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Giolon · Oct 1, 2010

duckroll said:
The Cptd AA1 Gatling is very, very broken. I'm really disappointed in how unbalanced it is. For what it does, it should definitely be much heavier to balance it off.

I stopped using it because of how OP it is. It really does break the game - the fact that it's a drop in March is even worse. It should only be available post-game.

The DLC weapons don't bother me as much since they're not part of the base game - just like they didn't bother me in the first game.

I think the game is challenging enough if you don't abuse the Cptd AA1, IMO. But then again, I never liked the EX Hard missions in the first game either.

On that note, I finally got a Mauler! I'm 2 missions away from the end of December. I can finally put this game to bed, hopefully tonight - then I'll give my full review/opinion.

radiantdreamer · Oct 1, 2010

So what's the main advantage of an Elite Sniper over an AT Sniper? If I'm consistently getting headshots with a regular sniper, then what's the point? Do AT Snipers have terrible accuracy or attk vs personnel?

Same question for Maulers - why choose an Elite Fencer over a Mauler?

Pureauthor · Oct 1, 2010

Maulers have significantly lower vs. Personnel scores than Fencer Elites, that's why.

Same with AT Snipers.

Giolon · Oct 1, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
So what's the main advantage of an Elite Sniper over an AT Sniper? If I'm consistently getting headshots with a regular sniper, then what's the point? Do AT Snipers have terrible accuracy or attk vs personnel?

Same question for Maulers - why choose an Elite Fencer over a Mauler?

As Pureauthor mentioned, Fencer Elites do FAR more damage against personnel than a Fencer or a Mauler. For example, my Fencers and Maulers cannot kill a powered down V2 in a single swing - whereas a Fencer Elite can.

Similarly, Sniper Elites fire multiple shots. Some crouched enemies can't be taken out in a single shot from a regular Sniper, like say a crouching Fencer or Mortarer. It generally takes two, unless Critical Shot procs (<3 Melissa). The Sniper Elite takes care of that. AT Snipers do less Personnel damage

mjemirzian · Oct 1, 2010

After playing the game for a while, I think I can safely rate some of the classes. Note that these ratings are without the DLC weapons.

Useful classes:
Scout/Scout Vtn/Scout Elite - Useful when you need a very high AP unit to run to a camp. Their grenade lets them throw enemies off camps in a pinch.
Sniper/Sniper Elite - Good for taking out enemies on higher elevations that you'd have trouble killing otherwise. Sniper Elites are also strong enough to one round most crouching enemies from afar.
Shocktroopers - All troopers are good damage dealing classes, although the trooper elite isn't as good as the commando. Multiple grenades can be useful for clearing out a camp.
Commando - The commando flamethrower is very powerful and can wipe out swaths of crouching enemies.
Gunners - Useful for camp defense and killing the occasional crouched enemy.
Lancers - The best class for destroying armored units.
Medic - It's good to have at least one of this class, as they can revive people from half the map away.
Anthem Corps - Useful once in a while, mostly for buffing up Fencers.
Fencers - They are practically immune to V2 fire from the front and can't be counterattacked, making them great for V2 killing. Their attacks cover a wide range and send enemies flying. Also pretty much the best unit at killing non-tank bosses.

Not quite as useful classes:
Mortarers - Useful for killing annoying status inflicting enemies at range. Unfortunately, there are few status inflicting enemies in this game, and even fewer that are so annoying that you'll really want to break out the mortar.
AT Sniper - Their rifles are about as strong as lancer shots, except they lack the defense and mobility to move around to the radiator.
Engineers - They deal more damage than scouts but not enough to be useful. Repairing vehicles is nice but rarely if ever needed. Their super low HP/DEF is also a drag.
Melodist - Not a useful class. Yes they can debuff bosses, but it doesn't really matter when your buffed fencer is going to tear them to pieces anyway.
Heavy Scout - Low AP almost at shocktrooper level, low firepower, and the rifle grenade sucks.
Armored Tech/Tech Vtn/Tech Elt - I've never run into a map where mines are laid so thick that you absolutely need one of these guys out there to disarm them. Placing mines is a neat concept but not very effective.
Spec Tech - Flash grenades are cool, except you're probably just better off killing whatever it is you're trying to distract. And I'm pretty sure they don't work on bosses.
Maulers - Yes their mauls deal more damage than a lance, but their super low AP makes them a drag to actually reach the target. Lancers are just more versatile.

Giolon · Oct 1, 2010

I agree with most of your assessment, but I'm going to have to disagree with your opinion on Maulers.

Now that I finally have one, DAYAMN are they good. They can make approaches that no other unit but a tank can. Their low AP can be overcome with potentials (take Alexis to Mauler for Double Movement) or with the APC. At 1400 damage, it's the most damage you can do to an armored target per CP (at least without DLC weapons or any potential post-game tank gear). It's even better than the OP Cptd Gtlg AA1.

If I had had a Mauler for the November story mission, I would have been able to take

Audrey

out with no problems. As it was none of my units could make an approach to get behind even taking the route around to the side. The machine gun on that tank is so brutal that anybody that's not immune to machine gun fire gets chewed up in about 3 seconds.

mjemirzian · Oct 2, 2010

You can sneak behind the November boss with a lancer or two and kill it without taking a single point of damage. Also, killing that boss is optional. So I don't see what your point is.

tenton · Oct 2, 2010

I concur with mjemirzian, it's possible to sneak behind and blast the Nov boss without taking damage (using the trenches). I actually had to send out an Engineer to refill ammo, but I wasn't moving until I smashed the boss (took a B because of it).

mistuhcahlos · Oct 2, 2010

Mostly on point. I know a lot of people hate Mortarers, but they can take out V2s from a distance with two shots. A lot of the more difficult missions have enemies that group together pretty often, I just recently took out a group of 5 that was camping near a checkpoint. Also, Maulers are damn near indestructible and can take on even ghost tanks in just a few hits. My favorite class so far is the Sniper Elite. Spawn, take out three enemies, then stand by for some easy kills.

Giolon · Oct 2, 2010

mjemirzian said:
You can sneak behind the November boss with a lancer or two and kill it without taking a single point of damage. Also, killing that boss is optional. So I don't see what your point is.

My point is, in trying to sneaking around the boss, I still got my lancer chewed up by gunfire in about 3 seconds that she was seen approaching from the rear-side of the tank. Maulers are invincible to machine gun fire from the front (and do more than double the damage of a Lancer Elite per attack).

mjemirzian · Oct 2, 2010

Giolon said:
My point is, in trying to sneaking around the boss, I still got my lancer chewed up by gunfire in about 3 seconds that she was seen approaching from the rear-side of the tank.

Well next time do it correctly so your lancer doesn't take any damage in that situation.

Giolon said:
Maulers are invincible to machine gun fire from the front (and do more than double the damage of a Lancer Elite per attack).

Lancers do more damage when hitting a radiator than maulers do when attacking the rear of an armored unit.

mistuhcahlos said:
I know a lot of people hate Mortarers, but they can take out V2s from a distance with two shots.

Powered down V2s, maybe. And my issue with mortarers isn't their damage (although it is pretty weak compared to other area attackers like commandos and fencer elites), but the fact that once they score a kill, they're still about 200 range away from being able to capture the camp they just cleared out. Their range works against them pretty often, given the cramped quarters of most maps.

Giolon · Oct 2, 2010

mjemirzian said:
Well next time do it correctly so your lancer doesn't take any damage in that situation.

Lancers do more damage when hitting a radiator than maulers do when attacking the rear of an armored unit.

Maulers can do tons of damage without having to go to the back. You can kill a Heavy Tank from any side in a single swing (the uber Cptd Gtlg A1 can't even do that). I can think of several missions where it would've been nice to have the invulnerability to gunfire in the approach to a tank. I think of one in particular in the Doerfein mines where there was a camp with a tank in it, flanked by two Cannon Towers.

Whether I "do it right" or not, isn't relevant to the merits of the Mauler vs. Lancer. Not everyone restarts a mission just because a little bit goes wrong. Check your superiority at the door. I have no interest in debating with that kind of attitude.

mjemirzian · Oct 2, 2010

Maulers can't one shot Heavy Tanks B or C from any side using the best maul in december (1400 vs armor). They fall about 100-115 HP short. I'm not sure where you are getting your information from. Maybe there's a better post game maul, but the tanks are also stronger post game. Cannon towers? Use a flamethrower. You're cherry picking one or two situations in the entire game where they would be 'nice to have' even though you could accomplish the same thing without a mauler just as easily, and probably with less CP used because their AP is so low. This is why they are not a useful class.

Now I don't know where you get the idea that I 'restart a mission just because a little bit goes wrong', but you are wrong. I don't bother restarting missions if someone gets KOed because there's so damn many of them, and I always get an A and the ace/resource bonuses anyway. If your lancer got KOed in the Nov story mission, deploy another one and try again, or just ignore the boss.. it's not like you actually have to take it out.

Giolon · Oct 2, 2010

mjemirzian said:
Maulers can't one shot Heavy Tanks B or C from any side using the best maul in december (1400 vs armor). They fall about 100-115 HP short. I'm not sure where you are getting your information from. Maybe there's a better post game maul, but the tanks are also stronger post game.

I get my information from my own personal experience - Heavy Tank As. Try it out in the Doerfein Skirmish in November. I deployed my Mauler and took out heavy tanks from the front with only a single swing - no Procs active, no Anthem buffs. I'm not post-game, so I have whatever the highest level Maul available via research in December is. Try running a Lancer through the gauntlet of 3-4 Heavy Gunners (and the two tanks machine guns themselves) to get behind the tanks in the FGHI zone and see how long they last. Mauler? No problem. The starting zone is also in single movement range of a tank - and the second tank is in range of the 2nd movement.

There's also Heavy Command Tanks - they end up with a little bit of HP left unless you've got an Anthem buff or a proc. But the same can be said when shooting them in the reactor with a Lancer, in my experience. I'll have to try Maulers out specifically on B and C Heavy Tanks. I haven't yet, so I'll have to take your word for it.

Cannon towers? Use a flamethrower. You're cherry picking one or two situations in the entire game where they would be 'nice to have' even though you could accomplish the same thing without a mauler just as easily, and probably with less CP used because their AP is so low. This is why they are not a useful class. It's a very simple concept that you seem to be taking personally.

In my experience, Commandos get chewed up when approaching Cannon towers anywhere but from directly behind - especially when there are two of them side by side. You call it cherry picking, I call them perfect examples of actual situations in the game where taking a Mauler has its benefits. I've now given you at least 3 examples - there are more. You won't be using more CP by using the Mauler if they're able to get in range anyway (~~Alexis~~, correction: Morris, gets Double Movement (from being an Elite Fencer, which you can transfer to Mauler)!). You seem to be taking it personally that I disagree and think Maulers have their usefulness - the same as Lancers. Each is good in different situations. My response is not just to you, but anyone taking tips from the thread. It's another point of view. Of course, they can form their own opinions. If you've already made up your mind that they're worthless, that's fine. I'm just entreating you to take another look - if you don't want to, so be it.

Now I don't know where you get the idea that I 'restart a mission just because a little bit goes wrong', but you are wrong.

It was your "Do it correctly next time" comment.

Edit: I'm done with this debate. It's not that interesting and I don't really care that much.

mjemirzian · Oct 2, 2010

You can one shot the Heavy Tank A with both lancers and maulers. You do realize you can put a flamethrower on your tank, right? Also, there are no cannon towers in Nov Doerfin Skirmish, so I'm wondering what mission you're thinking of. Suggesting a random potential to 'save' a class is not an effective argument. You'd need to make one character into a Fencer Elite, learn Double Movement, then switch to Mauler - this requires grinding or luck. Also, Alexis cannot learn Double Movement according to the spreadsheet I'm looking at.

I'll look over your arguments again:
1. November story mission. First of all, the boss is optional. Second, you can get anyone behind the boss without taking damage, so interception fire isn't a concern.
2. A tank flanked by cannon towers. Drive your tank/APC up with a flamethrower and one shot the towers, which you would have to do anyway regardless of whether you killed the tank first. Also, I'd really love to know which mission actually has tanks flanked by cannon towers.
3. Killing tanks faster than lancers, which actually isn't true. Both Maulers and Lancers take the same number of attacks if hitting the most vulnerable area.

Now for some more reasons why Lancers are more versatile and useful: Lancers can headshot most standing infantry. Lancers can knock infantry, including crouching infantry, off camps. Lancers relatively high AP lets them run back to a camp instead of wasting a CP retreating them from the overhead map. You don't need to luck out or grind the right credits to get a lancer. I haven't encountered a single situation where a mauler would be more effective than a lancer at killing things.

radiantdreamer · Oct 2, 2010

I like these debates because I learn a lot from them. They add to my gaming experience.

Giolon · Oct 3, 2010

First - in my previous post I misread the Potential Chart I had been looking at and said Alexis got double movement. I was mistaken - it's Morris (from being a Fencer Elite, which you can transfer to Mauler). I corrected it. I also never claimed anything about Cannon Towers in the November Doerfein Skirmish, nor did I say you HAD to kill the boss in November.

Now the important part:

I finally beat VC2 tonight! I clocked in at just under 74 hours. If I were reviewing the game, I'd give it an A for gameplay, D for Story, C for presentation, and then a "Reviewers Tilt" of F for the fucking assinine random assignment of mission rewards - so on average like a C+.

Story - Every bit as bad as I expected it to be in many ways. Here we have the stereotypical shonen anime high school cast of misfits and rejects who must overcome the other snooty classes - lead by the headstrong idiot ~~Naruto~~ Avan. The game never really did a good job explaining

why Leon joined the Rebels or even took orders from Gilbert. Simply saying the V0 makes you go crazy is not really good enough.

I thought the most interesting part of the plot was

the internal coup within the Rebel Army was a twist I didn't see coming, though I probably should have. I thought it was great. I didn't see the twist with Dirk being Leon coming, but I should have given how this game clings to shonen anime tropes so tightly.

Surprisingly one of my favorite characters was Aliasse. Despite her Valkyria Slut Bunny outfit (that only appears a single time in the whole game which is still one time too many), she turned out to be probably the most interesting character in the game due to

her laboratory upbringing at the hands of Clementia and her touching moment with Alicia explaining what it means to be a Valkyria. I even was moved when she was disappointed at killing Leon thinking she'd deprived Avan of his brother

.

Gameplay - Almost all of the tweaks to the battle system I liked. The low unit cap was a drag sometimes, particularly the 5 unit cap per area. Being able to swap units in and out quicker and for no CP penalty was a lot of fun. The new class upgrade system was a great idea (the upgrade system - not the Credit system, see below). Some classes definitely feel overpowered though:

Scout Elites - Still the aces of the game. You can't beat a zillion AP plus a grenade.
Fencer/Fencer Elite/Mauler - One of the most heavily defensive units in the game also has the highest damage, WTF? Their low AP doesn't offset this enough. Kill any unit in the game in 1-2 CP while being 95% invulnerable? It's kind of crazy.
Commando - Flamethrower > Everything
Sniper Elite - Uh...triple shot sniper rifle with each shot as powerful as a single Sniper shot? Jesus christ. You don't need more than 1 shot very often, but if you do...
Medic - Maybe Cosette specifically with her Max Aid Range potential that procs 100% of the time. Res to full health from anywhere w/ line of sight across the battlefield? Yes please. I played so much sloppier once I had this ability b/c I knew I could.
APC - Uh....700AP for 1CP and can move a unit like a Fencer or a Mauler anywhere - paired with the Flamethrower and you've got one fucking mobile death vehicle.
Anthem Core/Elite - Buff as many as 4 characters Defense and Offense simultaneously with 1 CP? With as expensive as orders are now, I'll take it.
Special Mention - Tech Specialists - I beat the final mission in part by using a Flash Grenade to stop the interception and counter fire of the boss. A weee bit ridiculous. Those grenades are seriously pretty good. The fact that they don't work against non-personnel is the only thing keeping them in check.

The "Why Does This Class Even Exist Award" goes to: Tech Veteran/Tech Elites - I think I managed to get an NPC to step on a landmine twice in the whole game - and one of those was because I placed it directly under the enemy and then he stepped off it. Pretty useless class perk, IMO.

I also didn't like how many Free missions they forced you to do between story missions. Sometimes you just want to get on with it you know? There were also too many missions with Bosses. I don't really like a walking death machine parading around the map (unless they're on my side, lol)

The Cptd Gtlg A1 rare drop from the March free missions is so overpowered as to break the balance of the game. It's stronger than any other cannon you can research during the game, yet it only weighs 2? units? I stopped using it completely by October b/c I realized just how badly it tilted everything in your favor.

Presentation - Low budget generic anime cutscenes do not suddenly become representative of the first game's presentation just because you throw some hatches in your shadowed areas. Try again. The goofy characters don't help either. The Lanseal Academy screen is surprisingly beautiful, showing the engine CAN be pushed to do good things on the PSP.

Reviewer's Tilt (i.e. whatever I feel like) - I hate the Credits system. Whoever came up with its random implementation needs to be fired from game design. All it adds is grind. 20-ish hours of my game time can be chalked up to grinding to get specific Credits to specific units so I could have access to all the awesome classes like the Medis, Fencers and Commandos. The crafting materials don't seem quite as bad, but there should be more information about what missions yield what types of materials. Postgame it looks like they went as crazy on them as the credit system though.

In the end, the game was about as disappointing as I expected story wise, and mostly better than I expected gameplay wise. If you remove the random Credits system and replaced it with something deterministic, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this game to almost any PSP owner. As it stands, that element is just too frustrating - to the point that I don't think I'll ever play a new game of VC2 from scratch ever again. By contrast I've played through VC1 from scratch a couple times even after beating it. I can only recommend this game for those who like grinding or really, REALLY liked VC1's gameplay so much that you can overlook VC2's flaws.

I'm heartened to see that SEGA seems like it may be taking a turn for the better with the sequel (even if it's not going to be on PS3) - more mature and serious tone and characters, less emphases on materials gathering (hopefully on credits as well), more story focused approach.

Bonus Section: After the credits they show

a picture of Avan, Zeri, Cosette, Brixam, Juliana, and Aliasse in her school uniform all standing together...

What's wrong with this picture?

Juliana died before Aliasse ever joined Lanseal and got a uniform.

GG SEGA.

Whew! And I think that just about covers it...

SlickVic · Oct 3, 2010

So did anyone play through the entire game with the undub patch? I'd really like to use the Japanese audio if I can but if the patch quality is kinda iffy, I'll just play through with the English voices.

JumpJeff84 · Oct 3, 2010

I bought VC1 on PS3. Really liked it, though I didn't play it as much as I wanted to.

I was looking forward to this, as I find I have more patience for complex turn-based stuff on portables. Haven't bought it yet, as some of the story elements and credit stuff seems dodgy from what GAF has said.

So, now that the game's been out awhile- would you guys reccommend this as a purchase? I know I like the battle system...

Or, should I just finally make time to play the PS3 version?

Blue Submarine No. 6 · Oct 3, 2010

Whoompthereitis said:
I bought VC1 on PS3. Really liked it, though I didn't play it as much as I wanted to.

I was looking forward to this, as I find I have more patience for complex turn-based stuff on portables. Haven't bought it yet, as some of the story elements and credit stuff seems dodgy from what GAF has said.

So, now that the game's been out awhile- would you guys reccommend this as a purchase? I know I like the battle system...

Or, should I just finally make time to play the PS3 version?

Yes... and Yes... Both! The Credits/Certificate system is flawed, but handhelds make grinding easy, and it's not really required (though you'll find it necessary to some degree if you're OCD about upgrading all your units). Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this game with the proviso that some grinding is required, but I've never known a game of this sort where I didn't do some grinding, even if it wasn't required (I milked the heck out of the skirmishes in VC1 to push my troopers to their max levels)...

The original Valkyria Chronicles is truely classic, and well worth the investment in time, imho... I do the vast majority of my gaming on handhelds now, but I was glad I made the time to play that game through...

jcm · Oct 3, 2010

Giolon said:
In the end, the game was about as disappointing as I expected story wise, and mostly better than I expected gameplay wise. If you remove the random Credits system and replaced it with something deterministic, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this game to almost any PSP owner. As it stands, that element is just too frustrating - to the point that I don't think I'll ever play a new game of VC2 from scratch ever again. By contrast I've played through VC1 from scratch a couple times even after beating it. I can only recommend this game for those who like grinding or really, REALLY liked VC1's gameplay so much that you can overlook VC2's flaws.

I'm only in September, so maybe it changes, but I haven't been grinding at all. I just upgrade people when they're available. While I'd prefer to have a pool of credits to use for all upgrades, I don't find the system anywhere near game breaking. The characters I use frequently are progressing naturally.

Whoompthereitis said:
So, now that the game's been out awhile- would you guys reccommend this as a purchase? I know I like the battle system...

Or, should I just finally make time to play the PS3 version?

I think you should play both. They're both good games.

mjemirzian · Oct 3, 2010

You don't need to grind unless you really want one specific person to get to one specific class. If you use a wide variety of characters and upgrade them to whatever they can reach first, you'll be fine.

I've been playing through the post game missions (finished Jan-Apr). Still not using any DLC weapons or cptd turrets, no grinding, getting all As with the ace and both resource bonuses. It's still easy to get an A several turns ahead of the limit even with my restrictions, unfortunately.

The post game missions are a little more difficult, though. There are lv 70 heavy gunners everywhere that even fencer elites and sniper elites can't one round if they are crouching. If I were using the DLC weapons though they would be toast. There are a lot more mines on the ground, making it impossible for your tank to bypass without running them over. Tank mines aren't too dangerous to a tank, but your APC will get one shot.

radiantdreamer · Oct 3, 2010

Excellent review, Giolon!

I'm not quite finished the game yet, but I do agree with you on all points. While yes, the story is pretty darn weak, I am enjoying the little tidbit of side stories that the other classmates have (not the daily life garbage, but those specific to the characters). While tropey, they're still kinda fun. I'm always hoping that more gets revealed after combat only to be disappointed by crappy daily life segments.

Is there any way to get the character focused stories out quicker? Or is it completely random? It seems partly based on who you have in your deploy, as some of the characters I'm not interested in never seem to get a story cutscene. And I guess some are for particular months, so if I miss it, it's gone and the character stops developing?

SlickVic said:
So did anyone play through the entire game with the undub patch? I'd really like to use the Japanese audio if I can but if the patch quality is kinda iffy, I'll just play through with the English voices.

I'm playing the Undub version. I'm up to August now, no issues.

mjemirzian · Oct 4, 2010

You get classmate missions based on the number of CP you've spent taking control of them.

Played post game up to November. Nothing particularly special about the new missions, just a lot more of the same. Managed to do most missions without anyone being KOed, but sometimes I slip up and can't be arsed to restart because there's just so many missions. It is definitely more challenging trying to get the highest DCT/EXP and both resource bonuses with nobody being KOed but the sheer number of missions just wore me down to the point of not really caring if I miss a target or two as long as I still got the resource bonuses (which I need to upgrade stuff with).

SlickVic · Oct 4, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
I'm playing the Undub version. I'm up to August now, no issues.

Sweet. Just wasn't feeling the English voices from what I played of the demo and seeing some reviews. Good to hear this works so well.

Trent Strong · Oct 4, 2010

If I mail someone my PSP memory card, could they pass the final battle for me and then mail the memory card back? I like this game a lot, but I've been playing for nearly 60 hours and I really want to quit, but I can't quit now, when I'm so close to the end. I don't think I'll be able to win this last battle.

mjemirzian · Oct 4, 2010

Trent Strong said:
If I mail someone my PSP memory card, could they pass the final battle for me and then mail the memory card back? I like this game a lot, but I've been playing for nearly 60 hours and I really want to quit, but I can't quit now, when I'm so close to the end. I don't think I'll be able to win this last battle.

Can't you just transfer your save to your PC and upload the file somewhere? Anyway, which december story mission are you having trouble with? There are 3 of them.

So here's a list of possible challenges. First two are developer defined challenges, the rest are player defined challenges.

1. Get the highest DCT/EXP score each mission. That means an A rank while killing all Tanks, Leaders, Aces, and Key Targets with no Allies Defeated penalty. Tanks, bunkers, towers, and turrets count as tanks. Bosses and V2s count as key targets. While most enemy placement is random, there are always the same number of tanks, leaders, aces, and key targets on the map. Enemy leader status is randomly distributed.

2. Get both resource bonuses each mission. That means killing yellow hat enemies and capturing all camps.

3. Do not use any equipment obtained from any Extras missions and do not use the Cptd tank turret.

4. Don't play any mission more than once. No grinding for exp/dct/potentials/credits/resources.

5. No co-op play.

6. Extra craziness - 100% kills. No class leveling. No class promotions. No upgrades.

Anyone have anything else to add or are attempting anything like this? I've been trying 1-4, although I have slipped on #1 because I've gotten the allies defeated penalty a few times and haven't felt like restarting.

Trent Strong · Oct 4, 2010

mjemirzian said:
Can't you just transfer your save to your PC and upload the file somewhere? Anyway, which december story mission are you having trouble with? There are 3 of them.
.

I was just kidding. But I'm stuck on the very last december mission. The final battle. I'm only level 20 on most of my classes, so maybe I need a few more levels.

mjemirzian · Oct 4, 2010

Trent Strong said:
I was just kidding. But I'm stuck on the very last december mission. The final battle. I'm only level 20 on most of my classes, so maybe I need a few more levels.

Levels don't give your classes much, only a tiny bit of HP, shoot, and evade.

First, you'll want commandos and fencer elites.. that will make everything much easier. Focus on capturing camps in areas 1, 2, and 3 and ignore Baldren until you have the map locked down. Once you've cleared out those areas, Baldren will probably be standing around one of the two south area 4 camps. Use a fencer elite to distract him while a commando attacks him from behind. His counterattack does a ton of damage so make sure they are crouching or defense/evade buffed somehow. It takes 1-2 attacks to break the ragnite thing on his back, at which point he's easy to finish off.

radiantdreamer · Oct 4, 2010

mjemirzian said:
You get classmate missions based on the number of CP you've spent taking control of them.

Ooooh! That's good to know! Any specific number?

SlickVic said:
Sweet. Just wasn't feeling the English voices from what I played of the demo and seeing some reviews. Good to hear this works so well.

Please don't pirate though.
I still went and bought the game anyway. Just chose to play undub after that.

Giolon · Oct 4, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
Ooooh! That's good to know! Any specific number?

I don't know. I've been wondering if it's somehow been based on the type of action you take with the unit, like how it worked in VC1 for biography entries (deploying was 1 point, killing an enemy was like 2 points, capping a base was like 3 points, etc and when you get 5 points you unlock the biography entry and personal potential) since I seem to get some people's stories really quickly, and others it takes seemingly like a half dozen missions. Thanks for enjoying my review.

This undub, does it require CFW?

Trent Strong said:
I was just kidding. But I'm stuck on the very last december mission. The final battle. I'm only level 20 on most of my classes, so maybe I need a few more levels.

Here's my battle plan:

Don't spawn your tank but put a nice big cannon on it (preferrably a light tank, maybe medium). Blitz your way to the area Baldren's in (Area 4?) using your choice of shocktroopers and scouts. Cap the center camp (I used a Special Tech. Armored Tech will work too) near Baldren. Face him away from your camp with the armored tech. Spawn tank and shoot him in the back. He's now impotent. Have your way with him. Recommend a fencer or a tank shell to the face.

firehawk12 · Oct 4, 2010

Giolon said:
This undub, does it require CFW?

Yep, most definitely.

Trent Strong · Oct 5, 2010

Giolon said:
Here's my battle plan:

Don't spawn your tank but put a nice big cannon on it (preferrably a light tank, maybe medium). Blitz your way to the area Baldren's in (Area 4?) using your choice of shocktroopers. Cap the center camp (I used a Special Tech. Armored Tech will work too) near Baldren. Face him away from your camp with the armored tech. Spawn tank and shoot him in the back. He's now impotent. Have your way with him. Recommend a fencer or a tank shell to the face.

mjemirzian said:
Levels don't give your classes much, only a tiny bit of HP, shoot, and evade.

First, you'll want commandos and fencer elites.. that will make everything much easier. Focus on capturing camps in areas 1, 2, and 3 and ignore Baldren until you have the map locked down. Once you've cleared out those areas, Baldren will probably be standing around one of the two south area 4 camps. Use a fencer elite to distract him while a commando attacks him from behind. His counterattack does a ton of damage so make sure they are crouching or defense/evade buffed somehow. It takes 1-2 attacks to break the ragnite thing on his back, at which point he's easy to finish off.

Thanks for the tips. I should be able to knuckle down and get this mission done now.

mjemirzian · Oct 5, 2010

Here's my list of preferred classes for each character. I left out characters that join too late to get them credits without grinding and characters with very bad potentials (Panicky, Moody, etc.)

Scout

Aliasse: Scout Elite (Max Evasion) or Sniper Elite (Critical Attack)

Helmut: Scout Elite (Third Eye and Cover Stance) or AT Sniper (Super vs Armor)
Lotte: Scout Elite (Truth Seeker)
Selvaria: Scout Elite (Max Evasion)
Melissa: AT Sniper (Super vs Armor)
Sigrid: Sniper Elite (Critical Attack)
Marina: Sniper Elite (Penetration)

Shocktrooper
Erik: Trooper Elite to Commando (Double Attack)
Marion: Trooper Elite to Commando (Double Attack)
Zeri: Trooper Elite to Commando (Max vs Personnel)
Franca: Trooper Elite to Commando (Advanced Attack, Max vs Personnel)
Lynn: Trooper Elite to Commando (Max vs Personnel)
Anisette: Heavy Gunner (Super vs Personnel, vs Personnel Boost)
Pete: Gunner Elite (Super vs Personnel, vs Personnel Boost and Range Extension)

Lancer
Reiner: Lancer Elite (Ammo Refill, Vs Armor Boost) or Mobile Lancer (Tank Killer)
Coleen: Lancer Elite (Dismantle) or Mobile Lancer (Super Vs Armor)
Vario: Lancer Elite (Tank Slayer, Tank Destroyer, Super Vs Armor)
Jann: Lancer Elite (Max vs Armor)
Noel: Lancer Elite (Tank Slayer, Ammo Refill, Max vs Armor)
Maximilian: Lancer Elite (Ammo Refill, Tank Destroyer)
"Cosette": Lancer Elite (Dismantle, Tank Destroyer)
Faldio: Lancer Elite (Dismantle, Ammo Refill, Max vs Armor)
Rene: Mobile Mortarer (Super vs Personnel)

Engineer
Cosette: Medic (Max Aid Range)
Randy, Vicky, Ali: Melodist (Invincible)
Anyone: Anthem Elite

Armor Tech
Emilia: Fencer Elite (Feint, Face-to-Face, vs Personnel Boost)
Joachim: Fencer Elite (vs Personnel Boost, Overrun, Face-to-Face, Feint)
Alexis: Fencer Elite (Feint, Face-to-Face)
Mischlitt: Fencer Elite (vs Personnel Boost) or Spec Tech (Power Throw)
"Zeri": Fencer Elite (Feint, Double Movement) or Mauler (Tank Destroyer)
Isara: Fencer Elite (Face to Face)
Jamill: Mauler (Tank Destroyer)
Morris: Mauler (vs Armor Boost, Major vs Armor, Point Blank)

harriet the spy · Oct 5, 2010

Hey, this is going to come off as a super beginner question (I did finish VC1 and am halfway through VCII though

), but after all that time, I am starting to wonder - besides flamethrowers, is there any standard way for troops to tackle crouching enemies? Unless the difference of power of my unit and stamina of theirs is ridiculous, it seems I barely ever do more than chip their health. My standard tactic is to blow them up first (grenade or lancer), then kill them. But I am wondering if there is more efficient - since that takes 2AP.

mjemirzian · Oct 5, 2010

Ways to deal with crouching enemies in 1 CP:

1. Trooper Elite with Max vs Personnel, which has a 100% activation rate.
2. Flamethrower turret on your tank/APC.
3. Get up close with a Gunner and use the aim trick so most of your spread shot fires into the crouching enemy.
4. Use any of the overpowered weapons from the Extras missions.

Fencer elites and sniper elites might be able to 1CP crouching heavy scouts, but not crouching heavy gunners. Unless your sniper elite has one of the Extras weapons, in which case they can kill just about anything in one attack.

radiantdreamer · Oct 5, 2010

Giolon said:
I don't know. I've been wondering if it's somehow been based on the type of action you take with the unit, like how it worked in VC1 for biography entries (deploying was 1 point, killing an enemy was like 2 points, capping a base was like 3 points, etc and when you get 5 points you unlock the biography entry and personal potential) since I seem to get some people's stories really quickly, and others it takes seemingly like a half dozen missions. Thanks for enjoying my review.

I believe you could be right. I went on one mission with Erik and used him several times practically every round just to try and unlock his next cutscene, but it didn't. It was only until I started capping and killing with him that it unlocked. It doesn't seem like it takes a whole lot either.

harriet the spy said:
Hey, this is going to come off as a super beginner

lol I just did the stupidest thing worthy of Avan's personality. I had him throw a grenade at a crouched enemy at blank. The blast radius sent Avan flying into a land mine which triggered. He was lucky it didn't kill him.

mjemirzian · Oct 5, 2010

I read on gamefaqs how the classmate missions are unlocked. You get 1 point up to 5 points each mission every time you use the person. It takes 15-20 total to get the classmate mission. So use them 5 times each over 3-4 missions and you should unlock their classmate mission. I don't think this applies to lavinia, you only unlock her mission post-game.

Anyway, I'm going to have to revise my class ratings. I've found AT Snipers to be pretty handy in the post game maps for making tight trick shots on supply vehicles that a lancers accuracy can't match.. although if you use one of the DLC lances with 99 accuracy, that idea kind of goes out the window. Oh well.

mjemirzian · Oct 5, 2010

Posted my review of the game. I give it an 8.5/10.

harriet the spy · Oct 6, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
lol I just did the stupidest thing worthy of Avan's personality. I had him throw a grenade at a crouched enemy at blank. The blast radius sent Avan flying into a land mine which triggered. He was lucky it didn't kill him.

Used to do that all the time in VC1 :lol

radiantdreamer · Oct 6, 2010

mjemirzian said:
I read on gamefaqs how the classmate missions are unlocked. You get 1 point up to 5 points each mission every time you use the person. It takes 15-20 total to get the classmate mission. So use them 5 times each over 3-4 missions and you should unlock their classmate mission. I don't think this applies to lavinia, you only unlock her mission post-game.

I found that out on GameFAQs last night too! It's actually 5/10/15. So in total you have to use them in 6 missions, 5CP each, or a cumulative total of 30CP.

EDIT: Actually, that's incorrect. I took a new recruit in, did 5CP, beat the stage, and then did 10CP beat the stage and it worked. IE you can unlock 1 cutscene per battle, per character. You can unlock several cutscenes for different characters in a single battle if you just spam CPs for 20 turns.

Giolon said:
This undub, does it require CFW?

So playing the Undub, I've really come to like Avan's voice. He's got SO much more spirit than the English voice. English Avan just sounds like an angsty teen.

I also like Alexis. A lot. Alexis is like Subaru (Sakura Taisen V) material and sounds so cool! (at least in the JP voice).

I have also started taking a liking to Anisette. She sounds absolutely horrid in the JP voice, like a really fucked up over-enthusiastic Edy, but that flaw is incredibly endearing. I love how her and Edy always attach "desu-wa" at the end of their sentences.

And I love it when Cosette says "gambaruzou" and "otousan... mittete ne" it sounds so sweet. <3

And dammit, is Zeri's JP voice done by Zetsubou Sensei?! It totally sounds like it!!

I've done comparisons between both voice versions now, and I must say, the JP voices do sound better. My own opinion of course, but seriously wow I like the JP voices. Fits their tropes perfectly.

Koren · Oct 6, 2010

Macstorm said:
Anyone else feel that VC1 is to VC2 what Final Fantasy Tactics was to FFT Advance? Gameplay focus over story. Story-based progression versus "One more mission" feel. Moved from console to portable. Mature war story to childish antics. VC2 and FFTA both had systems that annoyed people (credits, judges). Eh, maybe I'm crazy, but it just seemed like a similar comparison to me.

You got many harsh replies by advancing this argument, and I can understand the reception, since VC2 is usually much more enjoyed than FFTA was. But I wanted to say that I kinda agree with this, and thought the same. Not that VC2 is a bad game, far from that. But both series have seen different choices taen between console and portable iterations. Just wanted to say that I don't find the idea crazy (but still misleading)

Nose Master · Oct 6, 2010

DarthWoo said:
Ok...so when I first started the game, I thought

Alexis was female. Then I look at the yearbook info after some daily life dialog makes it seem like Alexis is a guy.

I ended up with Morris and Mischlitt as the sole armored techs on my primary group, so I didn't get much story progression from the other. But so I'm going through all the missions in the after-game, and finally getting some of the story,

it turns out that Alexis is a girl after all?

Did anyone else end up having that reaction? I suppose I should have just trusted my instinct on first appearance.

I thought she was a girl the whole time, too. Doesn't really come off as a man at all. I never read the yearbooks, either. So, that whole cutscene was pretty awkward. Maybe next time they'll reveal that Selvaria is a girl!

radiantdreamer · Oct 7, 2010

Just beat August.

Wow, could the plot be any more predictable than that?

Zeri: Julianaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

I was right!

Ishitoki Sensei: Zetsubou shitaaaaaaaaa!!!!

That alone makes it worth playing undub.

And Cosette is voiced by the same actress that voiced Ami in Toradora! ... and Juri from Super Street Fighter 4?!

;

rainking187 · Oct 7, 2010

Anyone know if the DLC will be put up on Amazon anytime soon? I got a $5 gift card to Amazon I was going to use for this, but it's not available yet.

bestami · Oct 7, 2010

I've beat the game. Around 55 hours and i tried to do every mission available to me. I don't think i am going to play any ng+ stuff tho. I loved the gameplay, i loved the item upgrading stuff. Hated the insufferable story and crappy drop leveling system. I never used the orders (never used them in VC1 neither) even tho i heard they are very useful. I never used the engineers, they seemed like pretty useless but i am probably wrong. I wasn't able to try out all the elite classes but i liked what i've seen on that front (especially elite fencers and maulers).

Overall i was pretty satisfied with the game. I would buy the third game day one if it ever comes out in english. I can't stress enough how much i hated the story tho. There were some side characters i liked even tho they were a little cliche but this is probably the worst game i've played from a story and main cast standpoint. There were really some stupid shit in it. I couldn't believe some of the stuff they've put in there. Although to be fair i don't play a lot of jrpgs.

Giolon · Oct 7, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
Just beat August.

Wow, could the plot be any more predictable than that?

Don't worry, it gets even more predictable. :lol

radiantdreamer · Oct 8, 2010

Giolon said:
Don't worry, it gets even more predictable. :lol

Zeri: Zetsubou shitaaaaaaaa!!!! The predictability of tropetastic games has left me in despair!!!

On another note, is Juliana an unlockable character? August plot spoiler:

One of Zeri's "Likes" is Juliana, but we all know what happens.

Or is it just a sort of useless stat?

I was playing Anisette's story mission, and when

Edy

showed up, she called Anisette "Licorice" (in the Japanese voice over). I'm guessing they changed her name. I cannot imagine going through life named Licorice.

Damn I'm moe over

Aliasse!

she's so cute. And that school uniform is hawt!

Pureauthor · Oct 8, 2010

radiantdreamer said:
I was playing Anisette's story mission, and when

Edy

showed up, she called Anisette "Licorice" (in the Japanese voice over). I'm guessing they changed her name. I cannot imagine going through life named Licorice.

Note the reference: Anise tastes like licorice.

Juliana:

New game+ unlock. I think 20 medals does the trick.

Lain · Oct 12, 2010

I wanted to buy the DLC, but I saw that it isn't available for us EU peons. Is there any info about when it'll be available?

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