Valkyria Chronicles

[Quasar]

So I downloaded the demo over the weekend.

Now its the first strategy JRPG that I've come near let alone played but I have to say I really quite like what I saw and played. It even has some subject that is of interest to me (unlike pretty much all other Japanese RPG's). And its gorgeous looking.

Anyone else tried out the demo or played it ?

[calamitas]

Tried the demo.
It really was fun to play, because of it's fresh gamestyle.
I will get the full version, as soon as it is in stores end of the month.

[Menchi]

I love it - I'm not 100% sold on the faded photograph edges, they could get annoying. But the game is fun and gorgeous.

I'll definitely be checking it out when it gets released. :)

Conan

[Keith Perhac]

I was playing the JP version until work got the better of me.

The game is beautiful, and the combat system is wonderful (as long as you understand that sometimes it doesn't work just like reality ie. if a guy is standing behind a bunker, he is defended. Even if you're on the same side of the bunker has him). Leveling up is interesting, and there's a wide range of weapons that you can continue to power-up as you go through the stages.

That being said, there are two things that I didn't like about the game.
1) Hard as nails.
Nothing was worse than spending 1-2 hours on a fight than to have a giant tank get air-dropped in and kill all your guys in one round. Definately a game to use strategy guides on.

2) I hated the characters.
Maybe I just didn't play the game long enough, but the characters, in all their shojo-goodiness, did nothing for me. If you're a fan of Sakura Taisen or other games like that you might feel differently, but for me all the characters were too wishy-washy to really enjoy. (That being said, my friend absolutely loved the characters and story, so really this is just personal opinion).

[MMDuran]

Where's the demo available? I looked for it on the PS network yesterday (US) and didn't find it. Is it only on the JP or should I be looking on my X360?

[calamitas]

you can get the demo via qore in the us store
the eu store has for free

as far as i know, it is ps3 exclusive, so you won't find it with the xbox360

[Fenris]

So far, I'm really liking it, the tutorial anyway.

I like the more modern feel...but still old-school(as in, tanks, rifles, stuff like that.) I mean, I've seen some weirdo magic stuff in the trailer, but generally, I like the old wartime feel.

Really like the graphics, myself. The tutorial doesn't quite give me a good bead on the characters.

I do love good strategy/RPGs, and for some unknown reason I'm getting odd Front Mission vibes(even though I know it's very different). I think this might be worth a purchase from me.

[travis]

I'm currently in my third play-through of the demo Skirmish. I was hoping that I'd like this game and thus far it's not letting me down. On each play I've tried different tactics, to see how they affect things. Thus far the only big annoyance is that the enemy AI will occasionally do really dumb stuff (like shooting into a hill, rather than moving to a better position and then opening fire).

I wonder if they won't make many of this title for U.S. shores, making it a "buy at launch or pay collector's prices" item? It's not a AAA title and perhaps because of this the "print run" will be small here.

-travis