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Valkyrie Drive, a multimedia project announced by Marvelous in March 2015 at AnimeJapan, encompasses an anime series, Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid, a PlayStation Vita game, Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni, and a social game, Valkyrie Drive: Siren, all released between October and December 2015. The project revolves around young women infected with a virus that grants them the ability to transform into weapons or wield weaponized companions. Deemed a threat, these infected individuals are quarantined on artificial islands. Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni, originally a PlayStation Vita exclusive, has now made its way to PC via Steam, offering a new audience a chance to experience its fast-paced action. This review will delve into the strengths and weaknesses of the PC port.

Thrilling Combat and Extensive Customization

Arriving on the heels of NieR: Automata, Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni faced the daunting task of competing with PlatinumGames’ action masterpiece. Surprisingly, Bhikkhuni holds its own, demonstrating that quality action games aren’t solely PlatinumGames’ domain.

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni‘s combat system consistently delivers satisfying action.

The combat system, built upon the familiar light and heavy attack formula, incorporates impactful dodges and dashes, adding depth to combat encounters. Players can chain together attacks with fluid movements, creating a satisfying sense of speed and momentum. This flexibility allows players to develop unique and personalized fighting styles.

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni – Combat

Central to Bhikkhuni‘s gameplay is the “Drive” mechanic, reflecting the narrative’s focus on weapon transformation. By attacking enemies, players accumulate points that enable them to trigger “Drive,” transforming their AI partner into a weapon. These bio-weapons offer significant power boosts, becoming essential for swift victories.

Beyond combat, Bhikkhuni boasts a robust character customization system. Hundreds of clothing and accessory options allow players to personalize their characters, adding a layer of depth that extends beyond the core gameplay loop. This feature, while engaging, can easily become a time sink.

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni – CustomizationValkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni – Customization

While the PlayStation Vita version’s visuals were understandably limited, the PC port boasts noticeable improvements. Supporting Full HD resolution and a stable 60 FPS, the PC version features revamped environments and character models. This demonstrates a clear respect for the PC platform, going beyond a simple port.

A Weak Narrative and Repetitive Gameplay

Despite the engaging combat, Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni falters in other areas, primarily its narrative. The story, while not disastrous, quickly becomes tedious. The plot, centered on the girls’ treatment on Bhikkhuni Island, suffers from underdeveloped characters and a general lack of direction.

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni‘s narrative, while not a complete disaster, is ultimately tedious.

The storytelling itself exacerbates the issue. Lengthy, uninteresting dialogue sequences disrupt the game’s fast-paced action, creating a jarring disconnect. While visual novels are a common element in Japanese games, Bhikkhuni‘s implementation feels misplaced, hindering the overall experience.

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni – StoryValkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni – Story

The weak narrative further impacts the gameplay, as repetitive “one-way” level design forces players to confront the same enemies repeatedly. This stems from the girls’ treatment regimen, requiring them to constantly battle each other. This repetition quickly becomes tiresome, diminishing the overall enjoyment.

Conclusion

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni on PC offers a thrilling combat experience, elevated by its fluid mechanics and extensive customization options. However, the game is significantly hampered by its weak narrative and repetitive gameplay. While the PC port demonstrates technical improvements, the core issues prevent it from reaching its full potential. Ultimately, Bhikkhuni is a game best suited for those who prioritize action over story.