Keepers is a weekly segment in which I discuss games I’ve played that I’ve seen fit to keep after playing. I’m a self proclaimed pack-rat and collector, but if I ever had to sell my gaming collection to feed my family these are the games I’d hang onto. If my wife let me, anyway.

Valkyria Chronicles for the PS3 is one of those games that no one saw coming, and then no one bought it. For those that did though, they found an amazing SRPG with some gameplay twists never before seen in the genre. Think of the standard grid based SRPG and then think about controlling your characters and combat like a FPS, and you kind of have the idea. On top of that you add gorgeous watercolor styled graphics, an engaging storyline with tons of characters you actually care about, and you have what I feel is the best SRPG ever made. I have been slowly replaying this game on Hard mode to earn all of the medals, characters and in-game achievements. Sega has also released two brand new DLC campaigns that have kept me coming back to this game nearly a year after I finished it for the first time.

Sega will also be releasing a PSP-bound sequel next year and there is a pretty decent Anime to be found on the YouTubes if you’re interested (subtitled of course). I’m really looking forward to adding both to my Keepers shelf in the future.