In many respects, the Valkyrie series is synonymous with PlayStation. The acclaimed first two games – Valkyrie Profile and Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria – appeared on the PS1 and PS2 respectively. Now, after a 16 year absence from consoles, the series is back with Valkyrie Elysium.
The new action RPG features an evocative world inspired by Norse mythology, thrillingly fast-paced combat, stunning audio-visual presentation, and a dark, thought-provoking narrative. It’s a fantastic RPG that has its own very distinct vibe, and we can’t wait for you to play it.
While long-term Valkyrie fans are probably already exploring the mysteries of the game’s beautiful world via the recent demo, some of you may be wondering: what’s all the fuss about? Why’s this series so beloved?
With that in mind, and to celebrate the series’ return to its ancestral home on PlayStation, we thought it would be interesting to take you through the history of this revered franchise.
It all started way back in the year 1999…
1999: Valkyrie Profile – a classic is born
Just before the turn of the millennium, a new bold, new RPG was released in Japan: Valkyrie Profile.
By this point in the PlayStation’s life, the console had made a name for itself as a haven for RPGs, with multiple series, including Final Fantasy, having achieved new heights of popularity on this burgeoning platform.
Valkyrie Profile immediately stood out from the crowd. Developed by tri-Ace (the Star Ocean series), this was a game that dared to be different. It offered a distinctly original take on the genre, combining a stylish setting inspired by Norse mythology, innovative battle system and a narrative structure that rewarded players for their initiative and curiosity.
You took control of Lenneth – a recently awakened Valkyrie, who serves Odin and the pantheon of gods known as the ‘Aesir’. Lenneth is sent out to collect the souls of fallen warriors – known as Einherjar – to aid the gods in their war against the Vanir.
Over the course of her mission, she encounters many warriors – some worthy of joining the gods, others who fight by her side, and starts to piece together the mystery of the force that threatens the gods, and her life before rising as a Valkyrie.
Although it was just the first game, many of the elements that would come to define the Valkyrie series started right here including fast-paced, combo-based combat systems, the recruitable Einherjar, themes of life, death and identity and a richly melancholy tone.
Audiences responded positively to these elements, both in Japan and in North America where the game was released in 2000, and the game sold well. It’s often cited as one of the greats of the RPG genre – something that even more people would discover in 2006…
2006: Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth – the original returns
Fans had to wait a few years for more Valkyrie adventures, but in 2006 the original game made a return for the PSP as Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth.
The original PlayStation version had only been released in Japan and North America, but this perfectly portable port came out in Europe and Australasia too, making it the first time players in these regions could experience t