Valkyria Revolution wants to be the next big tactical RPG, but it never quite gets there. The 2017 spin-off from the Valkyria Chronicles series trades the turn-based battles that defined that franchise for something closer to an action game, and the change shows in nearly every part of the package.
Trailer, via SEGA.
The Circle of Five
The story follows five friends whose childhoods were torn apart by war. Amleth, Basil, Fritte, Solomon and Violette each took a different path through adulthood, and the game asks whether their actions made them heroes or villains. Their plan to fight back against the Ruzi Empire starts with a simple act: burning down an orphanage and kidnapping a caretaker named Maria. Ten years later, the five have grown into figures who shape Jutland’s politics, industry and media, and the game tracks how their combined influence pushes their homeland into conflict.
The framing device is unusual. The main story is told in medias res, through a Jutland student researching a paper on “The Five Traitors.” His teacher, Richelle, interrupts the narrative to offer context, drawing on stories passed down by her great-great-grandmother, who taught the Jutish princess. That layering gives the setup some texture, even if the game spends little time exploring it once the fighting begins.
Combat That Never Takes Off
The core of Valkyria Revolution is a real-time battle system built around squads of up to four allies. Players control one character directly while the others follow orders set through a system of “Priorities.” These priorities let you tell your squad to focus on offense, defense or support, or to split up into smaller teams for taking on multiple enemies. It’s a clever idea, and it gives the game a distinct identity compared to the turn-based strategy of the original series.
But the execution falls short. The combat feels sluggish, and the camera struggles to keep up with fast action, especially when enemies are spread across a wide battlefield. Permanent death is possible, but the game lets you retry failed missions, which removes some of the tension that a permanent death system should create. The whole experience ends up feeling more like a slow, awkward mess than a satisfying tactical challenge.
“All it takes is a single spark to start the inferno of war…”
That line sums up the game’s ambitions. It wants to be a story about the cost of vengeance, told through a group of characters whose actions spiral out of control. On paper, that’s a compelling pitch. In practice, the game never commits fully to either its action or its story.
The LeGION System
The LeGION system is meant to support larger battles than the original Valkyria Chronicles could manage. In theory, that’s a bold move. In practice, the game’s technical limits show up constantly. Loading times are frequent and lengthy, and the frame rate dips often during fights. The game looks dated next to other titles on the same platforms, with rough textures and animations that feel unfinished.
Each character carries a melee weapon, a long-range weapon, a grenade and an item pouch for restorative items. The long-range weapons and grenades have limited ammo, which can only be replenished by capturing enemy bases in the field. That resource management adds a layer of planning, but it also creates friction when you’re in the middle of a fight and running low on bullets.
Magic spells, called “alchemy,” add another layer of depth. Different types of alchemy have different effects, and players can equip them to customize their squads. It’s a solid system, but it doesn’t compensate for the combat’s fundamental problems.
A Setting Worth Exploring
The setting itself is rich. Jutland is a small, economically blockaded country facing off against the Ruzi Empire, which has expanded its territory and achieved rapid industrial development thanks to the azure mineral Ragnite. The game draws on history and fantasy in equal measure, and the world feels lived-in even when the presentation falters.
The game’s approach to character growth is also worth noting. Players can acquire more Priorities by visiting a “Circle” in town and listening to conversations between its inhabitants. That system rewards exploration outside of the battlefield, giving the game a sense of discovery beyond the combat loops.
Mixed Reviews From Critics
Critics at the time praised the game’s setting and concept as engaging but criticized the story delivery and large amount of loading screens, calling the gameplay and graphical quality lackluster. The mixed reviews are accurate. Valkyria Revolution has a strong premise and a decent tactical system, but the execution drags it down.
The game is a spin-off, and it plays like one. It borrows the name and the world of the Valkyria Chronicles series, but it doesn’t fully commit to the same identity. The result is a game that feels like it’s trying to be two things at once, and neither one fully comes together.
Final Word
Valkyria Revolution is a game of missed opportunities. Its concept is strong, its setting is interesting, and its tactical system has real promise. But the combat is clumsy, the presentation is dated, and the story never finds the right balance between its five central characters. It’s a game that’s easy to recommend for fans of the genre who are willing to look past its flaws, but it’s not a game that succeeds on its own terms.
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