Info about Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition:

Official game description:
Complete Edition Includes All DLC
=================================
*   Squad E to the Beach  
*   A Captainless Squad  
*   Expert Level Skirmishes  
*   The Two Valkyria  
*   Advance Ops  
*   A United Front with Squad 7
About the Game
==============
_A Continent Engulfed in the Bitter Flames of War!_
Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes place in the same timeframe as the original Valkyria Chronicles, but with an all-new story focusing on Squad E of the Federation. Commander Claude Wallace and his childhood friends set out to fight in a desperate war, but bone-chilling blizzards, waves of imperial soldiers, and the godlike powers of the Valkyria stand between them and victory.
The BLiTZ Battle System and the CANVAS Graphic Engine return!
**Features**
------------
 A Coming-of-Age Story in a Time of War
Take command of the determined, young Commander Claude Wallace, engineer/heavy weapons extraordinaire Riley Miller, hot-headed Darcsen Raz, ice-cold ace sniper Kai Schulen, and more. Together, they will experience the painful realities of war — but will the bonds of Squad E's friendships survive the frozen battlefield?
 The Next Generation ""BLiTZ"" Battle System
Part overhead turn-based strategy, part RPG, and part real-time 3rd person shooter, the "BLiTZ" battle system returns to the field. New features include an explosive new class called the Grenadier, numerous offensive/defensive battleship support options, chances for a unit to have a "Last Stand" action before death, and more. Plus, fight the imperial threat with more units on larger-scale maps than ever before.
 CANVAS Aesthetics
The series' signature hand-drawn visual style is back and overhauled for the newest generation. Inspired by watercolour compositions, the CANVAS Graphics Engine blends visual elements of reality and imagination to create an expressive world filled with colourful emotions. Watch the journey of Squad E unfold like an interactive painting!
 The Return of a Legendary Composer
The illustrious Hitoshi Sakimoto, original composer of the Valkyria Chronicles series and countless other emotional epics, returns to provide a sweeping orchestral score for the game.
 Optimised for PC
4K resolutions, customisable keyboard and mouse controls, even ultra- widescreen support. Also includes achievements and Steam trading cards.
 Complete Edition
Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition includes all of the bonus DLC plus the full game.
*   Squad E to the Beach
*   A Captainless Squad
*   Expert Level Skirmishes
*   The Two Valkyria
*   Advance Ops
*   A United Front with Squad 7

Release date: Sep 25, 2018

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Tactical RPG, Real-time Combat, Character Progression, Story-driven Gameplay, Third-Person Shooter, Unit Customization, Warfare Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 20; verdict: Overpriced with costly DLC; summary: The primary concerns among users revolve around the high base price of the game and the additional cost of DLC, which together make the game feel overpriced and incomplete without extra purchases. Many users suggest waiting for a sale or comparing it to other similar games that offer better value. The perception of the game being an exact copy of the first one also contributes to the dissatisfaction with its pricing.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, indicating strong compatibility with Proton/Linux.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with controller compatibility and stability on the Steam Deck. Users reported crashes, incorrect button recognition, and difficulties with control configurations. However, there were also positive reviews highlighting the game's excellent performance and controls on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth its full price, but many suggest that it is an even better value when purchased on sale. This indicates that while the game is perceived as valuable, there is a significant sentiment that a discounted price makes it an even more attractive purchase. The mentions of 'full price' and 'sale price' help to bracket the perceived fair price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 15.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime metrics. The first quote mentions the length of time to play the game, which can be interpreted as session length. The second and third quotes provide a clear estimate of the total playtime for game completion and additional hours for post-game content and 100% completion. The fourth quote mentions additional hours for completionists, which can be interpreted as endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow start with a boring story but becomes highly engaging and fun as players progress, particularly around the 60% mark where the game picks up its serious tone.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: The game picks up its serious tone and becomes more engaging.
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Slow start; Boring and repetitive story; Repetitive character models; Tedious missions
  - Unlock drivers: Complex and engaging battles; Strategic planning and thinking ahead; Progression of the story
  - Conditions: Playing through the story; Engaging in complex battles; Strategic planning and thinking ahead
- Player Archetypes:
  - Newcomer Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Strong story and fun gameplay
    - Playstyle: Enjoys turn-based strategy games with a strong narrative.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: newcomer; strategy game fan
    - Reference games: XCOM; third-person shooters
  - Franchise Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and improvement over previous games
    - Playstyle: Enjoys deep turn-based strategy with a focus on story and character development.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran; franchise fan
    - Reference games: Valkyria Chronicles 1; JRPGs
  - Accessibility Advocate (buy)
    - Motivation: Accessibility and beginner-friendly gameplay
    - Playstyle: Enjoys accessible yet challenging turn-based strategy games.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: accessibility advocate; mixed experience
    - Reference games: Valkyria Chronicles series; XCOM


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Solid and Enjoyable Gameplay (weight 0.25): The gameplay is frequently praised for being solid, tactical, and enjoyable. Players appreciate the combat system, replay value, and overall game design.
- Improvements Over Previous Game (weight 0.22): The game shows improvements in gameplay, story, and character arcs compared to the first game. Players note the overall enhancements in various aspects.
- Turn-Based Strategy Mechanics (weight 0.21): The game features turn-based strategy gameplay with unique mechanics, blending turn-based and real-time tactical elements. It is recommended for fans of turn-based strategy games.
- Visually Appealing Graphics (weight 0.21): The game features visually impressive and timeless graphics with a charming visual style. Players appreciate the graphical improvements and unique art style.
- New Mechanics and Classes (weight 0.15): The game introduces new mechanics and classes, such as the Mortar and Grenadier classes. Players appreciate the added strategic options and new features.
- Well-Designed Missions (weight 0.13): The missions are well-designed with variety and strategic depth. Players enjoy the challenge and different mission types.
- Good Music and Sound Effects (weight 0.12): The game features good music and sound effects with excellent voice acting. Players appreciate the soundtrack and sound effects.
- Engaging Post-Game Content (weight 0.08): The game offers engaging post-game activities and rich content with additional post-game activities. Players enjoy the DLC content and post-game activities.
- Similar to Original Valkyria Chronicles (weight 0.06): The game feels very similar to the original Valkyria Chronicles and is considered a worthy successor. Players note the polished version of everything the past games did right.

Common complaints:
- Weak and criticized story (weight 0.44): The story is widely considered weaker compared to other games in the series, with criticisms directed at its narrative quality, tone, and structure. Many players find it uninteresting, cheesy, and not as engaging as previous entries.
- Underdeveloped and unengaging characters (weight 0.3): Characters in the game are often criticized for being underdeveloped, unmemorable, and poorly written. This includes both main and side characters, leading to a lack of emotional engagement.
- Game length and difficulty issues (weight 0.17): The game is criticized for its length, with some players finding it too long and others finding it too short. Additionally, the difficulty is often seen as poorly balanced, with some missions being too easy and others too hard.
- Problems with enemy AI (weight 0.15): The enemy AI is often criticized for being inconsistent, predictable, and poorly implemented. This leads to a less challenging and engaging gameplay experience.
- Repetitive gameplay and elements (weight 0.13): The game suffers from repetitiveness in various aspects, including gameplay, soundtrack, story, and boss fights. This repetitiveness makes the game feel tedious and reduces its replayability.
- Issues with cutscenes (weight 0.13): The game has problems with cutscenes, including excessive and poorly implemented ones, long and unskippable cutscenes, and cutscenes that are split into short dialogues, making the experience less enjoyable.
- Technical issues and bugs (weight 0.09): The game has various technical issues, including crashes, camera angle bugs, and minor visual bugs. These issues can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Menu navigation problems (weight 0.08): The game's menu navigation is criticized for being difficult, cumbersome, and slow. This can make the user interface less user-friendly and frustrating to navigate.
- Lack of Japanese language support (weight 0.05): The game lacks proper Japanese language support, which can be a significant issue for Japanese-speaking players. This includes an abundance of non-Japanese text information.

Gameplay feedback:
- Hybrid turn-based strategy gameplay (weight 0.26): The game combines turn-based strategy with real-time elements and other genres like RPG and shooters. This fusion creates a unique tactical combat experience similar to tabletop games.
- Diverse mission objectives (weight 0.11): The game offers a variety of missions with unique challenges and different objectives. This variety adds strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Side missions and post-game content (weight 0.06): The game features side missions and post-game content, providing additional gameplay beyond the main missions.
- Puzzle-like levels (weight 0.05): The game includes levels with puzzle elements, creating a linear puzzle-like experience alongside strategic gameplay.
- Dynamic and large-scale maps (weight 0.05): The game features large-scale and dynamic maps, enhancing the strategic depth and variety of the gameplay.
- Tank controls and customization (weight 0.05): Players can control and customize tanks and APCs, adding a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Action Points system (weight 0.05): The game uses an Action Points (AP) system for movement and actions, requiring strategic planning and management.
- Shooting elements in gameplay (weight 0.05): The game includes real-time operation and shooting elements, adding a first-person shooter aspect to the gameplay.
- Command Points system (weight 0.05): The game uses a Command Points (CP) system for unit actions, tying command points to attacks and other actions.
- Variety of unit types (weight 0.05): The game offers a variety of troops with different roles and abilities, providing distinct unit options for strategic gameplay.
- Improvements in controls and graphics (weight 0.05): The game features improvements in controls, speed, graphics, camera, menus, and HQ, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Positive performance on specific hardware (weight 0.16): The game runs well on specific hardware configurations, including the Steam Deck and older hardware. It supports various frame rates and resolutions, providing a smooth experience on compatible systems.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.15): The game experiences frequent crashes, including crashes on launch, during gameplay, and to desktop. This issue is widespread and significantly impacts the game's playability.
- Performance optimization issues (weight 0.12): Players report mixed experiences with game optimization. While some praise the performance, others experience bad optimization and occasional lag, indicating inconsistency in performance across different systems.
- Advanced graphical settings (weight 0.09): The game supports advanced graphical settings, including 4K resolution, customizable resolution, unlocked FPS, and adjustable down/upscaling. These features enhance the visual experience for players with high-end hardware.
- Graphical and visual bugs (weight 0.08): There are various graphical issues reported, including camera angle bugs, minor visual bugs, and lack of good anti-aliasing. These issues detract from the overall visual experience.
- Controller and control issues (weight 0.08): Several players report issues with controls, including button mapping problems, phantom inputs, and severe controller bugs. These issues affect gameplay and user experience.
- Compatibility and launch issues (weight 0.05): The game has various compatibility and launch issues, particularly on Windows 11 and when the Windows 'Server' service is not running. Some players also report startup issues.
- Audio and minor bugs (weight 0.05): There are reports of audio bugs, particularly with voiceovers, and other minor bugs that affect gameplay. While not game-breaking, these issues can be annoying.
- Gameplay mechanics issues (weight 0.04): Some players report issues with gameplay mechanics, such as hitbox problems and tanks getting stuck in walls. These issues can affect the overall gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for SRPG and JRPG fans (weight 0.19): This game is highly recommended for fans of anime JRPGs, turn-based strategies, and tactical RPGs. It is particularly suggested for those who enjoy games like Fire Emblem and other strategy RPGs.
- Recommended for both veterans and newcomers (weight 0.14): The game is highly recommended for both longtime fans of the series and newcomers to the genre. It appeals to a wide audience, including those familiar with the original game and those new to the franchise.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.05): The game is considered worth buying, especially when it is on sale, offering good value for money.
- Play additional chapter post-completion (weight 0.02): Players are advised to play the additional chapter after completing the main chapters to get the full experience.
- Save frequently (weight 0.02): Players are advised to save their progress often to avoid losing significant progress in the game.
- Focus on mission objectives (weight 0.02): To achieve higher mission ranks, players should focus on completing the objectives rather than getting sidetracked.
- Avoid using guides (weight 0.02): Players are recommended to avoid using guides to experience the game as intended by the developers.

Other player notes:
- Desire for previous games (weight 0.04): There is a significant wish among players for previous games in the series to be made available on Steam.
- Spoilers in start screen (weight 0.02): Players have reported that the initial game start screen contains spoilers, which can affect the gaming experience.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players are frustrated by a multitude of technical and design issues. Game crashes, control and camera problems, and unbalanced mechanics plague the experience. Additionally, repetitive gameplay, unskippable cutscenes, and a poorly executed story contribute to the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Players express disappointment primarily due to the decline in story quality and character development compared to previous games. The narrative is criticized for being weak, far-fetched, and lacking depth. Additionally, the lack of innovation and substantial endgame content contribute to the overall disappointment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game for its engaging story, memorable characters, and unique gameplay mechanics. The strategic and tactical elements, along with improvements over previous installments, contribute to a fun and enjoyable experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the game's improvements in gameplay, story, and character development. The strategic and detailed mechanics, along with a polished interface and balanced gameplay, provide a high-quality and engaging experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, as well as the introduction of new features and improvements. The game's faithfulness to the first installment and its distinctive tactical RPG elements in a fictional WWII scenario contribute to the excitement.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's similarity to the original Valkyria Chronicles and its return to the original style and mechanics. The game evokes memories of previous entries in the series, bringing back fond experiences and comparisons.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experience joy from the engaging and emotional story, as well as the enjoyable gameplay mechanics and character development. The consistent art style and the impact of DLC characters on gameplay also contribute to the overall joy.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to technical issues, such as the lack of an undo move feature and game-breaking bugs. Poor story and character development, along with malicious level design, further exacerbate the frustration and anger.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players are frustrated by questionable boss mechanics and unfair enemy patterns. Controller and camera issues, along with difficult missions and repetitive character usage, add to the overall frustration.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players express hope for future installments and remastered versions of previous games in the series. They wish for different scoring systems and desire for sequels with improved features.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Players feel disgust towards the story's dual standards and poor plot. Cringeworthy dialogue and questionable values in the story contribute to this negative emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the humorous and exaggerated descriptions of character traits and interactions. The unique and humorous character traits in the game provide moments of levity and entertainment.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for a remaster/remake of the game and potential sequels with improved AI. The desire for future improvements and additions to the series fuels this hopeful sentiment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the improvements in the game and its unique gameplay mechanics. The enhanced gameplay systems and new features are well-received and valued by the players.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's tactical RPG design and storytelling. The gameplay improvements and new class additions, along with the unique art style and hybrid gameplay mechanics, are highly regarded.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the detailed explanation of gameplay mechanics and the improved gameplay experience. The desire to share the game with friends and the overall positive experience contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Engaged (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the unique and engaging tactics game. The unique gameplay system and engaging story keep players invested and involved in the game.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed by the lack of strategic depth and questionable setting. The story and unrealistic mechanics further contribute to the overall disappointment.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to developer criticism and game bugs. DLC practices and limited edition content issues also contribute to this anger.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the fun gameplay and unique gameplay mechanics. The beautiful graphics and overall enjoyable experience contribute to this excitement.}