Break through their stonewalling defense and take over their encampment to win this mission.

Valkyria Chronicles 2 releases August 31st in America and September 3rd in Europe on both UMD and PSN. Be sure to head on over to Amazon.com now and put in your pre-order!

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Valkyria Chronicles 2 brings you back into the world of Gallia two years after the events of the first one and it seems like this small nation just cannot escape war. This time around you are in the shoes of 17-year-old Avan Hardins, a military cadet from the Lanseal Military Academy. Young Avan is enlisted with the rest of his Academy to stop the Gallian Revolutionary Army, a group of rebels who have taken arms to cleanse the world of Gallians of Darcsen descent.

The demo available at this year’s E3 was very similar to what PS3 owners saw with the demo available for the first game. Basically, we were able to participate in a fight to gain a hold on the combat system, which has remained unchanged from the original. At the start of the battle you will have a set number of command points, with each member of your squad requiring different amounts of these points to be used in action. Move your character near the action and fire on your enemies, but be sure to finish each characters turn behind cover or they will be exposed during the enemies turn. All five of the original classes return except that Snipers are now part of the Scouts upgrade abilities and not a class on its own. The game also features a brand new unit called the Armored Soldier, though we were not able to try out one of these during the demo.

The game will also feature the ability to upgrade different characters and change character classes based on a branching tree of upgrades. While we were not able to test this feature in action, it does sound like a great addition, adding for more customization of your squad then before. Its not just characters either as tanks are more customizable now, so expect to see more options then just buying new parts. Tanks will also no longer have a grid to set upgrades inside, instead going by weight of the upgrade, with each of the two tanks having different weight limits. The main tank will also provide the ability to carry 2 soldiers in it should you choose that upgrade.

Also changed in this game compared to the first is the storyboard mission style, replaced now with the Military Academy, which is where you will spend most of your time when not fighting. Though again it was not playable as part of this demo, we were told it will be a huge part of the story as you try and balance your soldier life along with your life on the battlefield. The game will also show increased attention towards your social interactions with characters, opening up new potentials as you progress certain social links. Valkyria Chronicles 2 will also feature new battlefields for the player to enjoy from night time battles to snow battles, giving players many more types of battles to enjoy.

All of this adds up to what sounds to be a complete experience on the PSP when it releases this August the 31st in North America. The combat has mostly been left alone and works surprisingly well on the PSP, which is great news to those who doubted the move to the portable system. Though I personally would still love to see this series return to the PS3, I cannot help but be impressed by what they have done with this game and look forwarded to picking it up in August.

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Underdog PlayStation 3 exclusive Valkyria Chronicles became an instant fan favorite, implementing fun and addictive strategy gameplay. SEGA is hoping that the sequel mirrors the success of the first game, only this time, on a smaller scale. Valkyria Chronicles 2 was released last year, however, only in Japan. Now, finally, the game has been given a US release date.

SEGA has announced that the second installment in the beloved PlayStation franchise will be released on August 31st, 2010 in North America.

A European release date has yet to be confirmed.

RPG sequel Valkyria Chronicles 2 is now out in Japan, so if you’re Japanese living outside of Japan, then be smart and import it. The PSP title can also link to the PS3 for some extra features – the game’s Japanese site revealed that a save file from the original Valkyria Chronicles game can be transferred via memory stick to unlock the character Isara.

For more on Valkyria Chronicles 2, check out PlayStation LifeStyle’s preview.

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Valkyria Chronicles 2 is Sega’s PSP-based sequel to the PS3 strategy RPG that surprised a lot of people in 2008. This sequel has a heck of a lot in common with its predecessor, with most similarities lying in the battle system that proved so innovative the first time we saw it. Saying it’s the same game, however, would be a mistake.

Valkyria veterans will immediately feel at ease when handling the troops in combat. The flow is exactly the same as it was in Valkyria Chronicles, with the player and enemy alternating turns, taking actions by way of their Command Points. Special “Orders” are once again available, granting a wide range of buffs and advantages, coming at the cost of Command Points as well. While there are some tweaks to the classes, their roles haven’t changed much overall. Scouts are still the kings of movement range, stormtroopers are still the best for mid-range combat (especially defense), while snipers, supports, and anti-tanks are still must-have soldiers for their special purposes.

There are some combat differences, though. The biggest fundamental change is the seemingly magical teleportation between bases. In order to take the Valkyria style from PS3 to PSP, some changes had to be made, first among them being that the huge battlefields were now broken up into several smaller sections. This means a battle will usually take place over two or three battlefields — sometimes more. Depending on the battle, the player will either start with multiple bases spread throughout the maps, or with just one base on one map. In order to reach a map on which the player has no bases (and therefore can’t summon new fighters), claiming bases on the starting battlefield will change the color of a flag on another map.

This sounds confusing because it is, on paper. Somehow, claiming base in the corner of Area 1 can mean the blue team now also gains control of the base in the central part of Area 3, for example. Remember the rule about not being able to claim a base if there is an enemy in it? That still applies in Valkyria 2, but not for bases that end up being claimed by proxy in this newfangled way. So in the example above, if there are two enemies sitting right in that base in Area 3, that base is now blue, regardless, because its attached base was claimed on another map.

On the next turn, the red army can then claim the base right back, tug-of-war style, if there are no blue team members in their Area 3 location. Here’s where another big change to the battle system gets magnified: the taking of one base leading to the immediate wipeout and taking of another. In the first game, when players summoned reinforcements from bases, they wouldn’t show up until the next turn, which made logical sense. Now, as soon as the player spends that command point to bring in a new soldier, boom, he/she is right there and ready for action. This means a player can (going back to the previous example) claim that base in Area 1, then scroll to Area 3 from the map overview, select that base and summon a character to immediately, magically show up right there in the middle of a guarded base to drop some firepower and take it over. Sometimes it pretty much makes a mockery of what would normally be considered great base defense.

This is an odd quirk, to be sure, but it doesn’t ruin the game. Valkyria Chronicles 2 is definitely still fun; it just has some markedly different winning tactics than the original game. Once you accept the new teleportation physics, it’s easy to roll with.

A definite positive change is that VC2 doesn’t reward simple base rushing as much as the first game did. In some missions of the original, making a one-turn blitz toward the enemy’s base was the only way to get an S-rank in a mission. But in part 2, the turn limits seem a little bit more lenient, which allows the player to fight a smarter, more strategic fight without worrying too much about sacrificing precious experience points.

Fortunately for strategy RPG fans, VC2′s battles are, at the end of all these similarities and differences, very fun to play. The game is once again a highly strategic, interesting, enjoyable affair for those who like strategy RPGs.

New additions to the class system have given Valkyria 2 some more army customization options that its daddy. Class level-ups are done the same way as they were before, with the player spending EXP on a certain class, then every member of that class getting the level increase. The difference is that individuals can now make independent progress in the form of Advanced Classes. By participating in battles and performing well, individual characters will receive items. Collect the required amounts of certain ones, and the given character will be allowed to change to a different type of combatant, if the player wants him/her to.

Each class has its own development tree that players can guide a character down. There are two immediate branches, each of which also has two more path branching off of it. For example, the first two branches of a Support character’s growth tree are the options to either become a stronger (more HP, perhaps a little more accuracy, and so on) version of a Support trooper, or a music-playing buff machine. The first options for a Stormtrooper are to either become a simply stronger version of the same class, or to tote a more powerful machinegun that doesn’t allow direct fire, but instead sprays all over the friggin’ place. Also of note is that Snipers now fall under the Scout classification, available when a Scout earns a few badges in battle.

Rather than storybook presentation, the player’s central control center is now an overview of the Gallian Royal Military Academy this time around. Progress goes month by month, with each month containing various optional story bits as well as at east one mandatory scene and at least one story battle. The player can repeat the optional missions as many times as desired, without the month moving forward; only when the story mission is cleared will in-game time pass.

The story of Valkyria Chronicles 2 is far less serious than its elder’s (I say this having played through July). While the original told the story of a young man unexpectedly swept into the middle of a heated war, the second has the conflict taking a back seat to the goings on of distinctly anime teenagers. I say that because they are not acting Western, they are not even acting Japanese — they are acting in that particular way that is only ever seen in anime. I’m not saying there’s anything necessarily wrong with it, I’m just calling it what it is. There’s lots of slapstick, enough sweatdrops to hydrate the Sahara, and cheek-reddening socially awkward moments aplenty. It’s fine for what it is, but the contrast from its elder is noteworthy.

Like the game before it, the graphics in this game are a real standout, with the animation looking remarkable and the art direction being tops. It’s not as groundbreaking as the first game’s look by default, and obviously the PSP isn’t going to outshine the PS3 in a category like graphics, but as a PSP game, it looks quite good. Hitoshi Sakimoto is back on the soundtrack. As was said about the visuals, it’s not quite what was delivered in the first game, but it’s very solid on its own.

One thing that might upset gamers is Valkyria Chronicles 2′s slight lack of portability. The player can only make one save file per playthrough, and can’t save in mid battle either. This means that a player can’t make some certain level-up or customization decisions and create an alternate save file just in case things go awry. Since some battle can take quite a bit of time, no mid-battle saving is especially something of a downer. Considering that the PSP is also a music player, photo viewer, Skype phone, and internet browser, not being able to just switch functions in the middle of the game is sometimes inconvenient for gamers on the go. Making the switch might come at the cost of one’s well-executed strategy being erased. This will of course matter far less to those who don’t use the PSP’s other functions or who don’t often use it while traveling.

What’s important to reiterate about Valkyria Chronicles 2 is that it’s so far been a good, fun game. The battle system was the best part of the original, and while there are some differences, it’s still the star attraction in what is proving to be a second great strategy RPG in what will hopefully become a long-running series. The North American release date has not yet been specified, but Sega seems to be looking at a summer release.

© Knifefight for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

There have been many great Role-Playing Games that have graced Sony’s hardware over the years, and sadly, some of these have hit like a storm and then disappeared.  With some RPG momentum finally picking up on the PS3, now is a good time for some series to make their return to Sony’s platform.  There is no order to the 5 below, but they would all make terrific additions to the PlayStation 3′s already amazing lineup of games.

Suikoden VI

It has been roughly 4-years since gamers have seen a proper Suikoden game to play, and with the PS3 finally filling up with RPGs, now would be a great time for Konami to reveal Suikoden VI.  The series has spanned 6 games, or 7 if you count the below-average DS offering, and while the series on the PS1 and PS2 has had its share of roadbumps, it is still one of the best RPG series ever created in my mind.  A return to the series is badly needed for us Suikoden fans–any game that lets you recruit up to 108 unique soldiers is a win in my book.

Persona 5

Yes I know that Atlus has already confirmed development of this title, but to my knowledge they have yet to specify exactly which platform the game will appear on. PS3 owners everywhere should be crossing fingers, toes, anything they can that this game finds its way onto a Blu-Ray disc.  Persona 3 and 4, which both released on the PS2, were two of the greatest RPGs that I have ever played and successfully blended a dating game and RPG.  That special blend could make magic with the power of the PS3 enhancing the journey into the Midnight Hour.

The Legend of Dragoon 2

I can still fondly recall my first time stepping foot into the world of Endiness and the shoes of Dart as he attempts to track down the black monster that killed his family.  The first time in the game that you used your Dragon spirit was about as epic as anything seen in an RPG to that point.  There has been some speculation of a follow-up to the title and it would be a welcome addition to any RPG library. Being able to see Dragon spirits in all their HD glory would be quite a sight.  The original game released on the PSOne in 2000 and was a mammoth four discs.

Valkyria Chronicles 2

This game is coming out for the PSP, but honestly it should be hitting the PS3 as well.  Valkyria Chronicles was such a breath of fresh air to the strategy genre, blending in RPG and third-person shooter elements.  The result was a very addicting game that not only had great gameplay, but also a compelling cast of characters and a very touching story. I thought PS3 owners supported this game rather well considering it is definitely a niche genre with a brand new graphics engine and very unique gameplay.  We need to be able to rejoin this fight without going portable; we need this to hit our console and fast!

Dark Cloud 3

Dark Cloud 2 was a masterpiece when it released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003, featuring a very unique style of gameplay. Being tasked to rebuild towns from scratch and inhabiting them to help save the world was a lot of fun, and you have seen the building of towns from Level 5 recently with White Knight Chronicles.  There have been rumors, of course, and hopefully one of those comes true and we can start building as soon as possible.

Those are our 5 RPGs–what about you?  Which ones would you like to see on a PS3 in the near future?

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Underdog PlayStation 3 exclusive Valkyria Chronicles became an instant fan favorite, implementing fun and addictive strategy gameplay. Sega is hoping that the sequel mirrors the success of the first game, only this time, on a smaller scale.

RPG sequel Valkyria Chronicles 2 is now out in Japan. The PSP title can also link to the PS3 for some extra features. The game’s Japanese site has announced that a save file from the original Valkyria Chronicles game can be transferred via memory stick to unlock the character Isara.

Screenshots of the RPG were released last year, which showed that the title bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor.

You can import the title from Play-Asia, but the online retailer sadly does not ship to Europe. The exclusive is slated for a worldwide summer release.

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Underdog PS3 exclusive Valkyria Chronicles became an instant fan favorite, implementing a fun and addictive battle system suitable for all gamers. The sequel hopes to mirror the factors that made Valkyria Chronicles a success, which is shown in some new screenshots released closely resembling its PS3 counterpart.

Screenshots of RPG sequel Valkyria Chronicles 2, which is scheduled for release on the PSP have been revealed. Judging by the screens, the battle system seems unchanged from its predecessor.

[Source]

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

For the first part of this generation’s life cycle there was not a lot for the PS3 in terms of RPG’s. The PS3 now has a few gems with Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3, as well as a former Xbox exclusive in Eternal Sonata. With age the PlayStation 3 seems like more attractive platform for RPG developers and publishers.

Next year marks a great year in terms of Role Playing Games with the big boys Square-Enix finally releasing Final Fantasy XIII, XIII Versus and XIV. While the Final Fantasy series keeps the series die hards happy it is not the only great up and coming RPG. But that is not the only great RPG to hit the PS3 next year and PlayStation LifeStyle will run down the 5 Most Anticipated RPG’s of 2010 that you need to keep an eye out for. These are in no particular order and few of these have yet to receive a US Release Date but we expect them to come in 2010.

5. Tales of Vesperia

Developer: Namco Tales Studio
Platform: PS3
Release Date: NA/EU – Not Announced, JP – September 17th, 2009

The Tales series is really starting to grow and Tales of Vesperia has added yet another chapter to the book. You play as Yuri Powell in this game as you battle to help out the lower class in the world. Experience a very action packed battle system that has 4 party members moving all at once to defeat enemies on screen.

4. Valkyria Chronicles 2

Developer: Sega
Platform: PSP
Release Date: JP – January 21st, NA/EU – Summer 2010

Following 2 years after the events in Valkyria Chronicles, a real gem for the PS3, Valkyria Chronicles 2 sets up in the middle of a civil war in Gallia. Players take up the fight as 17 year old Avan Hardence as you fight to protect the citizens of Gallia. The game will again feature the unique CANVAS Engine and find a beautiful cross between Strategy and Action in this sure to be amazing game.

Next Page »

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Interested in giving Valkyria Chronicles 2 a go and you either know Japanese or don’t mind not understanding a word that is said?  Well then Sega has just the deal for you as they have today released the VC2 Demo on their official site.

The demo features features a new training mode as well as two playable missions. In case you are unaware, Valkyria Chronicles 2 is the follow-up to the PS3 title that released last year and starts 2 years after the events of the first game.  The gameplay has remained mostly the same as you instruct your troops around the battlefield trying to outmaneuver the enemy troops.

So all you have to do is head to the link below, download the files and move them over to your PSP.  So what are you waiting for soldier??  Grab your weapon,  its time for war!!

Valkyria Chronicles 2 Demo

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Valkyria Chronicles 2, the sequel to underdog PS3 exclusive Valkyria Chronicles, is getting much deserved attention at TGS 2009. The title got an exclusive Q&A on the US PlayStation Blog, with many questions answered, and new features revealed.

To clear this out of the way first and foremost, Valkyria Chronicles 2 will be receiving multiplayer through ad-hoc play.

We are incorporating wireless ad-hoc play into the game, which will feature both co-op and versus modes. We can’t really talk too much about it in detail yet.

Other new details we’re revealed through the Q&A on the PlayStation Blog.

What made you decide to develop the official sequel for Valkyria Chronicles on the PSP? (Submitted by user: Trollkotte)

For the original PS3 version of the game there were two key features: The Canvas graphics system and the BLiTZ combat system. So when we were discussing the sequel we obviously wanted to bring these two features over, but we wanted to upgrade it somehow. When we looked at the BLiTZ battle system specifically — especially in the Japanese market — co-op play and wireless play is becoming more and more popular and we felt that would expand the gameplay for the title in a great way. When we went further in that direction we discovered that the PSP is the perfect platform to take advantage of that.

Are you adding new unit classes, weapon types or vehicles? Will there be any returning characters from Valkyria Chronicles 1? (Submitted by user: BigBoss712)

Yes. In terms of new weapons and units, not only will there be more of each, but there will be expanded customisation options for both. We have Scouts and Stormtroopers, as we did in the first game, but Scouts may branch into Scouts who run faster or are more meant for battle. In that way, each of the units will branch into new units. In terms of weapons, in the first game a rifle might branch into three different rifles as you progress in the game. The amount of variation is even greater in the sequel. In terms of returning characters, you’ll definitely see Alicia and Welkin come back and you might see other members of Squad 7, too.

We can also customise tanks this time around. You can equip different weapons and change the colour, which will affect how the tank moves. There are many ways for you to customise your own troops, just based on all the different character, tank and weapon options.

How does the difficulty of Valkyria Chronicles 2 and the character progression system differ from the first game?

What has changed the most is the way the game flows. If you remember back to the first game, it’s like reading through a book, with a certain number of missions per chapter. So if you hit a particularly hard mission you have to use trial and error to get past it, or you’ll never progress. But Valkyria Chronicles 2 is mission based, so if you reach a mission you can’t clear, you have the option of trying other missions before returning to the more difficult one. By doing that you can level up your characters or you might meet someone who can help you clear this mission. It’s a different method of progressing through the game. Overall the game’s difficulty will be about the same as Valkyria Chronicles, but because the game flow is different you might find the game is easier or, depending on the player, more difficult.

Valkyria Chronicles releases next summer, exclusively on PlayStation Portable.

[Source]

© Dan for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Valkyria Chronicles proved to be lackluster in sales, but was critically acclaimed for it’s style and gameplay. Though less then a stellar commercial success, SEGA has faith for Valkyria Chronicles series. Valkyria Chronicles 2, has just been given a North American release.

Summer 2010 has been the set date for Valkyria Chronicles 2, which is a little bit of a wait compared to the Winter 2009 release for Japan. Here’s a description for the title:

The year is 1937 EC. Two years later, the ashes of the Second European war still glow in Gallia’s history. But even peace is a fragile happiness – and hearts that once fought side by side are not forever friends.In the midst of this peace appears a group known as the Gallian Revolutionary Army, swearing to topple the current government – in a lightning fast coup, they arm themselves with the best of both Gallian technology and soldiers.

What was once a small but strong unified country is instantly plunged back onto the battlefield. But the day and age of the last war’s heroes is already fading out – with families to protect and children to raise, they are the ones who must now be protected. While numbers split and tensions rise, the spotlight shines to a handful of up-and-coming students at a Gallian Military Academy.

As civil war begins to rage across the country, morality and war clash with passion and ideals. But this time the distinction between blue and red is not so simple – nor will it ever be. Gallia once stood as a defiant beacon of hope against a giant empire… but can the country now defend against its own?

[Source]

© Dan for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Valkyria Chronicles 2 will release exclusively for the PlayStation Portable. Keep up with PlayStation LifeStyle for all your updates for this exciting new game.

[Source]

© Kishen Patel for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us