Valkyria Chronicles set to invade the west

Go ahead and file this one under some of the best gaming news to come out so far this year.

For those new to the blog, I'm kind of in love with this game I've never played yet. Originally Valkyrie of the Battlefield, now Valkyria Chronicles (not sure why the name change), this real-time strategy roleplaying game breaks genre boundaries to incorporate some third-person shooting.

Rather than point, click, point, click, watch attack; players will now choose their actions via grid-based battlefields and actually perform said actions themselves- moving around within a set area and putting bullets and tank rounds into individual enemies.

Add to this a quirky looking cast of character and some of the most badical graphics ever (made to look like an oil painting) and you have the makings of a serious hit.

Sega announced today the game, formerly only set to release in Japan, will now be making its way to Europe and the U.S. some time this fall.

I'm doing a happy dance while I type this.