Valkyrie Profile is the first major RPG to be published domestically by Enix ever since they re-opened their North American offices.  Responsible for the biggest selling RPG in Japanese history, Dragon Quest, Enix has entered America with high hopes to succeed in the domestic RPG market.  Fortunately, Valkyrie Profile is a splendid reintroduction to the genre. 

The game is heavily based in Norse mythology.  Your character, Valkyrie, is a Norse Death Goddess responsible for collecting souls for Odin to use in the gods’ wars in Valhalla.  The purpose of the game is to intervene in various tragic episodes where a character is killed, pick-up that character, train them in battle during dungeon sequences, and, when ready, send them on to Valhalla.  The game combines classic RPG action with strategy.   Each chapter begins with a request for certain attributes needed in battle.  When developing characters, traits can be leveled up based on experience.   Once hero level is sufficiently high, the character can be sent to Valhalla and the pattern repeats itself with a new tragic episode and a new soul to train. 

Graphically, the game consists of rich, detailed backgrounds ranging from cities, caverns, castles, and ruins.  Nice wind and water effects serve to bring the scenery alive.  Characters are completely sprite based and the world is purely 2D.  However, the look is still impressive even without the 3D aspect.

The game’s music is not bad although repetitive.  The voice acting is decent, which is a feat in itself being that it was redone in America.  The sound effects range from water falling in the background to various spell and fighting effects during battle.  The game succeeds in conveying a distinctive Norse flavor through its ambient sounds.  

Gameplay is where Valkyrie Profile is at its best.  The dungeon battles involve platform jumping and manipulating objects.  Valkyrie can shoot ice crystals, pick objects up and throw them, climb ladders, and jump so that the dungeon exploration resembles a platformer.  Enemies are seen and can be avoided.  However, when hit, the game shifts to battle mode that is turn-based.  Up to four characters can be in a party and each is assigned to a button on the PlayStation's controller.  Pressing the corresponding button will allow the character to attack.  Various combinations of button presses can send the whole group to attack, pull off deadly combos and do special moves.  These are all learned with experience.  Magic can also be cast in the same way, without using magic points.  Enemies can block attacks or stun your characters for a variety of battle outcomes.  Careful strategy must be used to achieve victory.   This seemingly easy system is actually quite involved and must be combined with clever item usage for success. 

Items are not bought but created from various other items found in the dungeons.  Materialize Points can be used to make more of an item or to transform one item into another.  Major Experience is gained after boss battles and is gathered in an Experience Egg that can be distributed among your characters in any combination the player desires.  Added to these options is a vast arsenal of all types of weapons, armors, and spells and one will quickly see that this battle system is one of the deepest ever created for a console game.   Once a dungeon is cleared, its back into the air for Valkyrie, where she uses her powers to uncover the next even or new dungeon that awaits conquest.  

An intense story, deep gameplay, beautiful 2D graphics and a nice soundtrack make this game a solid RPG experience.  Enix has done a fine job in localizing their first North American RPG before they bring the big Dragon Quest game over.   Help support Enix’s return and buy Valkyrie Profile.  You’ll be glad you did!