Star Ocean Universe

Valkyrie Profile

Genre: RPG

Developer/Publisher: tri-Ace/Enix

Platform: PSone

Players: 1

Japan Release Date: 22 December 1999

US (NTSC) Release Date: 29 August 2000

EU (PAL) Release Date: N/A

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

Genre: RPG

Developer/Publisher: tri-Ace/Square-Enix

Platform: PSP

Players: 1

Japan Release Date: 2 March 2006

US (NTSC) Release Date: 18 July 2006

EU (PAL) Release Date: 27 April 2007

Valkyrie Profile borrows from Norse Mythology. Your role is to play out the story of a Valkyrie by the name of Lenneth. As a Valkyrie you have a strange power that allows you to listen out for souls of mortals on the brink of tragic deaths. From here Valkyrie employs their souls to fight at her side, which she trains to potentially be really to fight at her master's side, Lord Odin in his epic wars at Valhalla. As time progresses you must find more recently deceased mortals, which are know as Einherjar, and sent a number of them to lord Odin before the final battle.

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is a remake of the original Valkyrie Profile; here it featured a number of new cut scenes, voiceovers and other small additions. This would arguably be one of the most popular RPG remakes in history, this remake also managed to earn the game the title of 2006 RPG of the Year from IGN. For a remake that is an outstanding result.

The game features an active 2D movement environment in dungeons and towns. This allows for a platform style movement, while having the option to witness you enemies before you, meaning you can avoid them, and there are no frustrating random battles to deal with. The game also uses a unique Chapter Time & Period scenario to measure time, this essentially means the game is not endless; you cannot simply revisit dungeons countless times as you please. Try to be mindful of this and do as much as you can with each dungeon visit to avoid 'wasting periods'.

The battles are somewhat a combination of both turn based and action, where the timing of your movements and attacks are essential to your progress and success. Obtaining equipment however is slightly different to your average RPG, here you do so by gaining valuable Materialise Points depending on your success during your game, rather then simply collecting money from each individual monster you encounter.

Just a few of the main characters you will encounter during the game are as follows.

Lenneth

She is clearly the lead character in Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, she must always be in your battle party and will be the one you control as you move between towns, dungeons etc. Lenneth is also the base of the post game boss in Till the End of Time with the same name, and same special move Nibelung Valesti.

Einherjar

Einherjar are the names of the recently deceased with now serve Valkyrie. There are many of these which you encounter during the games which become playable characters for you to use in battle, but more importantly ones you have to transfer to Odin for his wars in Valhalla. You will find that Odin will not accept all Einherjar, despite their perceived strength and hero rating. One of the most noticeable of them in Arngrim, although this is not that bad as it means he will be one you can have at your own disposal throughout the games. There are 20+ Einherjar in each title, it will certainly be a task to find them all and balance the best for your own use and those to send to Valhalla!

Check out the Japanese trailer released for the remake below!

For further information on the Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth check out the following:

- Valkyrie Profile official site (North America)

- Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth official sites: Japan | North America | Europe

- Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth IGN 2006 Game of the Year announcement

- Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth Review

- Valkyrie Profile Series Forum