Valkyrie Profile

Once in a while, my belief in the gaming industry is renewed. That whole air of "Let's not try anything different, what we have now sells" breeds complacency and regurgitated storylines like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes I feel that all hope is lost for the gaming genre to ever go beyond it's archetype.

Then Valkyrie Profile comes out. My faih is renewed! I can sally forth into battle with an insanely fun and simple battle menu and enjoy a storyline that doesn't wax too moralistic...although the melodrama at times can overwhelm.
Not only that, but the main character is a female! That happens rarely! And not only that- she's a main female lead that really makes you believe she is as tough as she looks. No fading flower this one, butabattle hardened warrior maiden, out to find souls for Ragnarok-incorrectly translated as "twilight of the Gods".

So now that the introduction is out of the way, let me state that I love this game. Greatly. For the most part the voice acting is acceptable, and at times brilliant. While there are terrible exceptions to this rule, the decent VA was a welcome change to the normal hack jobs done.
Next are the characters. Never have I found a game before this that made me stare in open mouthed shock before. (Spoiler)The opening scene of Arngrim taking hiw own life proved to me that this was not your normal run of the mill teenage story.(/end spoiler)

Learning about each character through how they go to their deaths is a concept that is very personal and for the most part well done. You get to see these characters through their loved ones, through the paths not taken, and through possible enemies. You see their regrets and their courage or cowardice. You get to seem "humans". While that developement normally ends once they are recruited, it is a powerful medium, and one I think Tri-Ace handles decently.

Thirdly, and best of all, LEZARD! Never has a sleezebag bad guy been so good! Absolute sliminess drips from his words and actions. He is a brilliant magician, the best of the "mad scientist" genre that would seek to turn the goddess that he lusts after, into a human he could possess.
Then there is his rival, Mystina, a brilliant mage in her own right, with a superiority complex that leads her into much trouble. There is the Mysterious Brahms, lord of the Undead, who seems to know Valkyrie quite well.. . and who would Hrist be? What is her connection to the group?

Depending on your actions, you can get one of three endings. And if you play in Vhard, an additional dungeon opens up with the ability to recruit three special characters!

Play PLAY PLAY this game!

Pros	Cons
Innovativeand fun battle system Many MANY characters Extra dungeon 3 endings	Voice acting fluctuates from Brilliant to bad Uneven character developement Haveto play VHard to access Extra dungeon Half formed plots that are dropped mid game