Valkyria: Azure Revolution, the next installment in the Valkyria Chronicles series, will be launching in Japan later this year- and ahead of that launch, Sega have incorporated a lot of changes into the game, based on feedback that they got from users who played the ‘Battle Trial 1.0’ beta.

The full list of changes is exhaustive and wide ranging, leading to better graphics and improved RPG mechanics in the game. You can check out the full list of everything that is changed below:

Battle/General

Removal of Encounters:

Opinions:

• “Separating the battle in shooting and melee phases influences the tempo of the fight negatively.”
• “The limit of the battle area is unsatisfactory. I want to fight in a much larger area.”
• “It’s disturbing to fight in plain sight of enemies that will do nothing because they’re outside of the battle area.”

Implementation of an action gauge:

*The gauge shows when an action will become possible over time. It’ll be implemented for both allies and enemies.

Opinions:

• “I want to be able to ponder more on the tactics.”
• “It’s too unbalanced towards action. I want it to be more similar to a tactical RPG.”

Review of the weapon balance: 

*such as improvement of damage.

Opinions:

• “the sniper rifle is too weak.”
• “Guns are unsatisfactory if they can be used only at long range. I want to be able to mix melee and long range.”

Actions (such as healing and weapon attacks) changed so that it’s possible to select them while time is stopped:

Opinions:

• “The process to throw grenades is confusing. I want you to indicate the direction of the throw before it’s done.”
• “It’s hard to understand what each icon related to the actions does.”

Make “Emotions” (Including triggering conditions) clear and effective. Setting different stages for the changes of “Emotions:”

Opinions:

• “I couldn’t easily understand the effect of emotions.”
• “It’s hard to understand what kind of advantages emotions can provide.”

Strenghtening the level-up system:

*The feeling of joy in growing

Opinions:

• “I didn’t know what improved when I leveled up.”
• “It’s difficult to gauge the current level.”

Overhaul of the effects of attacks on the enemy:

Opinions:

• “I want the relative merits of weapons explained.”
• “I want to understand the details and the difference in performance of each attack.”

Improvement of camera controls:

Opinions:

• “The camera was too close during combat.”
• “The view point was confusing.”

Display the evaluation criteria of the battle results:

Opinions:

• “I had no idea on how to get an S Rank.”
• “The method of evaluation of my performance in battle was unclear.”

Overall adjustment of the game pace, and of the tempo of battle “between thinking:”

Opinions:

• “The overall flow of battle is too fast, and it’s hard to get accustomed to it.”
• “I don’t want an action game. I want it to be more of a strategy combat game.”

Other general adjustment to make it interesting as an RPG:

Opinions:

• “I feel that the gameplay was too limited to an action game.”
• “It felt in the middle, neither simulation nor action.”

Battle/Action

Increase the speed of movement for characters and the responsiveness to input:

Opinions:

• “The characters were too slow.”
• “I feel that the battle pace is off.”

Implementation of Dash:

Opinions:

• “I want a dash action to be usable to take advantage of opportunities.”
• “I want an action that can be used to approach or retreat quickly.”

Implementation of Guard:

Opinions:

• “I want to be able to use a defense action.”
• “I feel like defensive actions are insufficient.”

Change of the attack action to the standard button [Editor’s note: circle for Japan]:

Opinions:

• “Normal attack on square makes it difficult to follow up.”
• “I instinctively pressed circle to attack.”

Removal of special attacks on triangle button:

Opinions:

• “The difference between special attacks and normal attacks was unclear.”
• “It’s difficult to understand the effect of the special attack. It doesn’t feel comfortable.”

Clarification of the range of attacks:

Opinions:

• “The range and the lock distance did not feel consistent.”
• “The range of hand grenades and smoke grenades was difficult to understand, so i wasted ammunition.”

Clarification of stealth operation (discovered or hidden):

Opinions:

• “It was hard to understand the visibility range and the range at which you switch to battle.”
• “It was difficult to understand the range in which the enemy would detect you.”

Clarification of the targeting (aim) and the effective range of skills;

Opinions:

• “It was hard to understand when it was good to use abilities like hand grenades or smoke.”
• “I want an aiming and attack range display.”

Party and AI

Change the number of members of the party from three to four:

Opinions:

• “I want tactical gameplay among party members.”
• “I want to be able to play with many different characters.”

Ability to give simple instructions to party members/ability to choose general behavior instructions/implementation of ability to deny an action:

Opinions:

• “It’s impossible to give instructions to AI characters and we can only act together. There’s no tactical gameplay.”
• “I’d like to be able to give orders like “follow,” “attack all-out,” “spread out” and more.”

Improvement of companion AI:

Opinions:

• “It’s annoying when characters do something I don’t want them to.”
• “I get discovered because of my allies, it’s better not to have them around at times.”

Improvement of enemy AI:

Opinions:

• “The enemies are too passive. I want to see them perform different tactical actions.”
• “I don’t need to be careful because the enemy doesn’t act smartly. I can just move by them.”

Battle/ Map and Events

Implementation of traps like mines and improvement of the action on the map:

Opinions:

• “I’d like to see tactical element on the map.”
• “I’d like to be able to attack using features of the environment.”

Improvement of the battlefield feeling (map, effects, NPC, etc.);

Opinions:

• “There isn’t enough durst and dirt on the stage.”
• “I’d like to see other fiendly units on the battlefield.”

Implementation of an item box and of a supply point:

Opinions:

• “The bullets I was given for the sniper rifle was too low.”
• “I’d like to be able to replenish supplies on the map.”

Graphics/Audio

Improvement of the graphics engine “GOUACHE”:

Opinions:

• “I expect more innovation for visuals.”

Improvement of SE (Sound Effects);

Opinions:

• “Sound effects feel too weak.”
• “I’s like to hear more variety for sound effects.”

Improvement of effects:

Opinions:

• “Visibility is excessively poor when a smoke screen is active.”
• “Magic effects are too small, and it’s hard to see if they hit the target.”

Improvement of character models:

Opinions:

• “The model of the hero doesn’t feel cool enough.”

Options/User Interface

Improvement of options, improvement of button association with commands, overhaul of the battle UI:

Opinions:

• “I’d like to set the position of the camera.”
• “It’s hard to see the HP bar of the enemies. It’s way too small.”

Improvement of the minimap and ability to see the full strategy map:

Opinions:

• “Since you can’t see the full map, but only the minimap, it’s hard to find the right direction.”
• “With only a small area of the map, it’s hard to search for your target.”

Other

Implementation of story events:

Opinions:

• “I didn’t understand the story and the world view.”

Implementation of over ten playable characters:

Opinions:

• “I’d like to control a lot more characters.”

Implementation of different difficulty settings:

Opinions:

• “It’s too hard for me. I’d like to play it at an easier difficulty.”
• “I’d like a harder level of difficulty.”

Improvement of the squad, weapons and magic:

Opinions:

• “I want to be able to equip a shield on a character.”
• “I’d like a better variety of weapons.”
• “I’d like to have magic to weaken the enemy at my disposal.”

Implementation of customization for weapons and magic:

Opinions:

• “I’d like to customize the array of sub weapons and guns.”

Implementation of gameplay in interiors:

Opinions:

• “I’d like map variations like the ability to enter buildings or climb ladders.”

Implementation of day/night cycle:

Opinions:

• “I’d like to fight night battles.”

Improvement of background music switching:

Opinions:

• “The music tracks seemed too sparse.”

Implementation of a “dandy” male character [Editor’s note: probably “dandy” is intended as an older gentleman]:

Opinions:

• “There are no older men between the characters.”

Removal of Ophelia’s leggings:

Opinions:

• “Those leggings…”

All of these changes will also be reflected in the Battle Trial 2.0 beta test, which it was announced will be releasing in Summer. The game itself, meanwhile, is due out sometime this Winter.

The debut trailer for Valkyria Chronicles Remaster, Sega’s PS4 remaster of the PS3 strategy RPG title, is finally available. You can check it out below in all of its HD glory.

Valkyria Chronicles first released in 2008 for the PlayStation and focused on the fictional war between Gallia and the East European Imperial Alliance over Ragnite ore. Players control a unit of the Gallian Militia and must fight overwhelming odds in order to defeat the Alliance. At the time, Valkyria Chronicles didn’t do well commercially but built up a loyal fan following over the years, enough to encourage Sega to invest in two sequels for the PlayStation Portable.

Along with Valkyria Chronicles Remaster, Sega will also be bringing Valkyria: Azure Revolution to the PS4. The former is out on February 10th in Japan and features a demo for the latter. Are you interested in picking up the remaster? Let us know in the comments.

The newly announced revival of Sega’s Valkyria series, with Valkyria: Azure Revolution, is probably one of the most anticipated games for many fans of JRPGs and strategy games worldwide now- especially since Sega seems to be saying all the right things. It sounds like the new game is going to sport the kind of gorgeous artstyle that made the first game such a visual splendor on the PS3, and that it will be a full fledged JRPG, with no concessions made.

If that was not enough to get you hyped up, these new screenshots surely will be. We have them thanks to Japanese magazine Famitsu, which ran a feature piece on the new game, alongside pictures of the Valkyria Chronicles PS4 remaster. And both games look absolutely gorgeous. It makes me wonder why Sega sat on this IP for as long as they did.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution is set to launch on the PS4 in Japan in Winter 2016- a western release will hopefully follow shortly afterwards.

Sea will be revisiting the Valkyria Chronicles franchise in more ways than one – as revealed in Famitsu (via Gematsu), Valkyria: Azure Revolution is in development for the PS4 and there will also be a remastered version of the first Valkyria Chronicles which originally released on PS3.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution sees players fighting against the enormous and industrially advanced Rus Empire as part of Jutland to achieve independence. You’ll play as a commanding officer in Jutland’s Anti-Valkyria force and use the “LeGION” system to battle foes. This system is in real-time but will also have simulation elements with multiple characters seemingly able to act as once. Media Vision is in charge of development, which is good news considering it developer Valkyria Chronicles 3 for the PSP.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution is out in 2016 for Japan but the Valkyria Chronicles Remaster releases on February 10th 2016 for the country. It will include better graphics, all previously launched DLC and a demo for Valkyria: Azure Remaster. We’ll see if either game makes it to Western audiences in the future.