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Valkyrie Elysium, the latest installment in Square Enix’s Valkyrie Profile series, arrived in 2022 amidst a turbulent year for the publisher. Following criticism surrounding Chocobo GP’s monetization and delays plaguing Forspoken, Square Enix hoped this new title would offer a return to form. Developed by Soleil, a studio known for action titles like Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker and Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, Valkyrie Elysium marks a significant departure from the traditional turn-based RPG gameplay of its predecessors. This review explores whether Square Enix has successfully revived this nostalgic franchise for a modern audience.

Engaging Combat and a Deep Skill System

Valkyrie Elysium distinguishes itself as more of a spin-off than a direct sequel to Valkyrie Profile. The story is entirely new, and the classic turn-based combat has been replaced with a fast-paced action system reminiscent of character action games. Instead of leveling up and managing stats, Valkyrie’s progression is tied to collecting gems dropped by enemies, opening chests, and using them to unlock new skills in a branching skill tree or upgrade weapons.

Valkyrie Elysium Combat

Weapon upgrades not only enhance damage output but also unlock additional combo attacks. Reaching certain upgrade milestones allows for the embedding of runes, further boosting Valkyrie’s power. While the game offers a limited selection of six weapons (excluding pre-order bonuses), each possesses unique attack speeds and move sets, providing diverse combat experiences.

Combat revolves around chaining Normal and Transition attacks to execute combos of varying lengths, similar to Musou games like Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. These combos can culminate in visually impressive Finisher moves. Adding another layer of depth, Valkyrie can also wield powerful Divine Arts, ranging from close-range strikes to wide-area spells. Each Art is assigned to a shortcut and powered by specific elements like fire, ice, and lightning.

Valkyrie Elysium Weapon Upgrade

Enemies possess an elemental gauge alongside their health bar. Exploiting their elemental weaknesses depletes this gauge, eventually leaving them in a “Crushed” state, vulnerable to increased damage.

A standout feature is the Einherjar summoning system. These powerful warriors, drawn from Norse mythology, each possess a fixed element and up to two unique movesets, triggered randomly during their summoned duration. Unlocking additional movesets involves completing sub-quests, adding a rewarding layer of progression. This system evokes memories of summoning Aeons in Final Fantasy X or the Chaos Legion in Capcom’s classic title. Boss battles are engaging and dynamic, adding further excitement to the combat experience.

Valkyrie Elysium Divine Arts

A Desolate World and Lackluster Narrative

Despite its promising combat, Valkyrie Elysium suffers from a barren and uninspired world design. The game’s narrative establishes a ravaged Midgard, scarred by the epic battle between Odin and Fenrir. However, this desolation translates to repetitive environments filled with rubble and devoid of life. Interactions are limited to lifeless flowers, scattered blue flames representing fallen warriors, and text boxes offering glimpses into the past.

Valkyrie Elysium Einherjar

The absence of NPCs further contributes to the world’s emptiness. Even the basic RPG trope of quest-giving villagers is absent. While Valhalla boasts impressive visuals, the remaining environments feature mediocre graphics, reminiscent of the PS3 era. This stark contrast undermines the game’s title, “Elysium,” which translates to “paradise” in Greek mythology.

Valkyrie Elysium Environment

The narrative is equally disappointing, with a predictable plot and underdeveloped characters. The game’s main antagonist and overarching storyline become apparent early on, diminishing the sense of mystery and intrigue. While the combat offers depth, it lacks the fluidity and freedom of similar action titles like Nier Automata. The absence of animation canceling restricts player agency, leaving Valkyrie vulnerable during attack animations.

Valkyrie Elysium World

Frustrating Design Choices and Technical Shortcomings

Sub-quests are simplistic, often involving basic fetch quests or traversing from point A to point B. The sub-quest system itself is convoluted, requiring players to return to Valhalla after each chapter to activate individual quests before returning to previous locations. This tedious process hinders exploration and interrupts the flow of gameplay.

Valkyrie Elysium Graphics

The camera system also presents issues, particularly during chaotic battles. Divine Arts with large visual effects, combined with numerous enemies and Einherjar attacks, frequently obscure the action, making it difficult to follow the combat. Technical issues, such as frame rate drops even on PS5, and poorly synchronized lip movements during English dialogue further detract from the overall experience.

Valkyrie Elysium Subquests

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

Valkyrie Elysium introduces a compelling combat system but ultimately falls short due to its barren world, weak narrative, and frustrating design choices. While the action-oriented gameplay offers a fresh take on the Valkyrie formula, the game’s shortcomings prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of the series may find enjoyment in the combat, but the overall experience is hampered by a lack of polish and a sense of emptiness that pervades the world and story.