Valkyria Chronicles is a series of games that mix military action with strategy. The games were created by Ryutaro Nonaka and Shuntaro Tanaka and developed by Sega. The first game, Valkyria Chronicles, was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2008 and later on other platforms like Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Two follow-up games were released for the PlayStation Portable. The most recent game, Valkyria Chronicles 4, was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows, and later on Stadia and Amazon Luna. The series has also been adapted into anime and manga.
Setting
The main series of games uses a turn-based system called BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zones) and is set in Europa, a fictional continent inspired by Europe. A conflict called the Second Europan War happens between the Atlantic Federation, a group of democracies in the western part of the continent, and the East Europan Imperial Alliance, a powerful monarchy that expands its territory. Both sides want to control the natural resources of Gallia, a neutral nation, which leads to an invasion by the Empire. The first, third, and fourth games follow the stories of different groups of soldiers fighting on various fronts during the war, while the second game takes place after the war ends. The games were created using Sega's CANVAS graphics engine, which makes the visuals look like moving pencil drawings. Valkyria Revolution is set in a different version of Europa with unique stories, characters, and gameplay.
Games
Valkyria Chronicles first came out on PlayStation 3. Later, the original game was made available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Sega chose to continue the series on PlayStation Portable instead of PlayStation 3. However, Valkyria Chronicles 4 was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch. It was later made available on Stadia and Amazon Luna. This was the first Valkyria Chronicles game to debut on a Nintendo platform and Microsoft Windows in the West.
The first main entry in the series was originally released for PlayStation 3. It was later made available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The Windows version was developed by Little Stone Software. The story takes place in Europa, a fictional continent based on Europe, during the beginning of World War II. Because of its large supply of Ragnite ore, which replaces petroleum in the game’s world, the neutral country of Gallia is attacked by the East Europan Imperial Alliance. This group is also fighting the Atlantic Federation. Players control a unit of the Gallian Militia, which works to stop the invasion.
The second main entry was moved to the PlayStation Portable platform. The story happens two years after the events of the first game. It follows a conflict between the Gallian Revolutionary Army and the Regular Army, who try to remove Cordelia from the throne. The game’s story centers on a military academy, where cadets work to stop an ethnic cleansing campaign by a ruthless rebel group.
The third main entry was also released on PlayStation Portable. However, it takes place during the events of the first game. The story follows the "Nameless," a penal military unit that serves Gallia during the Second Europan War. This group carries out secret black operations and faces the Imperial unit "Calamity Raven." Unlike earlier games, it was not officially released outside of Japan.
The fourth main entry was released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2018. It takes place during the events of the first and third games. The story focuses on a group of Gallian soldiers who join the Atlantic Federation, a major superpower during the war. These soldiers plan to attack the imperial capital to end the conflict.
Valkyria Chronicles Duel (also called Valkyria Chronicles D or Valkyria Duel) was a browser and mobile game released only in Japan. It was a free game for web browsers, Android, and iOS. The gameplay was very different from other games in the series, focusing more on managing war troops like a sports team simulation. It was released on July 26, 2012 (August 17 for Android and September 24 for iOS) and shut down on April 22, 2015.
Valkyria Revolution was released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan on January 19, 2017. It is a spin-off with a storyline separate from the main series, taking place in the fictional country of Jutland. It was released in North America and Europe on June 27, 2017, and June 30, 2017, respectively, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One. This made it the first Valkyria Chronicles game to appear on a Microsoft console, alongside PlayStation versions.
Other media
Four manga adaptations have been published based on the first game. The first is Valkyria Chronicles: Wish Your Smile, published in Comic B's Log magazine by Enterbrain. The story focuses on two characters created for the manga: Mintz, an orphan and engineer, and Julius Klose, a sniper. Both characters serve in the Gallian army's militia force. The manga was illustrated by Kyusei Tokito and published from November 12, 2008, to January 22, 2010. Two collected volumes were released on May 1, 2009, and March 1, 2010.
The second manga, titled Valkyria Chronicles, was illustrated by En Kito. Like the anime, it is a loose adaptation of the game, with some story details different from the original. It was published in Comp Ace magazine by Kadokawa Shoten from November 26, 2008, to March 26, 2010. Four collected volumes were later released.
The third manga is Valkyria Chronicles: Anthology Comic, published by Bros Comics EX on December 28, 2009, in one volume.
The fourth manga is Valkyria Chronicles: 4-koma Anthology, published by Bros Comics EX on March 10, 2010, in one volume.
The anime adaptation of the first game began airing on April 4, 2009, and was produced by A-1 Pictures under Aniplex. Directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto and written by Michiko Yokote, the anime was broadcast on multiple networks, including Animax and Tokyo MX. The anime follows the game's storyline but changes some character details, such as Alicia, and introduces a new character, Ramal Valt. The characters were redesigned by Atsuko Watanabe for the anime, while keeping the visual style of the game's CANVAS Engine.
The anime's music was composed and conducted by Hitoshi Sakimoto, with the Czech Film Orchestra performing. The first opening theme, "Asu e no Kizuna," was performed by Himeka, who won the Animax Anison Grand Prix. A CD single of the song was released on May 27, 2009. The first ending theme, "Ano Kaze ni Notte," was performed by Pe'zmoku, with a CD single released on May 27, 2009. Maria sang the second opening theme, "Kanashimi Rensa," starting from episode 14. The second ending theme, "Hitotsu no Negai," was performed by Hikari Inoue from episode 14 to 25. The ending theme for episode 26, "Brightest Morning," was also performed by Hikari Inoue. CD singles for "Kanashimi Rensa" and "Hitotsu no Negai" were released on August 12, 2009, and August 5, 2009.
Region 2 DVDs of all 26 episodes were released in nine volumes, starting August 5, 2009, and ending April 7, 2010. Each DVD included a short OVA episode titled Valkyria Chronicles Theater. A BD-box was released on April 27, 2011.
Two drama CDs based on Valkyria Chronicles were released. The first was published on July 24, 2009, and the second on October 7, 2009.
Three manga adaptations of the second game were released in Japan by Sega.
The first manga, Valkyria Chronicles II Sōkō no Aliasse, was illustrated by Daisuke Shido and published in Dengeki Maoh magazine from June 2010 to June 2011. The story follows the friendship between Valkyrian Aliasse and her Darcsen classmate Magari. Two volumes were released in January 2011 and May 27, 2011.
The second manga, Valkyria Chronicles II, was written by Daiki Saito and illustrated by Watari. It was published in Comp Ace magazine from October 2010 to September 2011. The story loosely follows the game, focusing on the relationship between Avan and his brother. Two volumes were released in January 2011 and September 2011.
The third manga, Valkyria Chronicles II: Our Only Days, was illustrated by Mekki Kuroyama and published as a webcomic in Comics B's-Log Air Raid from May 28, 2010, to January 2011. The story follows Zeri and his changing relationships with classmates during the game's events. Two volumes were released in January 2011 and September 2011.
Valkyria Chronicles III was adapted into a two-episode original video animation (OVA) released in 2011. Titled Senjō no Varukyuria 3: Taga Tame no Jūsō, it was first available on PlayStation Network and Qriocity between April and May 2011. Due to a PlayStation Network outage, the release was extended. The OVA was later released on DVD in June and August 2011 in "Black" and "Blue" editions. The anime focuses on a mission by the Nameless against their rivals, Calamity Raven. It was developed by A-1 Pictures, directed by Nobuhiro Kondō, and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi. The game's music, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, was used in the anime.
The title of the OVA was inspired by the Nameless' goal to suffer for others. A subtitle, "The Road to Kubinka," referenced the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow. The game's themes explored how characters regained their identities after losing their names, along with the consequences of war. The production team was instructed to make the anime as realistic as possible, including researching how tanks behave when damaged. The anime's opening theme, "Akari (Light) -Tomoshibi-," was performed by Faylan. The ending theme, "Someday the Flowers of Light Will Bloom," was performed by Minami Kuribayashi.
Two manga adaptations of Valkyria Chronicles III were published. The first, Senjō no Varukyuria 3: -Akaki Unmei no Ikusa Otome-, was illustrated by Mizuki Tsuge and published in Comp Ace magazine from July 26, 2011, to January 26, 2012. It was released in a single volume by Kadokawa Shoten. The second, *Sen
Reception
The Valkyria Chronicles series has received good reviews. The first game in the series won many awards, including "Strategy Game of the Year" from GameSpy and is considered one of the best games ever made.
By 2015, the first game sold more than 200,000 copies on Steam and over one million copies on PlayStation 3. The second game was the second best-selling video game in Japan during its first week, selling 94,000 copies. The third game sold about 100,000 copies during its first week, selling more copies than the earlier games. By 2020, the fourth game sold over one million copies worldwide across all platforms.