Like VC, VC4 occurs during the war against the Empire, but on the chillier Eastern Front. In VC4, the protagonists are Claude Wallace and his Ranger Corps, Squad E. Squad E is charged with ending the war via a bold, decisive strike against the Empire. Unfortunately, the most powerful Valkyria, the unstable Crymaria, stands in their way, along with a tank battalion commanded by the flamboyant Klaus Walz (oh my goddess, I just now noticed the similarities in the hero name and villain name!!! Truly, VC is a series where subtlety goes to die.). Meanwhile, the twisted Lord Belgar and his "special" unit wait in the shadows for their chance to strike. Will our heroes triumph???
Of course, and it's so satisfying! Briefly, campaigns consist of positioning units, each with their own unique abilities, around a battlefield, with the perpetual goal of capturing the enemy base/s. Individual units have AP (Action Points), which is a bar denoting how far they can move afield, and they use up player CP (Command Points) when given orders. So, for example, selecting a Scout takes one CP, and moving that Scout to a specific spot will consume AP. It's all very intuitive, and once again the graphics and environment are top-notch, making battles both fun and stressful. For example, units can duck behind sand bags or crawl through tall grass to avoid damage, or evade enemy line of sight by hiding between buildings or something else suitably large. Such tactics, combined with thoughtful strategy, are well rewarded.
I mentioned earlier that VC4 has a leg up on the first VC, and this shows up in four new gameplay elements. First is the SP (Special Point), which is a once-per-turn ability that lets your officers lead up to two other units around, which is extremely useful for conserving CP. I have spammed super-Scout Minerva many a time using this skill, using her superior range to overcome the limitations of heavier units (Grenadiers, Lancers). Speaking of, the Grenadiers are the second improvement in the game: a new unit that can destroy armored enemy units from a distance. So, like snipers, but for tanks! Third, the Squad Stories, which are earned by fulfilling certain conditions (e.g. complete X mission, finish X number of Skirmishes), are like mini-battles that give your troops more personality and enhanced skill sets! They also have ridiculous titles, like "All the Single Ladies," which is particularly memorable to me because I completely screwed the pooch on that one and finished in 10 turns instead of my typical 2-3. *blush* Anyway, the Squad Stories are definitely worth the time, and absolutely mandatory for completionists. Finally, players can equip bonus-granting items on characters, such as boots that increase AP, gunpowder that increases attack power, etc.
Amidst its strengths, VC4's most glaring weakness is the slow menu navigation. When in Book Mode, players must suffer through constant pop-up prompts: "Are you sure you want to return to Headquarters?" and page-turning sequences, and unskippable character dialogue in certain areas (e.g. the Training Field and the R&D Facility). This is a minor quibble, true, but VC4 would be near-perfect if Book Mode were snappier.
In conclusion, VC4 is a must for fans of the first VC, and for those who enjoy strategy games in general. Yes, everyone has a weirdly pointy chin and giant hands, but the campaigns will test you, the soundtrack will pump you up, and the tragic stories--from the lowliest recruit to the mighty Valkyria--will make you all the more determined to end the war once and for all. Best of all, the game portrays its antagonists in such a way that discerning players must ask the question: "Wait, are WE the bad guys?" Fenrir sure thinks so!
 |
| Fenrir is a GOOD BOY and will always be there for Crymaria and her exposed thigh! |
TL;DR: Addictive, get yours today!
---
This post brought to you by spring allergies! *shakes fist* POLLEEEEEENNNNN!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment