Series Valkyrie is not what we can call a prolific work. The last time you heard of her was maybe in 2009 when came out with us Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume on DS. And even then it wasn’t a big event on the industry’s agenda. On the other hand, the saga is a dean in the world of J-RPG since 1999. Valkyrie Elysium could have continued this legacy, but the envoy of the Norse gods has obviously come to turn a page in his own history. It’s a new era for the celestial warrior, marked by a change of developers and a new direction of the gameplay. A revival which, if not incredibly original, puts this new start on the right track.
The demonstration of Square Enix and the studio Soleil shows a great mastery of the Action-RPG.
the venerable Tri Ace gave way to Square and at the unknown studio Sun for the development of this new version. New influence therefore for a title which looks furiously like a reboot from the Serie. We would have a hard time saying this based on the incomplete story that we have been able to discover, but in terms of mechanics, Valkyrie Elysium is betting on a more direct opus. A concentrate ofAction RPG that the new innkeepers seem to master to perfection. Our valkyrie is there to purify souls with great sword strokes, all under the orders of a Odin badass, but nevertheless a procrastinator. Fortunately, the heroine has dynamism for two. real-time battles Valkyrie Elysium immediately display a certain nervousness that we find in the other pillars of the genre. Moreover it is not an insult to say that the title resembles practically all the recent productions in which Square-Enix and Sun seem to pick up some good ideas.
What sets it apart so far in our eyes is undeniably the panache of its promise. The fights against the fallen souls are expeditious, furious and quite classy. Valkyrie Elysium is on the verge of pouring into the hack’n slash. The feeling of omnipotence that we expected from a divine being is there. And again, we are not just talking about the elegant sequences with which the valkyrie regales us. No, it’s also about overpowered powers and a handy grappling hook that make the action as impressive as it is enjoyable. And as much as the levels are a straight line ride when we’re battling base creatures, as much Valkyrie Elysium takes a whole different turn during boss fights. Without them, the title could have been considered an outlet without challenge. The staging of these fights and the technicality they require keep him away from this pitfall. The difficulty that goes with these clashes brings on the contrary the challenge that it lacked so much until then and, for that, Valkyrie Elysium is on track to be a success.
Of course, this is only one of these two facets. The title also knows how to be full of finesse. But here again, subtlety does not necessarily rhyme with originality. Appearance RPG is for example quite banal compared to what we can find elsewhere. The equipment is a key element that must be unlocked over the quests (main and secondary), while the valkyrie develops new skills according to the points that we put in the different branches of its talents. In short, as we told you, really nothing transcendent comes out of this part of Valkyrie Elysium except for a perfectly run-in system. Even scratching the surface a little, the game remains agreed with basic resistance mechanisms as well as sensitivities according to the weapons.
Valkyrie Elysium does not claim the title of GOTY, but it remains a pleasant surprise.
The most sought after ultimately remains this feature allowing you to summon allies, or rather Einherjars. The latter are particularly interesting in combat since they can not only enchant your weapon with the magic they master, but also assist you in combat. These famous Einherjars also help you with the resolution of certain enigmas, but as we have specified to you, Valkyrie Elysium is a fairly straight-forward game: these little puzzles usually don’t have to look very far. You must have understood that we are here above all for the fight. And we must say that these mechanics that we consider conventional are no less effective for sublimating the proposal of Valkyrie Elysium. ‘Cause what could be better for a Action RPG than intense fights where optimizing combos and equipment is a pleasure more than a necessity?
Our first impressions: Good.
Valkyrie Elysium does not claim the title of GOTY, but it remains a pleasant surprise. Not in the sense that this one thrilled us by going off the beaten path, but rather because its comeback is much more impactful than we could have hoped for. The demonstration of Sforty Enix and studio Sun shows great mastery ofAction RPG which commands respect. Although the game is a little too clinical for our taste, its formula should delight fans of the genre and only disappoint those who were still hoping to see a J-RPG old-fashioned, like at the beginning of the license.
You can pre-order the PS5 version of Valkyrie Elysium on Amazon for €59.99.