There are too many highlights in Square Enix’s library to list. Suffice it to say, even with the company’s missteps, there’s always been something for fans to latch onto or dig up from the past. Not all games and franchises have been treated equally by history, however, and a few of notable quality have fallen by the wayside. Perhaps the most tragic of these is the unique Valkyrie series, which was begun by developer Tri-Ace in 1999 for the PS1. Valkyrie Profile and its successor games, including this year’s Valkyrie Elysium, reinterpreted the JRPG formula in new ways, and Square Enix seems keen to give the franchise a second chance.
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Valkyrie Profile Distinguished Itself From Other Square Enix Games
If there are two things that the Valkyrie games are known for, they are experimental gameplay and general obscurity. While this has contributed to Valkyrie Profile’s owners becoming diehard fans, it’s hard to deny that the games themselves are niche. Valkyrie Profile was not the first attempt at merging turn-based and action elements, but it was one of the most notable. Four-man parties are able to attack in unison and perform combos together similarly to a traditional fighting game, complete with a super meter building up across successful combos. It was a basic system compared to later entries and imitators, but kept fights stimulating.
Those concerned about the battle system becoming tiresome need not worry, as the rest of the game also had a detailed infrastructure. Ragnarok, the end of the world, is fast approaching, and Valkyrie Lenneth must find worthy souls to fight in the final war deciding the fate of existence. These Einherjar must be strengthened quickly, as recruiting them and visiting locations takes up limited periods within each chapter. Sufficiently strong Einherjar must be sent to Valhalla along with special artifacts to fulfill each chapter’s quota. Fulfilling this, and various other side tasks, will affect the player’s ending. Combined with three difficulty modes changing up the content, Valkyrie Profile has a ton of replay value to promote striving towards mastery.
The Valkyrie Gameplay Formula Is Worth Checking Out
With all that being said, it’s not hard to see why Valkyrie Profile fans think the franchise is something special. It thrives on its difference, and challenges players to master both its systems and setting for the best possible results. This carries on through both of the Tri-Ace developed sequels, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, and Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume. Valkyrie Profile 2 isn’t as iconic as the first installment, but builds on it and is definitely worth experiencing for those looking for hidden gems in the action-RPG genre. Covenant of the Plume, meanwhile, jumps genres into turn-based strategy on the Nintendo DS, with the concept of sacrificing allies for power becoming the main focus. Both are strange, but that makes them worth examining.
The rest of the Valkyrie franchise is similarly off kilter. Valkyrie Anatomia was a mobile title that ran from 2016 to 2021, drawing visual and gameplay inspiration from the first game. Valkyrie Elysium was just released by Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time developer Soleil Inc., and will be of interest to those fond of obscure PS2 action games. Finally, there is the Valkyrie Profile remaster Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth. While initially released on the PSP, it will come to PS4 and PS5 in December 2022, and should be a great starting point for those interested in the Valkyrie series.
Because of Valkyrie’s niche fame, various indie imitators such as Indivisible have cropped up in recent years. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 is also notably similar to the Valkyrie Profile games, due to its apocalyptic plot, melancholic visuals, battles, and limited time. A common theory is that Tri-Ace’s attempts to reboot the Valkyrie franchise were folded into Lightning Returns, so those looking for more Valkyrie could find fulfillment here. While Profile 2 and Covenant of the Plume are locked to emulators for now, PC and console ports have made Valkyrie more accessible than ever. Now is the perfect time to get into the Valkyrie series and games like it.
Valkyrie Elysium is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
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