PlayStation 3 exclusives are becoming easier and easier to come by as the console blossoms into what could be a banner year. Among the most recently unveiled third-party exclusives, Valkyria Chronicles flexes on PlayStation 3 what has been an enormous strength on Sony's previous console: the tactical role-playing game. Promising to update the genre with next-generation graphics and inventive new gameplay elements, this incredible-looking game has us confident that the genre is on the cusp of a generational breakthrough on PlayStation 3. The game really looks that good.

Set on the fictional continent of Europa, Valkyria Chronicles follows the fate of Gallia, a kingdom blessed with an enormous natural stockpile of ‘ragnite.’ While the small domain is lucky to have the resource in abundance for healing its citizens and fueling its economy, it also serves as a curse. Dueling superpowers--the Atlantic Federation and Eastern European Imperial Alliance have taken an eye to Gallia for their ragnite, both hoping to seize the resource to pump up their war machine. Sandwiched between the two warring nations, Gallia is forced into a desperate defense as forces press against the borders. You helm Gallia's defense efforts, taking control of a team of soldiers in tactical battles that mix real-time and turn-based mechanics.

The fundamentals stay near and dear to the heart of traditional tactical role-playing games, yet a number of key innovations promise to bring the genre into modernity. At its most basic, you engage in turn-based battles with a slate of characters, accumulating experience to increase attributes and learn new abilities. It's how the game introduces new ideas within that core framework that sets it apart. Real-time gameplay combined with destructible environments push the game far ahead of any previous tactical role-playing endeavor. Of course, its gorgeous illustrative visuals distinguish it as well.

All battles begin with an overview. This top-down map gives you a snapshot of the battlefield before you start moving units. Two point systems dictate unit movement: command points and action points. To gain control of a unit, you must have enough command points to put the unit into play. For example, moving an infantry unit costs a single command point, whereas a tank requires two. Each round you're awarded a certain number of command points, so it's possible to skip a turn to accumulate additional points. Saving your command points also enables you to call in reinforcements midway through a battle, which could save you from defeat. Deciding how you spend your command points and on what units serves as the first layer of strategy in the game.

The second component of what's been labeled as the blitz battle system involves taking direct control of your units. After spending the necessary command units to activate a unit, you then have full real-time control of it. Action points determine the length of time which you have control. From the third-person, you take whatever actions--move, attack, find cover, etc.--possible given the amount of action points accessible to that particular unit. Since action points deplete with time, the more points a unit has the longer they are able to act during their turn. Take a machine gunner, for instance: although they possess a short movement range due to few action points, they are capable of devastating attacks. On the flip side, basic soldiers have great movement range at the cost of weaker attacks.

Over 50 different characters with unique strengths and weakness can join forces with you through the course of the game. Along with the aforementioned soldier and machine gunner, other characters include snipers, engineers, and rocketeers. Naturally, each of these characters comes equipped with suitable weapons; you'd expect a rocketeer, for example, to come packed with a rocket launcher. Even more than weapon variations and attribute differences, characters also possess particulars. These individual likes and dislikes affect how characters perform on the battlefield. A particular may have one character disliking another or dictate an allergy to rats. Keeping these in mind as you construct your squad before a battle is vital to ensuring team cohesion and boosting your chances of victory. Should you find yourself in a situation where you've deployed a disagreeable combination of units, you're able to swap units within battle. Additionally, this can be a lifesaver should you need to alter your tactical approach against the enemy.