Valkyrie profiles
| Valkyrie profiles | |
|---|---|
| Original title | ヴ ァ ル キ リ ー プ ロ フ ァ イ ル |
| transcription | Varukirī Purofairu |
| developer |
 tri-ace
|
| Publisher |
Enix / Square Enix
|
| First title | Valkyrie Profile (1999) |
| Last title | Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (2008) |
| Platform (s) | PlayStation , PS2 , PSP , NDS |
| Genre (s) | Computer role playing game |
Valkyrie Profile ( Japanese ヴ ァ ル キ リ ー プ ロ フ ァ イ ル , Varukirī Purofairu ) is a series of computer role-playing games developed by the Japanese company tri-Ace and published by Enix (later Square Enix ) from 1999 . The first part was released for the PlayStation game console and was re-released in 2006, improved for the PlayStation Portable .
Framework story
The game world is strongly based on Nordic mythology . Walhalla , Odin and the Valkyries are transferred into a fantasy world that is reminiscent of medieval Central Europe with its Gothic churches, half-timbered houses and German place names. In addition, an area is also integrated into the game world that borrows from the Japanese Middle Ages with its samurai .
The player controls the Valkyrie Lenneth. She is supposed to find Ragnarök fighters for the Twilight of the Gods on behalf of Odin and descends into the world of the living. If the time until the end of the world is up, the game is over and the goddess Freya summarizes the achievement. Incidentally, this also destroys the pawn if the player cannot recruit a single fighter for Odin.
Game system
Within a limited time frame, the player must complete the game by exploring the game world, fighting opponents, collecting new characters, and advancing the solution of the game story, which runs in chapters. The average time to solve the game is 25 hours.
The flying Valkyrie moves over a 3D map on which individual points for cities, dungeons, caves, etc. are marked. By following the “voices of death” with the character, you get to the places where the action continues. These sections are designed two-dimensionally in the manner of a jump-and-run game , which must be played through by running, jumping, shooting and sword fighting. After solving puzzles and usually defeating a boss, the story continues. Combat screens are also designed in two-dimensional graphics.
Combat system
By quickly pressing different key combinations, the player can use different fighting techniques. The available attack combinations are recorded in a so-called combo list. Each action costs AP (Action Points), which are displayed on a separate bar. If this is empty, it is the opponent's turn. The actions happen individually or simultaneously by all characters. Magicians do magic, archers shoot from a distance, swordsmen go into hand-to-hand combat. If the characters have weapons with special properties, very effective special attacks are possible, without which the game can hardly be won.
Both the player's characters and his opponents are divided into different classes. Similar to the rock-paper-scissors system, the outcome of a fight depends crucially on the class of combatants involved. Wizards are effective against elemental beings, fighters against wizards, archers can also attack enemies that are further away. After winning the battle, the characters get EXP (Experience Points) and crystals from the opponents, items (rather rare) and money to buy weapons. Through experience, the player's fighters rise to levels (stages). You get stronger or learn new attacks.
Menus and sky function
In combat, a menu for using items can be opened in order to use them in combat. In the main menu of the game, the player can buy / upgrade weapons, change properties, learn new skills, buy / use items, call up statistics, change acquired characters.
Once a character has acquired a certain level of skills, he can also be sent to Odin and Freya as a fighter. However, if the character is too weak, they may die fighting in heaven. The player has to find a balance between the characters he needs and those he sends to Valhalla. However, the Valkyrie cannot be sent to heaven.
End and possible solutions
Bonus options will be activated after the game has ended. Depending on the choice of difficulty, the number of tasks solved and the character values achieved, the player is rewarded with alternative resolutions.
Successors, variants and merchandise
There are various game versions in Asia, including various limited special editions. These hard to get versions are very popular with fans. This also applies to merchandise items such as characters, soundtracks, etc.
In 2006, Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria was a successor to PlayStation 2 . The game covers the events before the first part. Also in 2006 a new version of the first part appeared for Sony PlayStation Portable under the name Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth . It contains 16: 9 support and new 3D computer graphics for the cutscenes.
Another episode of the series, entitled Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume , came out in November 2008 (outside of Japan, 2009). In Japan, the Nintendo DS title sold over 160,000 times. The protagonist of the game is Wylfred, a young soldier with silver hair who holds a grudge against the Valkyrie Lenneth.
Web links
- Official Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth's Square Enix website ( March 18, 2009 memento on the Internet Archive )
- Official website for Valkyrie Profile 1 u. 2 Square Enix (English)
- Official website Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (English)
- Valkyrie Profile Series at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume - Specific release date for Europe ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume - official sales figures up to December 2008 ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as broken. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
