INTRO:
The Valkyria Chronicles series has a recurring problem: the CPU-controlled enemies are not very bright. Followers of the series may recall silly situations in which CPU-controlled enemy tanks run over their own allies, or activated enemies sometimes harming their own when they miss their shots. Granted, there are some relatively “smart” enemies, but these are special enemies that have been given their own scripting.
This remains the case in the fourth game. To address this complaint, the developers have produced “Expert”-level skirmish missions in a DLC package as a form of challenge to players who consider the game to be too easy.
SKIRMISH MAPS LISTED UNDER “EXTRA STORIES”:
Since these missions come from a DLC package, they have to be listed under “Extra Stories” in the “Book Mode” of the game because this is where content from DLC packages are accessed. There is no new story to be had, that said.
REUSED MAPS:
In fact, these missions make use of the maps that have been seen in the main storyline. Certain areas are walled off with impassable fences, thus funnelling the player’s units down paths that are well watched and guarded.
HIGH ENEMY DENSITIES:
There are many, many enemies in these missions, and they are composed of many types of soldiers and tanks. The player will need to consider the composition of the team carefully in order to fill out the slots with units that can actually contribute to the strategy for the mission.
HIGH ENEMY LEVELS:
All of the enemies are of Paragon levels, i.e. level 20 and above. Indeed, most of them are level 35 or higher (higher than the levels of the player’s own units, even). Therefore, they are extra durable and quite skilled in the use of their weapons; don’t expect them to miss often. More than a handful of enemies are leaders too, meaning that the opposing side has a lot of CPs to draw from.
STILL STUPID ENEMIES:
However, most enemies are still just as stupid as the lesser ones that are encountered elsewhere in the game. Granted, there will be some units that have been coded to do particular things, like Snipers who run up to vantage points, fire shots and move back out of sight. There will also be quite a lot of enemies that would go after the player’s base camp, or after the player’s leaders.
Ultimately though, they are still making the same mistakes as the ones made by lesser enemies, such as having Engineers or Scouts run in front of the Hafen.
REWARDS:
The Ducat and XP rewards for completing these scenarios are tremendous – they are enough to let the player achieve the higher rungs of soldier and equipment levels in the post-game stage. Enemy Aces in these Skirmish Maps also pack guns that have the greatest damage outputs in the entire game.
SUMMARY:
Alas, this DLC package is for players who just cannot get enough of the kind of gameplay in the Valkyria Chronicles series; overcoming enemies like one would do complicated puzzles might be entertaining to some. However, without any of the fan-service or story exposition that the series is known for and without any actually new content, this DLC can seem bland.