Raising Sims isn’t a genre I’ve been involved with, partly because a lot of them are geared toward a sort of father-daughter vibe that doesn’t quite sit well with me. However, raising a mecha pilot seems like something a little quicker, so you won’t be surprised to hear my interest in Valkyrie Iteration: Mecha Pilot Raising Pocket Simulator, a visual novel with a name that seems to do what it says in the box.
In Valkyrie Iteration (of course I don’t write the entire title every time) you are a technomaster, which in this case is like an Armored Core manager over a sonically competent beat production aficionado. You’ve been tasked with training Lana alongside her sentient robot, the titular Valkyrie. Except, ruh roh! “The power of the Valkyrie threatens to consume her very essence.” Classic mechanical stuff, right there.
There are a lot of things to balance in Valkyrie Iteration. On the one hand, you have to plan Lana’s daily schedule, like whether she’s training, resting, or just chatting, which helps develop her skills, mental health, and bond with her robot. You also need to monitor her timing and strength in case she gets too tired or downright depressed to make sure she’s ready to go on a mission.
The story seems like your usual sci-fi and mecha affair. In the distant future, strange beings from alternate dimensions defying the laws of nature, called Ghosts, arise and begin to attack us humans. In turn, humans decided that there was no other option to build robots (that’s right), which are the Valkyries, all of whom have their own souls. You can feel the influence of Evangelion oozing here, a series that has its own history when it comes to raising Sims.
This all looks pretty cool, and there’s also a demo to try if you’re up for it, which you can Discover on Steam (or just give them a wish list if you’re short on time).
