Valkyrie Profile, Round 1!

[Anastasia]

One of the truly niche games of the PSX era, Valkyrie Profile is an often lauded RPG. A cult classic in it's own time, given accolades by many. So the question I pose is - does VP stand up to the hype, even as time goes by?

Graphics -

Sprites for the characters, with supplimentary art pieces. Mainly low tech sprites are used, but there's nothing wrong with this. Beyond a few bothersome pixel issues on zoom ins, the characters are sharp and well sprited. The area graphics and backrounds are likewise pleasant and fitting. While I can think of a few area graphics that impressed me, I can't easily say why. There is an unnamed quality to many areas, an ambiance that radiates. I can instantly remember Jotunheim or Lezard's Tower simply by recalling how good they felt. That means that the design team has gotten that one right.

Sound -

Motoi Sakuraba. If you're familiar with him from Star Ocean 2, you know what to expect. AS a matter of fact, a few tracks make cameos in Valkyrie Profile from Star Ocean 2. While the scope of the music has changed, it's largely the same composer, and it shows. You may already have a idea of liking or hating the VP soundtrack based on his name, honesty. That aside - I rather favor it. While it has it's share of mediocre tracks, several are good in a video game music sort of way. You know, that synthy way that conjures to mind images of the SNES. From the Castlevania ish sound of Brahm's castle to the high notes of Lezard's Tower to the melancholy of the town musics, the OST doesn't dissapoint for me.

As for the voices? This is a failing - much of the cast is done by the same crew that did Pokemon. This wouldn't normally be a huge deal, but hearing a young boy in a very tragic scene sound like Ash ruins any dramatic potential. (Poor Yumei.) A small failing, as to be fair, many of the voices are just fine.

Gameplay -

A hybrid of RPG elements, timed hits and button mashing. The battles rely on a moderately twitchy system of reacting and chaining together spells and attacks as you unload on monsters. It works for what it is, with good combinations rewarded by red gems and blue crystals - one reduces spell recharge times and PWS charge times, and the blue crystals act as an experience multiplyer. While it's possible to zap away most fights without going for these, VP rewards the player that does, giving higher XP payouts and faster recovery times. I like this, as it encourages the best play in every battle. That's also the downside of the system - you can't really coast through battles if you want to get the most out of the game.

The dungeons themselves are an odd bunch. You control Valkyrie in them, and they are two side scrollers. They play just like them - Lenneth must jump, navigate and encounter/avoid dozens of enemies and hazards as she ventures deeper in. This is mostly fun, but is constrained by one complaint - for being a psuedo action adventure segment of the game, Lenneth has the stiffest and least responsive jump I've ever encountered. Too often did I flail uselessly in the air and fall several stories because she would not handle well. It's a minor qualm overall, but one that kept gnawing on me for the entire gameplay experience.

Story -

An epic tale of Gods and Goddess. The Valkyrie Lenneth is entailed with a mission: The Battle of Ragnarok draws close, and the Gods of Asgard require souls to battle with them against Surt and his Ice Giants. Sent to the human world, Lenneth can sense those brave souls as they approach their death and save them from Nifleheim, molding them into spirit warriors before sending them to Asgard and Odin. Each character has a short recruitment scene that firmly establishes a basic character - often a very sad one, as it fits with the game's motif. The world of humans is shown to be shallow, vicious and futile, with truth and hope only coming once the bonds of flesh are severed. Many of the stories of your PCs are honestly moving and saddening - you want to see more and see how they resolve. Thus comes Valkyrie Profile's biggest and most glaring flaw. Once your recruit a PC, all but two have no dialouge or screentime at all, ever. This frusterates me to no end - with the work they put into the introductions, you want to see more, see them interact and grow.

Past that? Lenneth is something of an unmotivating character - even if you follow the path to the best ending? Lezard steals the show entirely, leaving Lenneth as little more than a paper doll that I find difficult to care about. The story works for what it is - it needs another twenty hours of dialouge and interaction to really shine, however, which is a shame. There's so much untapped potential in Valkyrie Profile that they neglect.

---

This review is only partial and isn't fully finished. I'm fishing for feedback on any parts of it - what I talked about, what I didn't, my format, whatever. Before I get into too many more of these reviews, I want to do some catch up and polishing. With some feedback, I intend to resubmit this review shortly down the line. Hal, don't place this one onto the front page yet?

[Dracos]

Mmm, good stuff.

I've got no real negative critiques after two reads.

Dracos

[Anastasia]

Mmm, good stuff.

I've got no real negative critiques after two reads.

Dracos

Wow.

I'll be honest and say I left a few gaps and flaws in on purpose. >_> I didn't mention the period time system, which begs to be talked about. Sending characters up to Asgard was only touched on. Further, I left a few very awkward phrases in the review(Two side scroller?) and didn't add a conclusion to wrap it all together.

I dunno. Should I be aiming for about this level with a good review? This feels unfinished to me in the extreme.

[Dracos]

If you see better, include better and get folks used to better reviews such that they write them themselves =)  I should've caught those but didn't I see.

Dracos
Mocked!  X_X

[Anastasia]

If you see better, include better and get folks used to better reviews such that they write them themselves =)  I should've caught those but didn't I see.

Dracos
Mocked!  X_X

I shall.

That was half of the point of this exercise - to see if I could do a half assed job and get away with it as something acceptable. <_< That and to curry reviews on those left out parts. Oh well.

I'll finish this in a few weeks or so.

[Dracos]

If you've got ideas on how to polish our whole reviewing system and such, I'm up for it.  not immediately seeing it done, but my ears are open to listening and establishing it among the other developments.

Dracos