Valkyria Chronicles

The first main entry in the series was originally released for the PlayStation 3 and later ported to Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. The Windows port was developed by Little Stone Software. It takes place in Europa, a fictional continent based on Europe, during the beginning of World War II. Because of its abundance of Ragnite ore, which takes the place of petroleum in the game setting, the neutral nation of Gallia comes under attack from the East Europan Imperial Alliance, which is itself engaged in a war with the Atlantic Federation.[1] Players take control of a unit of the Gallian Militia, dedicated to repelling the invasion. The game's visuals, which use Sega's CANVAS graphics engine, resemble pencil drawn paintings in motion.

The second main entry was moved to the PlayStation Portable platform. Story-wise, it takes place two years after the events of the first game, with a fight that breaks loose against the Gallian Revolutionary Army and the Regular Army in a bid to remove Cordelia from the throne. The game's story focuses on a military academy as its cadets seek to prevent an ethnic cleansing campaign by a ruthless rebel group.

The third main entry was also released on the PlayStation Portable. However, it takes place during the events of the first game. The story follows the "Nameless", a penal military unit serving the nation of Gallia during the Second Europan War who perform secret black operations and are pitted against the Imperial unit "Calamity Raven". Unlike the previous installments, it did not have an official release outside of Japan.

The fourth main entry was released on the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2018.[2] While taking place during the events of the first and third game, Valkyria Chronicles 4 focuses not on the Gallian forces but those of the Atlantic Federation, the other major superpower during the events of the war, that enacts a bold plan to strike at the Imperial Capital.

Valkyria Chronicles D is a mobile game released only in Japan. It was a free browser-based/iOS game, with radically different gameplay, focusing more on character management of war troops similar to sports team management simulations.[3] It was released on July 26, 2012 and shut down on April 22, 2015.[4]

Valkyria Revolution (known in Japan as Valkyria of the Blue Revolution) was released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on January 19, 2017 in Japan. It is considered a spin-off, with a storyline separate from the main series, taking place in the fictional country of Jutland. It was released in North America and Europe on June 27, 2017 and June 30, 2017 respectively for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Xbox One, making it the first series game to be on a Microsoft console, alongside the PlayStation versions.[5]

Three manga adaptations have been published based on the first game. The first is Valkyria Chronicles: Wish Your Smile, serialized by Enterbrain's Comics B's Log magazine[6] and centering on two characters made for the manga: Mintz, an orphan and engineer, and Julius Klose, a sniper, with both of them in the Gallian army's militia force.[6][7] It was written by Sega and illustrated by Kyusei Tokito, and was serialized from November 12, 2008 to January 22, 2010 with two compilation volumes released on May 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010.[8][9][10][11]

The second manga, titled Valkyria Chronicles: Gallian Chronicles, was written by Sega and illustrated by En Kito.[12] Similar to the anime, it is a loose adaptation of the original video game, with some story details diverging from the source material. It was serialized by Kadokawa Shoten[12] from November 26, 2008 to March 26, 2010 in Comp Ace magazine and later compiled in four volumes.[13][14]

The third manga is Valkyria Chronicles: Anthology Comic, written by Sega and published by the Bros Comics EX comic label.[15] on December 28, 2009 in one volume.[15]

The anime adaptation of the first game premiered on April 4, 2009[16] and was produced by Aniplex's A-1 Pictures.[17][18] The series was directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto[19] and written by Michiko Yokote under the Project Valkyria Group.[19] Valkyria Chronicles was aired on Animax, Tokyo MX, MBS, CBC, Chiba TV, Television Kanagawa, Television Hokkaido, BS11, and TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting.[20] Generally following the storyline of the original game, the anime version differs from its source in terms of characterization of main players such as Alicia, and introduces a character unique to the anime, Ramal Valt. While retaining elements of the CANVAS Engine's look, the characters were redesigned for the anime by Atsuko Watanabe.

The original score for the anime is composed and conducted by the game's composer Hitoshi Sakimoto and performed by the Czech Film Orchestra. The first opening theme song, "Asu e no Kizuna"[21] was performed by Animax Anison Grand Prix winner Catherine St. Onge, under her chosen moniker of Himeka.[22][23][24] A CD single of the song was released on May 27, 2009.[25] The first ending theme, "Ano Kaze ni Notte" (アノ風ニノッテ, "Riding on that Wind") was sung by the band Pe'zmoku with a CD single released on May 27, 2009 in a regular and special edition.[25][26] Maria performed the series's second opening theme, "Kanashimi Rensa" (カナシミレンサ, "Chain of Sorrow"),[27] which was used from the 14th episode on.[28] The second ending song, "Hitotsu no Negai" (ひとつの願い, "A Single Wish"), was sung by Hikari Inoue[28] beginning from Episode 14 until Episode 25. Episode 26's ending song was "Brightest Morning", also performed by Hikari Inoue. CD singles for "Kanashimi Rensa" and "Hitotsu no Negai" were released on August 12, 2009 and August 5, 2009.[28]

Region 2 DVDs of all 26 episodes were released across nine volumes, beginning on August 5, 2009,[29] and concluding on April 7, 2010.[30]

Two Valkyria Chronicles Drama CDs have been released. The first was released on July 24, 2009,[31] and the second was released on October 7, 2009.[31]

Three manga adaptations of the second game were released by Sega in Japan.[32]

The first one released was Valkyria Chronicles 2 Sōkō no Aliasse (戦場のヴァルキュリア2 蒼光のエイリアス, Senjō no Varukyuria 2 Sōkō no Eiriasu, lit. "Valkyria Chronicles 2- Aliasse of the Blue Light"), drawn by Daisuke Shido and serialised in Dengeki Maoh from June 2010 to 2011, in which the story follows the developing friendship between the Valkyrian Aliasse, and her Darcsen classmate Magari. The first volume was published in January 2011 and the second volume was published on May 27, 2011.

The next manga is called Valkyria Chronicles 2 (戦場のヴァルキュリア2, Senjō no Varukyuria 2). The story was written by Daiki Saito and the artwork was done by Watari. It was serialised in Comp Ace from October 2010 to September 2011, and its storyline is loosely based on the game, with emphasis on the relationship between Avan and his brother. The first volume was published on January 26, 2011 and the second volume was published in September 2011.

Another manga, named Valkyria Chronicles 2 –our only days- (戦場のヴァルキュリア2 -our only days-, Senjō no Varukyuria 2 -our only days-), was illustrated by Mekki Kuroyama and was serialised as a webcomic by comic B's-LOG. The story is focused on Zeri and his changing relationships with his schoolmates over the course of the events of the game. The first volume was published on January 31, 2011 and the second volume in September 2011.

Japanese band Chemistry performed the theme song of the game, "Our Story". It was released as part of their album "Regeneration" on February 24, 2010.

Valkyria Chronicles III was adapted into a two-episode original video animation series in the same year of its release. Titled Senjō no Valkyria 3: Taga Tame no Jūsō (戦場のヴァルキュリア３ 誰がための銃瘡, lit. Valkyria of the Battlefield 3: The Wound Taken for Someone's Sake), it was originally released through PlayStation Network and Qriocity between April and May 2011. The initially-planned release and availability period needed to be extended due to a stoppage to PSN during the early summer of that year. It later released for DVD on June 29 and August 31, 2011, with separate "Black" and "Blue" editions being available for purchase.[34][35] The anime is set during the latter half of Valkyria Chronicles III, detailing a mission by the Nameless against their Imperial rivals Calamity Raven.[36] The anime was first announced in November 2010.[37] It was developed by A-1 Pictures, produced by Shinji Motoyama, directed by Nobuhiro Kondō, and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi. Sakimoto's music for the game was used in the anime.[33]

The anime's title was inspired by the principal purpose of the Nameless: to suffer in battle for the goals of others. A subtitle attached to the project during development was "The Road to Kubinka", which referenced the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow. The game's main theme was how the characters regained their sense of self when stripped of their names and identities, along with general themes focused on war and its consequences. While making the anime, the production team were told by Sega to make it as realistic as possible, with the consequence that the team did extensive research into aspects such as what happened when vehicles like tanks were overturned or damaged. Due to it being along the same timeline as the original game and its anime television adaptation, the cast of Valkyria Chronicles could make appearances, which pleased the team.[36][38][39] The opening theme, "Akari (Light) -Tomoshibi-" (灯-TOMOSHIBI-), was sung by Japanese singer Faylan. The ending theme, "Someday the Flowers of Light Will Bloom" (いつか咲く光の花, Itsuka Saku Hikari no Hana), was sung by Minami Kuribayashi. Both songs' lyrics were written by their respective artists.[40]

Two manga adaptations were produced, following each of the game's main female protagonists, Imca and Riela. They were Senjō no Valkyria 3: Namo naki Chikai no Hana (戦場のヴァルキュリア3 名もなき誓いの花, lit. Valkyria of the Battlefield 3: The Flower of the Nameless Oath), illustrated by Naoyuki Fujisawa and eventually released in two volumes after being serialized in Dengeki Maoh between 2011 and 2012; and Senjō no Valkyria 3: -Akaki Unmei no Ikusa Otome- (戦場のヴァルキュリア3 -赤き運命の戦乙女-, lit. Valkyria of the Battlefield 3 -The Valkyrie of the Crimson Fate), illustrated by Mizuki Tsuge and eventually released in a single volume by Kadokawa Shoten in 2012.[41][42]