The latest title in the VALKYRIE series is finally here! This action RPG incorporates the series’ signature Einherjar and combo systems, allowing players to enjoy speedy, three-dimensional combat. The game’s unique art style beautifully depicts a collapsing world as Ragnarok looms, with series veteran Motoi Sakuraba returning to enrich the title with an unforgettable soundtrack. Long ago, Ragnarok—the End Times—loomed upon the realms. The All-Father Odin, with the last of his strength, created an emissary of redemption, Valkyrie; her sole task being the salvation of a doomed world.
Effortlessly soar through the battlefield and perform high-speed actions with the new Soul Chain system. Utilize a wide array of abilities and skills at the Valkyrie’s disposal to unleash devastating combos. Summon Einherjar – strong warrior spirits selected by the Valkyrie – to aid you in battle!
Summoning Einherjar imbues the Valkyrie with elemental bonuses, giving players a tactical advantage in battle.
The “Arts Gauge” fills as players perform a continuous stream of attacks and maintain combos. Consuming the Arts Gauge enables the Valkyrie to perform powerful, special techniques known as Divine Arts. Upgrade your weapons, skills, and Einherjar/Divine Arts combos to customize your playstyle.
Valkyrie Elysium is a game with an incredible advantage, it has a very potent demo and that alone will entice you to start playing this game. Yes, the progress does not get lost but it transitions perfectly into the full game. The only weird thing here maybe being that my initial screen was in Japanese, but the audio screen was right after, so that was not much of an issue, just something unusual.
As this is an action RPG, think the likes of Scarlet Nexus, this is more or less a “to be expected” game of a similar kind. Mind you this is not a very bad thing. I personally loved Scarlet Nexus a lot and well, Valkyrie Elysium is close to the same feeling. Graphically are the biggest changes on the surface, but don’t worry, I plan to go much deeper into this.
First, graphically, I simply adore the cutscenes, they are so gorgeous and I just was so impressed with all the minute details of the clothing of the Valkyrie. She looks damn amazing and it should be said as such, damn amazing, not just her, but no spoilers from me, all other characters I have seen so far, they just look amazing. Maybe Odin is the least impressive?
Game technically, the game plays very well, but with a big caveat. First the bad point, I just truly hate how action gets interrupted when you pick up items. I hate it when playing the Atelier games and now is no exception either. Everything else plays just like any modern action RPG, many options and the Einherjar will be your best helpers as soon as you find them and basically enlist them.
I like how the game is easy to learn and how smoothly new mechanics are added to your battle system, from upgrading your weapons to skills to your Einherjar, … Maybe destroying inanimate objects could have been made easier? Tons and crates end up triggering a combo and you usually end up missing the final crate, more often than I’d like to admit, but this was kind of annoying? I am nitpicking, but that is what I feel right now.
What I would also like to say, Valkyrie Elysium is an entertaining game in its own right. Not the best backgrounds, not the best game mechanics, a rather basic game hub and still really entertaining. The fighting is really good, in between Action RPG and musou really. Not the numbers of a musou, but in a way it feels like one. That attraction power you have, by far the best in a game like this, the amount of combos I managed, godlike really.
In conclusion, Valkyrie Elysium is a fun game, with really good fighting and sadly some small annoyances to prevent a top score.
