Valkyria Chronicles Sequel Valkyria: Azure Revolution Announced Alongside PS4 Remaster

Valkyria Chronicles has once made an excellent return to the PC, but now it's coming in remastered form strictly for the PlayStation 4...

And with that announcement comes the unveiling of a new Valkyria Chronicles title, thanks to the latest issue of Famitsu.

Released on the PlayStation 3 back in 2008, Sega's original action turn-based-strategy RPG has launched two sequels, though one of them hasn't seen Western shores.

The fourth title will be called something slightly unexpected: Valkyria: Azure Revolution. This game will be featured in a demo tied along with the Valkyria Chronicles Remaster, which is headed to Japan February 10 for 4,990, featuring high-res graphics, downloadable content and trophies. Unfortunately, as of now, there doesn't seem to be any plans for the West, but here's to hoping.

I wonder how well the original Valkyria Chronicles even sold on the PC?

According to Famitsu and Gematsu, Azure Revolution will launch in Japan winter 2016. Check out the prologue below:

Prologue

With the discovery of the azure mineral Ragnite, the powerful Rus Empire achieved rapid industrial development and expanded its territory. Jutland, a small country, is econmically blockaded by the large country, and advocating independence and freedom from colonial rule, strikes the empire armys base.

Characters
Amleth The protagonist. The commanding officer of the Jutland Kingdoms elite Anti-Valkyria Unit.
Ophelia The heroine. The princess of the Jutland Kingdom.
Brynhildr A Valkyria sided with the Rus Empire that stands before the heroes.
System
Gouache Drawing Engine Through detail and vivid color, the game is depicted in a painting-esque visual presentation..
LeGION Battle System A rela-time battle system with added simulation elements. Details are still unknown, but in the screenshots, you can see all party members attacking at the same time.
Staff
Developer: Media Vision
Character Models: Flight Unit
Chief Producer: Youichi Shimosato
Producer: Katsura Mikami
Director: Takeshi Ozawa
Character Design: Hiro Kiyohara, Takayama Toshiaki

And here are the details of the Weekly Famitsu's interview with director Takeshi Ozawa and chief producer Youichi Simosato:

How work on a new Valkyria game began

Ozawa: We wanted to do something new using Valkyria, and one of the things were putting in is a real-time system. Initially, we were considering real-time strategy, but we went with an RPG because we think thats what more users will want to play.

This games connection to Valkyria Chronicles

Ozawa: This time, we switched to an RPG. The concept of the battle system and the sensation of the battlefield are the same, but because its an RPG with simulation elements, you can experience the battlefield through a different perspective.

Regarding the flow of the game

Ozawa: You get the feeling that youre taking territory from a major power and expanding your scope. Youll prepare at the base, go out to the field, achieve your objectives, and return to base. Its similar to an RPG where you go into dungeons.

Regarding the world

Ozawa: Its completely different (from Valkyria Chronicles). This time, the key item known as Ragnite is not just used as an energy resource, but also has magical aspects. Valkyria are supernatural compared to humans, beings considered close to gods.

Shimosato: I want them to become known as the Senjou series and Kakumei series. (Note: This means the Battlefield series and Revolution series. In Japan, Valkyria Chronicles is called Senjou no Valkyria, or Valkyria of the Battlefield, while this new title is called Aoki Kakumei no Valkyria, or Valkyria of the Azure Revolution.)

Regarding combat

Ozawa: There are symbol encounters, but symbols are shown as a unit, and you can interact with a symbol before the encounter. You can snipe an enemy symbol, use a smokescreen to disable it, or shoot at it with a rifle to lure the enemy. Sniping is powerful, but on the battlefield it functions like an usable item so there are limits how often it can be used.

Battles are conducted by setting commands to buttons. Theyre action-ish battles. It takes on the familiar form of recent RPGs. The maximum amount of party members is five. You control one of them, and the rest move based on a set thought process.

Shimosato: As there are beings that transform into tanks, there are also weapons that imitate living things.

A message for fans

Shimosato: We cant announce it yet, but were commissioning music from a famous name.

Ozawa: There are parts similar to Valkyria Chronicles, but because its largely different on the surface in a good way, we want you to enjoy this game with flat eyes as a new series.