Valkyria Chronicles 3: Unrecorded Chronicles (戦場のヴァルキュリア3 Battlefield) is the third title in the Valkyria Chronicles series, released exclusively in Japanese on the PlayStation Portable. An expanded version known as Valkyria Chronicles 3: Extra Edition was released later that same year with additional DLC and extra content.
Plot[]
Kurt Irving, a top graduate from Lanseal Royal Military Academy and gifted strategist, finds himself in command of a Gallian army squad. After a successful mission, he is requested to report to General Carl Isler who wishes to congratulate him on his success. Upon arriving however, a civilian bumps into him dropping a letter. Seeing the General's name on it, Kurt diligently delivers the letter back to his commanding officer, unaware of what information the letter contains.
General Isler, worried Kurt may have read the letter in full pulls some strings to get Kurt accused of treason and transferred to the penal squad made of 'criminals and traitors' known as Squad 422, aka the Nameless, a suicide mission squadron full of Gallian members felt to be considered disposable. Kurt is given a number to identify himself by, No. 7 and told all following accomplishments will be strictly off the record. Kurt demands to know what he's done to be accused of treason, but nobody seems to know, stating whatever it was it came from the top. A small ray of light is given to Kurt in that if he manages to prove himself in the Nameless, he may be able to return to a regular service squadron.
Upon arriving with his new squad, Kurt discovers the previous Captain died in the last mission, and he is the highest ranking officer. No. 6, a Darcsen known as Gusurg nominates him to be in charge of the squad. With new missions already given to the squad, Kurt sets about creating a strategy to overcome the Imperial invaders. However, his strategy has to be changed as by the time he arrives most of his squadron have vanished aside from Gusurg, No. 13, Riela Marcellis and No. 1, another Darcsen known as Imca. With no other option, Kurt manages to pull off a guerilla tactic victory using only himself and his three team mates, which earns both Gusurg respect, and Riela apologises for doubting his ability.
However, to gain the other squad members respect, Kurt has to convince them of his ability to lead. Gusurg has enough sway within the squadron, that he manages to convince five additional members to try a mission under Kurt's guidance. Whilst there are doubts, the fact the squad walk away from the following suicide mission without any casualties or even injuries convinces a few of them to put their trust in him as the new commanding officer, although they state they do not want to fight alongside No. 13, Riela Marcellis, who is known as the Grim Reaper due to her being the only survivor of five squads she'd previously been in.
With seven out of thirteen squad members approving of Kurt being commander, Kurt turns to Riela, attempting to gain her support. After asking her about her nickname, he lets her know that the responsibility of her squadrons deaths aren't on her shoulders just because she was fortunate enough to survive. To prove she's not cursed to not only the other squad members but also Riela herself, he arranges for a small mission with just Kurt and Riela, despite the objections from the other members. The mission is a success, and the others begin to treat Riela as a fellow soldier rather than a living jinx. Riela is overcome with happiness and tears, and gives Kurt her name to show she trusts him.
To accomplish their goal of taking over the city of Aslone within 72 hours, Kurt realises they'll need No. 1, Imca's strength to do so. However, she is cold and aloof, and actively leaves whenever he approaches her to talk about the mission. Through Kurt's tracking skills he finds her again, and she agrees to help with this mission at least. Kurt recognises her as the strongest soldier in the squadron, and finds out from Gusurg that she is the longest serving member of the Nameless and was the only one to join this squad voluntarily. Realising she must have a goal of her own in mind, Kurt proposes a deal. She will help Squad 422 survive the upcoming battles, and when the time comes they will support her in whatever her goal is. Imca gives him her name, but states that if he breaks his promise he should fear for his life from her.
With the success of capturing Aslone, Squad 422 successfully manage to slow the Imperial War machine from performing an attack on the Gallian capital. However, the next mission involves going through a minefield with no time to disable them, in order to give relief to a third company Gallian militia who are currently fighting on the front lines. Kurt is given 96 hours to accomplish this, and refusal means facing the firing squad.
Kurt devises a plan, getting Squad 422 to attack and ransack the nearby Imperial troop camps of all materials. He manages to search through the mountains of paperwork whilst commanding the squad on the battlefield, and comes across two maps of the mines locations. When questioned if he believes the maps are accurate and can ensure the squad's safety, he goes to offer to personally use the maps to cross the minefield first, but Riela interrupts him offering to go in his stead. With her reputation, nobody will try to stop her. Believing in Kurt's wisdom, she moves out into the minefield to test the map's accuracy. 20 minutes later she reports the maps are accurate and she has successfully made it through. The squadron members are impressed by Riela's bravery and vouch to not refer to her as the angel of death. Gusurg encourages Kurt to go praise Riela for her bravery, which he does even though he seems to not understand why she'd want that praise. This makes Riela happy that she's been able to grow closer with everyone and isn't a jinx.
On the other side of the minefield Kurt makes contact with Eleanor Varrot of the Gallian militia who is stuck in a deadlock with the Imperial troops trying to take Vasel Bridge again. Kurt agrees to help break the deadlock. Kurt suggests that the Imperials are unfamiliar with Gallian territory, and thus on edge in case of surprise attacks. He suggests they use that as a feint with Squad 422 as a 'surprise attack' to cause them to panic and be beaten into a retreat by Eleanor's forces.
Kurt and his squadron meet up with Squad 7 and begin to plan a strategy together, but it's cut short when Imca and Isara Gunther report there is an enemy lurking around known as Calamity Raven. The two squads seperate, and despite Squad 422 finding the enemy first, they are attacked first. Welkin Gunther contacts them to let them know Squad 7 is in position, impressing Kurt. Gusurg notices the enemy squadron is entirely made up of Darcsens, despite the Imperial Empire's persecution for them being even more extreme than Gallia's. Squad 422 and Squad 7 team up in the next battle from their differing positions, and somehow overcome the Calamity Raven's Captain Dahau. Afterwards Welkin speaks of the importance of his comrades, and Kurt, considering Welkin to be an impressive commander, takes on board Welkin's opinion. Welkin asks for Kurt's name, but Kurt refuses telling him it'd only endanger Squad 7 if he revealed it.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay is much the same as previous installments, with characters still using AP to move freely around the battlefield, CP to decide the amount of turns, and a mix of turn based and real time gameplay. Most missions take place over multiple connected maps, with the final part of the map locked off until a base has been captured. The amount of units spread over the three maps is 9, but only five can appear on the same map at any point. This includes downed units.
Classes[]
Whilst characters start in predetermined classes, much like Avan Hardins in Valkyria Chronicles II, any character can become any other class. As a result of this, individual class level ups as seen in Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles 4 are not a thing in training. Instead stats are levelled up such as 'durability', 'accuracy' and 'evasion' allowing characters to swap between the classes freely. Do note however that characters have certain preferences and will get increased stats from being those classes.
No units other than Engineers carry Ragnaid in this game.
The classes are as follows:
- Scouts: Nimble soldiers with low HP, but can travel great distances. They're also capable of spotting enemies from further away.
- Shocktroopers: The main attacking infantry, these units are good all rounders and boast high damage output with their machineguns.
- Lancers: Specialist anti-tank units that carry bazookas with them. Lancers in Valkyria Chronicles 3 wear combat suits which shield them from explosions but not cannon fire.
- Engineers: Engineers carry pistols in this game opposed to the Scout Rifles from Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles 4. They can heal with their ragnaid, and are even capable of reviving any fallen units, similar to the Medic class from Valkyria Chronicles II. Lastly, Engineers cannot disable mines or rebuild sandbags as they can in the first or fourth titles.
- Snipers: Snipers in this game are able to use Anti Tank sniper rifles, allowing them some more versatility. They can also use three shot auto-sniper rifles, allowing them to not be limited to a singular but powerful headshot.
- Armoured Techs: Armoured Tech are a slow moving but powerful close combat unit that can disarm landmines and create walls with their expanding shields. They do not carry firearms, but instead have a close range melee weapon and thanks to their shields can shrug off most firearms and even cannon fire.
- Gunners: Shocktrooper like unit that focuses on defence. They fire machineguns in a wide spray and pray style making them good for defending chokepoints and bases, but with far less accuracy than the Shocktrooper.
- Fencers: Close range melee soldiers who excel at taking out clustered infantry members due to the wide range of their blades. Their defence capabilities are not as good as the Armoured Techs, but they can be equipped with anti tank weaponry.
Unlike in Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles 4, vehicles only cost 1CP to use.
Some missions have branching paths allowing players to pick between two scenarios. Whatever mission that isn't picked is locked off however until after the game is beaten, at which point any and all story missions can be replayed.
Other media[]
Trivia[]
- Valkyria Chronicles 3 did not recieve a western release due to the poor sales of Valkyria Chronicles II.
- Ironically Valkyria Chronicles 3 has been praised by critics in both Japan and the west, having a much more positive reception than Valkyria Chronicles II.
- As a result of no official western release, Kurt Irving, Riela Marcellis and Imca's western debuts were in Project X Zone.
- The expanded version; Valkyria Chronicles 3: Extra Edition has however recieved a western fan translation.
- No. 23 in the Nameless, Leila Peron, is the elder sister of Squad 7's Homer Peron. Whilst Homer is a machocist, Leila has a contrasting sadist personality.
- The post game contains special episodes that allow characters from Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles II to be recruited.
Gallery[]
Coming soon