Star Ocean Universe
Star Ocean & tri-Ace fansite
The Valkyrie Profile series is the second largest tri-Ace franchise, at the very least in terms of game releases. The Valkyrie Profile series borrows from Norse Mythology to create a unique series of RPG's.
Valkyrie Profile titles released to date:
The two worlds often become intertwined due to the Aesir, lead by lord Odin and his second in command Freya. The Aesir use the services of a Valkyrie, Lenneth, Silmeria or Hrist to search the lands of Midgard for recently deceased mighty warriors. At this point the Valkyrie turns them into an Einherjar, trains them and takes them to Valhalla in Asgard. The Einherjar will be used to fight again alongside the Aesir in their constant wars against another god race known as the Vanir.
The Valkyrie is widely known by those in Midgard, many warriors regard been selected by the Valkyrie after death as a great honour. While some bear great ill towards the Valkyrie for having such a power, and not allowing one's soul to rest in peace.
Some of the common recurrences during the series are as follows:
Semi-active battles
In every Valkyrie Profile title to date battles take place in a hybrid fashion where timing of attacks can lead to greater success. There will always be up to four characters active in each battle, and each will have just one button to activate their attack - which can range from 1 to 3 hits, depending on the type of weapon they have equipped. By timing different attacks well you'll be able to maximise your damage output and make battles much easier. If you can launch your opponent into the air and attack them while off the ground you are able to generate further bonuses, such as an increase to experience acquisition. Even when the opponent is defeated it may well be worth your while to continue attacking until your attacks run out to try extract a few more bonuses along the way.
Soul Crush/Purify Weird Soul
While attacking your enemy constantly you'll charge up your Hit gauge. By linking attacks together you'll have a greater chance of it reaching 100, as it slowly reduces it's value while you take time between attacks. Should it hit 100 and your characters weapon has the ability to perform a special attack you'll be able to active these exceedingly powerful attacks, to damage your opponents further. Nibelung Valesti would be one of the better known examples, which is used by all the Valkyries. Even in their cameo appearances as super-bosses in Star Ocean: Till the End of Time & Radiata Stories.
Seraphic Gate
Just like with the Star Ocean titles there is also a tough post game dungeon waiting to challenge you even further upon completion of the story. Here you often get the opportunity to recruit new characters, or ones that had joined you only for a short time during the regular course of the story. Gabriel Celeste & Ethereal Queen are also two the of the super-bosses you'll encounter here, alike their appearances in the Star Ocean post game dungeons.
Valkyrie Profile - 1999/2000, PSX
Valkyrie Profile is the first title release in the series, it featured an anime like opening sequence showing off some of the PSX power. But typically the game was 2D using sprites and images of the characters upper bodies during discussions to emphasise their expression at the time. Valkyrie Profile was relesaed in both Japan and North America.
The story begins where lord of the Aesir, Odin has re-awakened Valkyrie Lenneth and orders her to search for new Einherjar throughout Midgard. Odin's second in charge Freya acts as your emissary and will provide constant feedback regarding your performance and how your Einherjar are performing in the war with the Vanir. During the story Lenneth develops strong feelings towards the living, and will also encounter some characters that believe they have seen her in the past. Such as Lucian, who is staggered by how much Lenneth reminds him of his childhood friend Platina. The environments take place in a 2D environment and battles take place upon coming into contact with a visible enemy. The battles are typically left vs right of screen.
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth - 2006/2007, PSP
After 7 years tri-Ace re-ignited the Valkyrie Profile series, in doing so it was the first title tri-Ace released on the PSP. It would later lead to a series of re-release titles on the PSP, including Star Ocean: First Departure & Star Ocean: Second Evolution.
The story itself remains unchanged from the original, the battle system also remains relatively unchanged. While of course the detail of the game, voice acting, graphics etc were updated to suit the PSP. The original anime style intro was replaced with a completely new one, additional cutscenes were also added throughout the game. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth was also the first Valkyrie Profile title to be released to the European audience.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - 2006/2007, PS2
Quickly following the re-release of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, the second actual Valkyrie Profile arrived. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria was the last PS2 title created by tri-Ace and featured several changes from the original title - while maintaining the same fundamental elements.
In Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria you play as Alicia, who has Valkyrie Silmeria within her. In contrast to Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth where you are serving Lord Odin in search for new Einherjar, you are in fact on the run from Odin and Valkyrie Hrist who is trying to capture you. Not only that, but Alicia is also the outcast princess of Dipan so she cannot return there for safety. Despite the power of the PS2 and 3D backgrounds movement between towns remains almost 2D like, while battles have now expanded into a larger action environment where you can split up your party and more stealthily try to pin opponents one by one. The same timing attack system still applies when you come into contact with opponents, just like in Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth.
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume - 2008/2009, NDS
Covenant of the Plume becomes the first, and currently only tri-Ace title to be released on the dual screen Nintendo DS. Despite the DS limitations tri-Ace still managed to put in quite an appealing opening sequence showcasing some excellent detail. During the game itself action typically takes place with the bottom screen showing discussions or an overhead view in battle. While the top screen shows details such as character health and other overview battle details.
Covenant of the Plume differs significantly from the previous two titles. Here you play as Wylfred who bears a hatred to the Valkyrie: Lenneth for materialising his father Thyodor into an Einherjar when he passed away in battle, while Wyl was just 10 years old. Since then his family fell into poverty, leading to the death of his young sister to malnutrition. As as result he blames the Valkyrie and wants vengeance against her. Gameplay here unlike the previous two titles takes the form of a tactical RPG, while as always in the Valkyrie Profile titles the actual attacking system is the same hit concept used from Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth.
