I traded in my copy of Resistance 2 for Valkyria Chronicles last week. Best deal I ever made!
1.) Characters are absolutely lovable - not since Suikoden 2 or 5 have I felt a genuine feeling of concern over my characters to a point of reloading the game if in case one of them gets killed in battle, though there are dozens of them, because of the supreme variety in their personalities.
2.) Story is genuinely immersive - I really felt the sense of urgency in the story, and the themes of loyalty, friendship, love, and courage all vividly speak to you in many levels.
3.) Battles never get old - the strategy combat system never gets boring and is always fresh, such that replaying the same battle can feel just as nice as the first try.
4.) Progression feels rewarding - the upgrades to the various weapons, armor, abilities, and techniques really make you feel the 'diablo 2' experience, wherein you just can't help but progress to get to the next set of upgrades.
5.) Visuals are truly beautiful - the canvas engine really works wonders for this game, making the color palette come alive and the action anime-esque.
6.) Voice acting is superb - both the japanese and english audio track are impressive, with each character sporting different voices to fit their personality.
7.) Presented in a stylistic way - the book view and the subsequent tabs make you feel that the game was well taken care of in development and had a lot of attention to detail.
I love the game. I've wanted to buy it for a few months and finally I have it :D
