The boss formerly known as "Bewbles"

So you know how in most Japanese games, especially RPGs, your character or team will often face off with the "inevitable final boss" early on in the story? You never quite outright kill the boss, but you usually beat his/her ass to critical hit points fairly easily followed by their quick departure. That boss usually says something like "LOL You are pretty strong but I was only using like 10% of my power! Come fight me for real at the end of the game!!!" The other situation is that the fight isn't really a fight at all, and the boss kills you or your entire team quickly and with ease. This situation often feels like nothing more than a glorified cut-scene.

Well last night in Valkyria Chronicles I encountered one of the best boss fights I've seen in a video game in a long time. The entire battle had me cursing, sweating, and cursing some more. The way it should be.

And then she showed up....

What was once an object of my chauvinistic and childish comments, is now the person who haunts my dreams. I kid you not. No early encounter with a character "who will probably be the final boss" has ever put the fear of god in me quite like Selvaria. Never have I been this terrified of the power of a video game character.

...except for that one time I refused to eat my vegetables in front of Largo.

...it's not abuse if I know he's right.

Anyway, this battle was also the absolute best real strategy I've seen thus far in the game. I received ample help from King of Hearts, Jamradar, and school in chat while preparing for this battle, and it really made the first part of the mission a lot less painful. But no amount of pre-battle preparation or early battle planning could have prepared me for what became the true test of strategic skill that became the second part of the fight.

Well Selvaria started instantly killing multiple teammates every round. Even on my turn, she was able to take out anyone who flinched while in her line of site. In a game where deaths had been a rarity (except for Marina), seeing my entire army crumble was obviously panic inducing. It took me a few tries, but I cobbled together the few team members I had left, and with some very strategic tank placement, I was able to emerge victorious. But my god, was it close. It was amazing.

So I can't call her "Bewbles" any more. As chat probably noticed, my cute little nickname quickly went out the window when she started decimating my entire army. Now Selvaria will only be referred to as "HOLY GOD! RUN!!!!"

Here is the second part of the fight:


I really am loving Valkyria Chronicles. It's just so fucking sad how poorly this game sold in Japan and the rest of the world. My guess is this will be the first and the last in this series. But for now, consider me a true Sega fan. One that recognizes Sega is still making some of those same great quality games that everyone loved so much in the Dreamcast era. So many are just blinded by Sega's shitty blue mascot.

Buy Yakuza 2
Buy Valkyria Chronicles

Brad