For over a decade, the beloved Valkyrie Profile series has lied dormant, much like many other old school, classic turned-based RPG. SO when Square Enix announced that they would be returning to the franchise, much excitement filled the air. However, like so many other classic RPGs out there, Valkyrie Elysium, the new title, would see itself move away from its roots, and instead embrace some modernization in the form of an action-RPG. A change that has done wonders for the gameplay of  Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and seemingly so for Valkyrie Elysium, though everything else in it? Not so much. 

A Familiar, Yet Forgettable Tale

If you’ve played any of the Valkyrie games (more specifically Profile) then no doubt, Elysium’s story will be a bit familiar. In fact, there could be a strong case that it’s a retelling to a degree (it’s a sequel, after all), and though that may sound a bit exciting given its “modern” take, it is anything but that. 

Elysium’s tale starts right at the climactic battle between Norse god Odin, and Fenrir, the giant demonic wolf. An epic battle, and as many who are familiar with Norse Mythology, it is the last fight for Odin as he is eventually killed by the beast. However, in this version, Odin does not die, but instead is weakened, and retreats back to his realm to regain his strength. 

It is here where Odin creates his legion of Valkyries; warriors whose sole purpose is to battle, and guide worthy souls to Odin himself, in order for him to once again rise, and conquer all those who dared to threaten.

It sounds like a pretty cool idea, and while I did enjoy the portrayal of these characters, the story ultimately falls flat.

Surprising to say, because the voice acting isn’t at all bad, if not very well done. It’s just that it doesn’t get utilized well enough, as often I found the plot to be dull and boring. Nora, the name of the Valkyrie you play as, just wasn’t at all that interesting. She lacked the depth for me to actually care for, and sadly that same sentiment spewed into every other character. I found the Einherjar (spirits that serve the Valkyries’) to be more interesting, but only in the slightest as most of the story and background lore gets dropped towards the latter half of the game, which by then was a bit too late. 

It’s a shame because there’s a great foundation here, but I suppose that’s one that was already built from previous entries, which had greater, and more compelling stories to tell. Serviceable at best, though thankfully the combat makes up for some of those shortcomings. 

A Battle Worthy of Valhalla

When I first saw Valkyrie Elysium, I was a bit worried because the franchise is known so much for being a turn-based RPG. Square Enix’s approach with modernizing it, is in similar vein to that of their Final Fantasy franchise, as that too, has moved away from being turn-based, in favor of combat being more action packed. Whether you like that change or not is up to you, but personally, I love the way Elysium plays. 

At its heart, it is an action-RPG, much like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and even comparable to say Devil May Cry and the NieR series. 

There are many weapons that you can unlock, each having their own upgrades that unlock more combos and special attacks. Some are easy, some are hard, but regardless, it all feels wonderfully fun, and distinct from one another. There is some thought given to the combat, and it really shows as you unleash upon a foe.

There is even a mechanic known as “Soul Chain” that shoots a chain at an enemy for you to fling to. That makes the flow of combat even faster, as you can quickly lock to different enemies. Magic also exists, and comboing all these together is superbly seamless, and easy to do. 

You can also summon up to two Einherjar, who each have their own special abilities. They’ll pull off some devastating attacks, as well as fight alongside you, assisting you through some of the tough fights. What’s neat about them is that not only are they specific element types, but they also grant your weapons the very same type of element they are. That comes into play when exploiting an enemy weakness, as each enemy is vulnerable to a certain element. 

It’s a lot of fun once you get going, however, there are some faults that hamper it. 

Take locations. Once you’ve gone through a few missions, you’ll start getting a sense of familiarity as they all seemingly start to blend in with one another. Nothing really stands out as being memorable. Sure there are some pretty sections you’ll go through, but for the most part it’ll all look the same.

The enemy variety isn’t any better either. You’ll be facing off against many of the same ones you fought near the beginning of the game, with a few different types thrown in here and there. Boss fights at least keeps it interesting, but getting to them feels repetitive, even with new weapons and combos thrown in the mix. 

The combat can only hold for so long before you realize how you’re doing the same thing over and over. Atthe very least, stages aren’t long so you won’t spend a whole lot of time unless you want to go after some of those annoying collectibles and side missions. 

I also despised a long age mechanic where a cutscene would play anytime a gate would open. The game is pretty linear for the most part, so I don’t necessarily think players need to be guided on where to go, especially right after a fight where the only path is forward. It’s a nit-pick, but an annoying one nonetheless.   

Verdict 

The combat of Valkyrie Elysium certainly makes it worthwhile to play at one point, but if you’re looking for a game that feels entirely there, well this probably isn’t it. There’s fun to be had with the gameplay, but the story, the lack of location and enemy variety, and dated mechanics really pull the whole experience down. What should have been a refreshing take on an old IP, ultimately feels like a half measure.

Score: 6/10

Pros

• Combat is fantastic, I love how each weapon handles and how different they are from one another. 
• Boss fights are pretty epic, fun, and engaging.
• The English dubbing cast gave a pretty good performance overall.  

Cons

• Lack of location and enemy variety makes it feel repetitive. 
• Stages are really short, though I suppose that may be a good thing given the lack of variety. 
• Story is forgettable, with characters lacking any real depth. 
• Some dated mechanics, such as the use of cutscenes for opening gates. 
• Camera can be a bit janky at times.  

Valkyrie Elysium review code provided by the publisher. Played on PS5. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.