Square Enix was kind enough to send us code for a preview of Valkyrie Elysium, the latest entry in developer Tri-Ace’s Valkyrie Profile series and the first in over a decade. The preview of Valkyrie Elysium allowed us to go through the tutorial and the first chapter of the game.
A lot has changed in gaming since the last Valkyrie game and Elysium has given the series quite an overhaul. Instead of the 2D combat of the originals, the game is now a full-on hack ‘n slash action RPG that almost feels like a Devil May Cry game at times and while this first chapter was light on the story, the new fight a light for see, even adapting various features of its ancestors.
The Valkyrie descends
The preview of Valkyrie Elysium began with the taking over of Valkyrie, a warrior sent by Odin to cleanse the souls of the dead to prevent the events of Ragnarok, the end of the world.
As for the story, that’s more or less all that’s been revealed so far. We get sneak peeks of characters that appear to be important later on, but the first chapter of Elysium keeps its revelations for later.
This has both positive and negative sides. The lack of characters makes the grim world of the game all the more desolate. Throughout the chapter you see nothing but the Valkyrie, the enemies and the ruins of human civilization. It is very isolating and immerses you in how dead the setting is. One of the cool features of the game is that you can watch the flowers grow throughout the level, revealing the last thoughts of dead souls before their lives ended. You see people thinking about their friends, family, fears and regrets. It’s a nice layer of early world-building that helps shape the melancholic tone to come.
On the other hand, the minimalist story and complete lack of almost all other characters to talk to makes it a bit difficult to invest too much in the game. The game starts with Odin sending Valkyrie down and basically telling her “Go save the world”. Then it just took on gangs of enemies to the very end. I found the world intriguing, but I can’t say I was really attached to it. At least not yet.
Fortunately, the trailers for the game show that it probably saves the more story-heavy elements for later. The premise made me want to try the full game to see where it goes, so in that respect it worked.
The world of Midgard
In terms of graphics, I have to admit that I initially thought the world of Valkyrie Elysium is a little on the rough side. The levels have a very drab look consisting of fuzzy grasslands and gray buildings that would benefit from looking a little sharper. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
The dull color palette makes the apocalyptic world all the more desolate. The areas feel gloomy and empty, which really makes them feel like the last days of life. It may not have the highest graphical fidelity, but I still think it looks great for the world trying to make it. There were also no frame drops during gameplay, so the combat was buttery smooth.
The character models are generally good too, but their faces can also be a bit blurry at times. It’s not too noticeable during gameplay, but it can take you out of the mood during some cutscenes that the game is trying to create. The voice acting is good so far though. Maria has a deep, noble voice with a good mix of stoicism and softness that you would expect from an angelic figure.
the fight
Gameplay-wise, Valkyrie Elysium is a level-based action RPG with hack ‘n slash mechanics. After each chapter you will be teleported to the hub world where you can select which mission or sidequest you want to do next.
Once you enter the fight, you have a light attack, a heavy attack, a jump button and a dodge. It is quite easy to string together combos and the tutorial teaches you the basics well. If you’ve played games like Devil May Cry, it’s similar. You’ll even be judged on how good your combos were at the end of each level.
The game really uses this hack ‘n slash fighting system and that’s all the better. Making your way through the undead feels smooth and streamlined, especially with the use of the new soul chain grab bar that lets you grab enemies and pull closer. Of the two weapons available in the preview, the rapier was my favorite because it allowed Valkyrie to attack faster and swap combos more easily with a satisfying sense of weight with every strike.
As for upgrades, Maria has three skill trees that you can improve throughout the game by collecting materials that enemies drop: offensive, defensive, and support. These can give her better stats or add new moves and combos to her arsenal. Each weapon can be upgraded in the same way, although they can only be buffed from the save points scattered throughout the levels.
I really appreciate a game where you can just jump in and understand how it works. Between the combat system and the level system, Valkyrie Elysium has a great sense of accessibility. While I appreciate more complex combat systems in RPGs, sometimes it’s nice to play a little more straightforward.
That’s not to say the game is easy. It very much expects you to understand and struggle with the mechanics, especially where magic and enemy weaknesses are concerned. You have to think carefully and time dodge and jump before you take a fatal blow.
Magic and the Einherjar
However, the real meat of the battle is in the use of magic and The Einherjar. Using the shoulder buttons, you can cast various magical spells such as thunder, fire, and healing. Not only do these attack enemies, but after you use them, your weapon gains the affinity of their element and can be used against opponents. So if an enemy is weak to fire, you can hit them with a fire spell and your sword will deal fire damage. These can stun enemies, giving you some free combos. It’s an exciting system that encourages you to be creative with the magic and take it fully into your arena.
That leads us to Einherjar. These are souls of dead warriors that the Valkyrie can summon to battle. In the previous games they were your party members, but here they are AI controlled allies fighting alongside you.
The Einherjar are the real bread and butter of the game’s battles. They hit hard, stun enemies and you can sync your combos with them to string together even more attacks. I understand that the heart of the Valkyrie series was the connection between the Valkyrie and the Einherjar and that connection is fully visible in battle. Whether you’re playing against a swarm of the undead or a big boss, you’ll want them by your side.
They also have several elemental magics whose affinity, like your own spells, can be used to change your weapon. This magic is also needed to overcome certain platforming puzzles and find hidden areas around the world. You really feel like an all-powerful warrior summoning the cavalry when these guys arrive as they can really help turn the tide of battle.
The only real problem I have is that for the demo you can only really use them during the tutorial. You eventually meet them and add them to your party as the story progresses, but it would have been nice to be able to use them more. They really made the most of the battle from what I’ve seen of them.
Closing Thoughts
I admit I haven’t played the original Valkyrie Profile games, but I can safely say from the preview that I enjoy what I’ve seen from Valkyrie Elysium. The action RPG combat is fast paced and streamlined, easy to understand but challenging enough to make it hard to master. I also like the way the magic and Einherjar have been implemented in combat and look forward to unlocking more of them.
We haven’t seen much of the plot, but at least I’m interested in where it’s going. The small glimpses of characters indicate a much wider reach and if the trailers have anything to offer, more will be revealed as the game progresses. The world of Valkyrie Elysium is dark and devastated, but it has the potential to reach Valhalla.
Valkyrie Elysium will be available on September 29 for PS4, PS5 and PC.
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