"The new Valkyrie Profile, Not I was disappointed."

To start it off, I was say this review will have no spoilers of any parts of this game. If you're wanting information about this game, or wondering if you should pick it up off the shelves, just read this review and it should answer all you're questions.

Introduction:

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a prequel to Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, One of the greatest RPG's made for the first playstation. To all who had a copy of VP:Lenneth was awaiting a sequel for 6 years. They come out with VP2: Silmeria, not a sequel but a prequel. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria has the same feel as the first one, just more effort put in, and a lot stronger Enemies. For when in Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth you got a new skill, you were almost unbeatable by you're average enemies, Valkyrie Profile 2 challenges you until you put the controller down.

Graphics; 8.5/10

The graphics in the scenes this game offers are absolutely amazing, it almost feels like it's really happening when you watch the scenes this game has to offer. Although the dungeons and cities are all made in 2D, which will make some people walk away from a video game, think twice before putting this game down. Once you get the hang of using all you are capable of, this game would not be the same if they made it 3D in the dungeons and cities. The character designs are very well detailed, as well as very good in voice acting. The loading times it takes going between maps, or to a town/dungeon are only seconds, It don't even bother showing you a loading screen because it's so quick.

Characters; 10/10

Valkyrie Profile takes the characters to the max. Meeting several main characters on you're journey, you must also be on the look for Einherjar's. Einherjar's are dead people sent from Midgard(Where humans live), to Asgard(Where the gods live) and is trained by Odin(The god) to be a great warrior. As you travel threw the story you will find a tun of Relics which with you're main characters ability, she will let the Einherjar chosen from the relic to join you're party. Each Relic randomly chooses a Einherjar and gives it to you're party, there are either 2 or 3 Einherjar that will be randomly chose from at each Relic. Although the Einherjar are weaker then you're main characters you get in the game, there are not bad to have around.

Battle system; 10/10

One of the most frustrating things in this game, is also one of the best. What is this? The battle system. The learning curve for the battle system will take a good hour, if not hours. The battle system is real time, mixed with turn-based. The enemies are shown on you're map, which when you run into one it will open a new map and you will than battle. You have the ability to avoid certain battles, but the bosses inside this game are extremely strong and if not at a high enough level you will be forced to spend time leveling you're characters. But anyway, back to the battle system you are controlled by a AP bar, which will charge by moving around, defeating a monster, or press/holding down the left analog stick (L3). Attacks, and use of Items/Spells will Remove AP points from you're bar, every fight you will start out with 100 points. This really makes you think before you make a move, because if you run out you will be forced to move around trying to avoid you're enemies attack range to charge, which in some cases is extremely challenging. The monsters you are fighting will not make a move, as long as you don't. If you move, they will move. Each enemy has a attack zone, which is displayed in red underneath the monster. When you move into this zone, the enemy will attack. You can avoid most enemy zones if you are patient and take you're time before you act. Dashing (R1) will move you a short/medium/long distance, in the direction you want. In almost every case you will want to be either behind an enemy, or on it's side to avoid there range of attack. Battles have several monsters within them, A leader, and then the normal monsters. The battle will end when the leader is killed, then all monsters remaining will flee. Killing monsters other then the leader will not give you additional exp, but it is helpful to avoid attacks from them if you're facing a strong leader.

Soul crushes are available when you're Combo gauge reaches 100 and if the weapon you have equipped allows them. These are powered attacks, much stronger then the normal attack that can be used additionally without the cost of AP. The only challenging thing is getting the combo gauge to 100, with time and practice and learning not to button mash, you will soon be able to get these rather a lot.

Break mode is when you're whole party can attack, if in the range of the enemy, and attack with no AP cost, and no attack limits. This is the only time you can button mash, and not be hurt by doing it. Getting break mode is completely random, and does not happen that often.

Breaking a part off an enemy(Wings, legs, heads, ect.) will sometimes give you an accessory. Accessories are good for 2 things; Using them to boost something on you're character up, or linking accessories to make skills. Each skill is available by linking a certain amount of runes, and linking the correct ones.

Audio; 9/10

The voice acting is perfect in this game, every voice suits the character it is chosen for. When winning a fight, the person who did the final blow will say a phrase when is good at first, but when he repeats himself 500 times it does tend to get a little annoying, but this can't be helped really. The music in this game never gets annoying, but it really isn't superb.

The learning curve; 10/10

Most games will not make the learning curve to hard, but in this game, they took it to the max. This will test you're patients for hours on in to the game trying to figure certain things out, as well as the battle system. If you replay the game after you mastered the battle system, you'll see how easy it was on certain monsters. The game throws things in as you go, which can be very confusing. But what is a good game, without the hardest challenge of you're life?

The Conclusion; 9/10

This game tested my patience, had me very frustrated just trying to figure out the battle system. It is similar to the first one, but gets very complex here. Searching for 100% treasure, and the 100% map completion gets rather hard in late dungeons. The story in the game was absolutely amazing in my opinion, I was never bored. With the great variety of characters, and the amazing graphics and dungeon exploring, this game is one of the best RPG's made for the playstation 2.

This is brought to you by Xetaru, thanks for reading.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/06