Valkyrie Profile is one of the most unique RPGs ever released. It has nothing to do with its setting; plenty of games crib from Norse mythology. No, Valkyrie Profile innovates by having a unique structure. It breaks the traditional conventions of the genre while still remaining familiar. That is not an easy feat to accomplish considering the pedigree and volume of RPGs released for the PS One. But even taking that into consideration Valkyrie Profile remains one of the PlayStation’s best games.
Rather than using parts of Norse Mythology to enrich its constructed universe Valkyrie Profile dives deep into it instead. Ragnarok approaches, and as Lenneth Valkyrie it is your job to find and train suitable Einherjar for the final battle. The game is less concerned with sweeping character arcs and such and more with the impending war. That’s not to say there isn’t any; if you pursue the best ending you will learn plenty about a select few characters including Lenneth herself. If you have even a passing interest in Norse myth the game is steeped in it and does some pretty deep dives. For its time it was very original despite the prevalence of such in the game industry and one of the reasons I like it so much.
The structure of the game is different from almost anything else out there. Valkyrie Profile is divided into eight chapters with varying number of periods depending on the difficulty (16 on easy, 24 normal, 28 on hard). By focusing Lenneth will hear the cries of the dead, either revealing a dungeon or pointing to a city to recruit an Einherjar. Each action taken on the world map such as visiting a town or dungeon uses up periods. While it may sound stifling by the end of each Chapter you will have more than enough free periods to explore or rest to recover. At the end of each chapter the Sacred Phase begins, where you are judged on your performance, updated on the status of the war, and awarded weapons and materialize points to create items.
Your performance is judged on a number of factors, such as stealing artifacts that belong to Odin and the quality of warriors sent to Valhalla. In total there are twenty four characters in total to recruit and where the game’s dark tone is at its worst. Before recruiting an Einherjar you are treating to an elaborate sequence of events leading up to their death. These run the gamut from betrayal, suicide, and even pure bad luck. It’s very morbid but thrilling. Considering you spend so little time getting to know them it is surprising how easily you can get attached to certain characters. The best trick the game plays is giving you enough to learn enough about the characters before you potentially send them up. Your job is to erase their negative traits to improve their hero value and teach them the skills requested before sending them up.
The decision to send certain characters is a tough one. Every character outside of the mages has unique abilities, with some better than others. Once sent that character is gone for good. Technically you can send anyone as long as they meet the skill requirement but they aren’t fooling anyone. Certain characters are almost tailor made to be sent up. Llewelyn I’m looking at you. The better you meet the requested requirements the better rewards you receive. There are only three that can’t be sent for story purposes. Unfortunately you have to send one of the best characters in the game to get the best ending but it is worth it.
Exploring dungeons is not straightforward. Lenneth has the move set of a platforming character, able to slide, jump, attack, and create crystals. All enemies are visible on screen and attacking them will initiate combat. The crystals you create can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating platfoms to freezing enemies. Frozen enemies can be used to find hidden items and solving simple puzzles. The dungeons start out complex and only grow in size, becoming massive mazes by chapter 4. Dungeon exploring is both simple and complex enough that it doesn’t become a chore no matter how large they become. Being able to avoid combat helps along with the speedy battle system.
The battle system is fast and incredibly deep. Each of your four party members is controlled by one of the face buttons. Depending on the weapon einherjar can attack up to three times, with everyone’s attacks differing. Timing is everything, both to break an enemy’s guard, avoid missing attacks and to fill the combo meter. Mages attack using spells that have long charge times but even that can be bypassed with skill. Effective attacks will knock crystals that increase experience, gems that reduce charge times, or even items out of enemies. Filling the combo meter allows you to unleash a special attack called a Purify Weird Soul. These attacks are devastating and key to beating stronger enemies.
The depth goes even further than stringing attacks together. There are a large volume of skills you can teach Einherjar and set up to use in battle. These range from counter attacks, auto-items, and further customizing their abilities. You’ll want to prioritize certain enemies like mages who tend to hang in the rear where only long distance attacks will hit. Lining up attacks to break an enemy’s guard is also critical since they usually protect stronger enemies in the back. Using special attacks to wear down tougher enemies is an effective tactic but also the order you use them is important. After the first special attack the gauge drops 40%. With the right character you can fill it again and use multiple special attacks in a row. The cool thing is the game teaches you these mechanics and you don’t have to engage with all of them if you choose.
Valkyrie Profile is not an easy game as it asks a lot from you. The difficulty ramps up quickly and while it is possible to muddle your way through it eventually you will hit a brick wall. Dungeons become massive labyrinths quickly and enemies are smart. Even on the normal difficulty I died quite a few times unexpectedly which is a big change from most RPGs. It says a lot when even with the right combo of skills and items that make you near invincible you can still die. If you choose you can even avoid most dungeons; event experience goes to your experience orb which can be divided as you see fit. You can level your party without setting foot in a dungeon if you like. You’ll miss crucial items but the option is there. You get what you put into it.
For those that want more Valkyrie Profile offers a lot of extra content. On the hardest setting there are exclusive dungeons that are maddening in their difficulty. There are also characters that only appear on the highest setting. The best ending sets the game down a different path and offers the most story. It also has some of the hardest encounters in the game. If that isn’t enough the Seraphic Gate awaits. This post game dungeon allows you to use special characters like Brahms and Freya freely and has some of the best items in the game. But you’ll have to fight for them, with the Seraphic Gate being reserved for those who have truly mastered the battle system.
In Closing
Valkyrie Profile is one of the most innovative games ever and in my personal top ten favorite RPGs of all time. It has some of the highest production values on the system and unique systems to spare. It is an absolute crime that it didn’t sell as well as it should have, both in its original release and on the PSP. Buy this game, you won’t regret it.
