Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wartime strategy adventure is a personal and engaging tale.
Parents Need to Know
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Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
The battle for the fate of Europa continues in VALKYRIA CHRONICLES 4 COMPLETE EDITION for the Stadia gaming platform. This chapter in the Valkyria Chronicles epic tells the tale of the Second Europan War through the eyes of the Atlantic Federation, which has been drawn into the grand war between the Gallian Rebellion and the tyrannical Imperial Alliance. Players take on the role of Claude Wallace, a young Federation soldier that's risen through the ranks and taken command of the Ranger Corp unit, Squad E … also known as "EZ Platoon." Players train and develop their troops before entering the battlefield in turn-based, third-person combat. You'll take strategic positions, using cover to your advantage while lining up the perfect precision shot, or barrel through the terrain and bombard the enemy with the heavy artillery fire of your trusty tank. Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition includes the original hit strategy game, as well as all of the game's previously released downloadable content.
Is It Any Good?
Since 2008, this series has given players a glimpse into the lives of soldiers through the lens of an epic World War II-inspired battle between various factions over the fate of the fictional nation of Europa. Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition shows this war from the perspective of a different faction and through the eyes of a young officer determined to lead his platoon of misfits to victory against the tyrannical forces of the Imperial Alliance. The costs of war are also emphasized by the game's use of permadeath for characters. If a unit in the player's squad is downed and not rescued within a certain time, that character is permanently lost for the rest of the campaign. There are also unavoidable losses in the game's story to help drive home the inevitable risk and high personal toll that war often demands.
While the game does a good job of crafting a story filled with themes of honor, sacrifice, and friendship forged in the fires of war, the cutscenes and dialogue can tend to be a bit heavy handed and drag on longer than necessary. Players might get a little impatient while waiting to get back into the action of battle. Thankfully, the gameplay makes the wait worth the wait. Rather than fighting in grand scale battles, players command Squad E in smaller skirmishes. This not only gives players a more personal connection to the units, but also makes the battles more manageable. Moving from the tactical map to a unit's point of view help to ensure that orders are carried out in the best possible way. Movements and action are fluid and showcase the importance of things like positioning. One minor frustration is that sometimes what might look like actual cover for a unit isn't anything more than set dressing. It's never a good thing to think you're safe behind what you think is a barricade only to have enemy gunfire show just how wrong you were. Still, with practice and experience, it's not long before players can have a firm grasp of command on the battlefield.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition affected by the occasional blood shown in battle? Does a more realistic portrayal of combat, with real world style weapons, have more of an impact than fantasy or sci-fi violence?
What are some ways Valkyria Chronicles 4 represents its female characters? In what ways does the game show equality between the sexes? What are some of the ways it objectifies women?
Game Details
- Platform : Google Stadia
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Sega of America
- Release date : December 8, 2020
- Genre : Strategy
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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