More than Meets the Eye

My current game of choice is Valkyria Chronicles and I have to say that I am enjoying it.  Sometimes the combat can be a little janky and annoying but the combination of strategy and story has kept me interested.  I'm also finding that there are some pretty powerful messages or themes in this game that I initially judged as a strange anime spinoff.  By purchasing this one game now Steam wants to recommend every anime style game that is for sale!  Maybe I'm missing a whole genre of games with deep and empowering messages?  (Possible spoilers ahead!)

I have to admit that I was, and still mostly am, pretty skeptical about anime/anime related games.  I don't think that Valkyria Chronicles falls into any certain established anime world, but has a distinct anime flavor.  I thought that anime was all about goofy, big-eyed characters with rockin' hair and giant boobs who like to make overdramatic gestures.  Welkin has a tendency to make the occasional angry fist-clenching motion I associate with anime or the strong pointing gesture, but I'm willing to ignore those minor disturbances because I'm enjoying the deeper themes explored in the game.

Rosie and Isara face off in one of many arguments.

Those deeper themes range from the the sense of belonging that is acknowledged by various members of Squad 7 all the way to deep seated feelings of loss.  As the war stretches through the fictional country of Gallia the story and characters are forced to acknowledge the true nature of the war going on.  Alicia, Welkin, and Isara witness the destruction of their home town and are forced to flee.  There is a definite sense of sadness as they see the major landmark in their village destroyed by enemy mortar fire.  Oddly enough, racism is also a theme that is explored often.  The Darcsen are a racial group that can be identified by their dark hair and who generally wear scarves with traditional designs.  Isara is a Darcsen and takes pride in her cultural heritage--Rosie, another key member of the squad, often argues with Isara and calls her a "dark hair" which feels like a derogatory term.  Rosie begrudgingly agrees to work with Isara but makes no efforts to disguise her feelings of hate for the Darcsen.  (Later on in the game there are some breakthrough types of moments but I don't want to ruin them)

So maybe I misjudged this game solely on the basis of it looking anime-like.  Maybe I should be more open-minded when it comes to games like Valkyria Chronicles and see them for more than just their appearance.