The direction of next-gen strategy RPG's has been set.
It is uncommon for SRPG's to present a story as strong as the gameplay, but Valkyria manages to buck this trend. In presenting a stylized and fantasy infused version of WWII and the threat of Holocaust, Valkyria infuses the game's battles with gravity. Moreover, the characters are varied and well-realized with voice acting that is more spot on than miss. Many of the crucial cut scenes are likely to rouse angst if not anger at the cruelties against which your team must fight.
SRPG's, in the final analysis, depend on their gameplay, and here Valkyria truly excels. Foregoing an isometric grid, Valkyria offers a quasi real-time system in which units are selected on a tactical map and then moved on the actual battlefield, with movement restricted to an Action Point meter. In being able to move characters and tanks in real-time, you feel as if you're actively and dynamically engaged in the fight. Moreover, while most strategy games rely upon a rather obvious rock-paper-scissors calculus, players will not feel so constrained here. The gameplay is versatile enough to accommodate many command and battle styles. Additionally, the ability to unlock special unit abilities as well as use your tank for cover or to launch smokescreens is a real treat. It is also worth noting that the maps are varied, large, and provide for many tactical possibilities.
Valkyria is also a beautiful game to look at. Remniscent of a Level 5 production, the game is drenched in beatiful animation style art. Valkyria also borrows from XIII's use of onscreen pop up words to convey an almost graphic novel feel to the action.
Valkyria is nearly perfect but not so. While there is room to develop different troops as you see fit, there's at least one map that is nearly unbeatable without leveling your Scouts sufficiently to acquire the grenade launcher upgrade. Enemy AI is also spotty: sometimes their ruthless, efficient killing machines while at others they engage in the most bizarre inefficient behavior. Last, Valkyia could have done a better job in representing the terrain and size of the battlefield on the over-world map. Many times, I restarted a battle after 4 or 5 turns because it wasn't clear where there might be a ridge or valley or building with a climbable ladder.
In all, Valkyria is likely to be one of the best next-gen RPG's for quite some time, and it is not to be missed.