Valkyria Chronicles 2 Coming to PSP

One of the best games of last year is getting a sequel. Instead of appearing on the Playstation 3, however, Valkyria Chronicles 2 is heading to the PSP. Valkyria Chronicles is a Playstation 3 exclusive title that was first released in Japan on the spring of 2008. It would head to the western regions in autumn of the same year.

You couldn't find another game like Valkyria Chronicles on the Playstation 3 or any other video game system. First off, the visuals are beautiful mixtures of pencil-like drawings and watercolor textures. The gameplay too is very unique with a real-time take on the turn-based strategy genre. While you still have to take turns with your opponent in regard to commands, the action takes place in real-time.

Overall, Valkyria Chronicles is one of the highest-rated exclusive games on the Playstation 3. However, the critical acclaimed did not translate well in sales. Valkyria Chronicles struggled in the Japanese market and did even worst in the western regions.

Fortunately, that did not stop Sega (the publisher and developer of the title) from pushing their promising brand. Thanks to the Japanese animated show under the same name that launched this spring, sales began to pick up for Valkyria Chronicles.

One would think that a sequel is imminent considering how hard Sega has been pushing the brand. Instead of a Playstation 3 title, however, Sega opted to bring Valkyria Chronicles 2 to the PSP. This upset many fans of the first game as some don't own a PSP while others prefer all the bells and whistles of a high-production Playstation 3 game.

The move makes sense economically, however. For one, the PSP has more than two times the user base of the Playstation 3 worldwide. This includes Japan, which is the most successful market for Valkyria Chronicles. Furthermore, developing on the PSP is several times cheaper than developing for a full blown high-definition Playstation 3 game. Since Valkyria Chronicles 2 will most likely end up being a niche title that only attracts a small segment on the market, developing it for the PSP will yield more return for Sega.

For PSP users, Valkyria Chronicles 2 is just another excellent title heading their way. After a rough couple of years, the PSP is finally showing promise in the software front. Due to the massive success of Monster Hunter in Japan, PSP hardware became a hot item. As a result, Japanese developers like Sega are jumping in on the PSP with major titles like Valkyria Chronicles 2.

The sequel to one of the best games on the Playstation 3 will be released on the PSP by the end of 2009 in Japan. A North American release should follow afterwards.