Smartly, there are some limitations in place. Each character has a set number of action points that dictate how far they can move per turn, and you can only attack once per turn. Action points become less plentiful if you use a character more than once during your command phase, making them less mobile if you use them multiple times, and many characters only have enough ammo for a few attacks. Furthermore, the game employs a balance system that makes it so no one character is too powerful. A sniper might be able to score head shots more easily, but they’re too fragile to survive a direct assault. Every unit is handicapped in some way.

To the game’s credit and detriment, Valkyria Chronicles focuses far more on the strategy elements than the role-playing ones. On one hand this is nice because far too many TRPGs require no strategic thought in the slightest. You can never just charge in guns blazing -- especially since enemy units fire on you as you move -- and things like cover are a necessity. This being said, a few more RPG qualities might have made it a deeper game. As it is, Valkyria Chronicles streamlines the process of leveling up to a point that it’s barely there. Rather than leveling up individual units, you level entire classes using experience points earned by completing battles. Similarly, you can upgrade all of your unit’s weapons and armor at the same time. On one hand, it is nice to not have to deal with this kind of pointless micromanagement, but at the same time, the lack of individually customizable characters makes your soldiers feel particularly expendable, especially since the game gives you replacement troops for free. Individual soldiers do have their own personalities, looks, and battle-related characteristics, but overall this isn’t enough to endear them to you in the long run.

The gameplay doesn’t come off flawlessly, unfortunately. The enemy AI is rather dumb. They will defend themselves and will attack you in a basic way, but generally with a little trial and error it’s easy to figure out a way to overcome them. The game makes up for this somewhat by giving your opponents a general numerical advantage of around two- or three-to-one against you, but it’s a shallow way to correct such a flaw. More noticeable, in my opinion, is the lack of online play. The story missions are varied, fun, and interesting, but the game still ends. Despite a nice skirmish mode, the ability to take your army online for some player-versus-player action would have upped the game’s value exponentially.

Other qualities are notable. The game features some nice side information for those further interested in the game’s world and characters. As well, the sound is generally excellent, featuring fine voice acting, a nice soundtrack, and great battle effects. Valkyria Chronicles succeeds where many other TRPGs have failed, it corrects the oft-repeated mistakes of the genre, and it rids itself of the myriad frustrations that have plagued game after game for years. It’s fun, it’s well done, and above all, it’s fresh. Valkyria Chronicles is easily one of the best games on the PS3 and is easily the must-have RPG for fans of the genre this year.