My latest is up at Nightmare Mode :D
So, apparently this game isn’t as well-loved as I thought it was? That’s kind of understandable, actually.
So, apparently this game isn’t as well-loved as I thought it was? That’s kind of understandable, actually.
Valkyrie Profile asks a lot of the player. There’s a strict time limit, a complex battle system, and tri-Ace have the gall to trick you into playing the game a very specific way when you actually have a lot of freedom. Valkyrie Profile is a little too clever for its own good. No wonder it didn’t stick with a lot of people.
You need to get in the right frame of mine to play it. Valkyrie Profile is melancholic. You’re not met with congratulations for mastering these systems. You spend the entire game recruiting dead people and watching their last moments on Earth.
And, similar to Majora’s Mask, the narrative is remarkably understated. You don’t recognise just how oppressive the game is until you’ve let it rest a little bit after your first play.
It’s not a happy game, there’s little room for humour. But there’s a sense of cohesiveness here rare in video games. A unified vision. It’s pretty short, too!
Well, you've certainly piqued my interest in this one, Alois. I've never played any version of Valkyrie Profile, but I've always liked the looks of it. Anyway, it sounds a bit complicated, but also worth the effort?
ReplyDeleteYay! It's one of my favourite PS1 games :)
ReplyDeleteIt's complicated but not impossible. The best tip I can offer for new players is to take all the Artefacts (equipment, armour, weaponry) found at the end of dungeons. The game screams at you not to do it, but as long as you send up at least one recruit per chapter you won't be penalised. The Artefacts are super helpful.
I think it's worth it. It does a lot of unique things that the JRPG genre as a whole didn't really embrace. I don't want the genre to copy everything Valkyrie Profile did wholesale, of course, but I would like to see that same innovative spirit.
But, yep, you'll need patience to grok everything :p .
Oh, and Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is probably the prettiest PS2 game. It looks absolutely wonderful.