Everything you need to know about Square Enix's Valkyrie Elysium
A maiden in shining armor.
Valkyrie Profile is receiving the Pokémon Snap and The World Ends With You treatment. After years of neglecting the series, Square Enix has finally followed up with a sequel to the original game released in 1999. Fans found out about the long-awaited installment during the March 2022 PlayStation State of Play, which focused on Japanese developers. Square also shared many details on the upcoming action RPG, including its premise and a general outline of its mechanics. This could be what the Valkyrie Profile series needs to properly reintroduce the franchise to newcomers. Here’s what we know so far about Valkyrie Elysium.
What is Valkyrie Elysium?
A deceptively peaceful field at the end of the world.
Valkyrie Elysium is the long-awaited sequel to Valkyrie Profile, the first game of the Valkyrie series. As a whole, the series takes inspiration from Norse mythology and tells stories about humanity and its interactions with the gods.
Fans weren’t expecting a sequel, so it’s surprising to see Square Enix bring back the cult classic. Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin, a mobile game for iOS and Android, was the latest addition to the series in 2019. Meanwhile, the latest console release was Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume for the Nintendo DS in 2008, which acted as a prequel to the original game.
Despite the lack of franchise fame, Valkyrie Profile impressed critics in the past with its inventive story and satisfying gameplay. In 2000, IGN’s David Smith named Valkyrie Profile the “Best Game No One Played” for its “compelling, multi-layered story” and the “astonishing” depth to its development, equipment, and combat systems.
When is the Valkyrie Elysium release date?
Valkyrie Elysium’s combat blends melee attacks with powerful magic.
Square Enix confirmed a 2022 launch window for Valkyrie Elysium with its announcement and more recently gave a solid release date. Valkyrie Elysium is currently slated to launch on September 29, 2022 for PS4 and PS5, and November 11, 2022 for PC.
Valkyrie Elysium will launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. It’s unclear if Square will eventually release it for other consoles.
Is there a Valkyrie Elysium trailer?
Square Enix first showed off the Valkyrie Elysium trailer during Sony’s PlayStation State of Play in March 2022. During the Japanese developer-focused stream, the company announced the long-awaited action RPG’s existence with a cryptic trailer showcasing melee and magic hybrid combat.
Valkyrie Elysium’s surprise reveal came with a brief look at its gameplay.
A second trailer, released in July 2022, revealed the game’s release date along with a better look at its gameplay and more cinematics.
Valkyrie Elysium’s July 2022 trailer gives us a much clearer look at its combat.
What is the Valkyrie Elysium story?
A Square Enix blog post reveals that, like past titles, this one deals with a world “on the brink of destruction.” All-Father, the highest among gods and ruler of all creation, calls upon Valkyrie to investigate why the world is ending and try to save it. Players take on the role of this Valkyrie, a servant of the gods “entrusted with the fate of this world.”
Revealed in the release date trailer, Valkyrie Elysium’s primary antagonist appears to be Fenrir, based on the great wolf from Norse mythology, a harbinger of Ragnarok.
What is Valkyrie Elysium gameplay like?
Valkyrie is a one-woman army, but she has some help.
Valkyrie Elysium is an action RPG, meaning that combat takes place in real-time. It’s not like strategy or turn-based RPGs where players can take their time with tactical decisions — you fight then and there with the tools you have like in Bayonetta and Scarlet Nexus.
As a divine being, Valkyrie possesses magical abilities like shooting fireballs, striking foes down with thunder, and pulling herself toward ledges with a gravitational ability. She also has sharp sword-fighting skills, which she shows off in the trailer by hacking at armored enemies and monsters. In addition to her own abilities, Valkyrie can also summon warriors called the Einherjar to fight at her side. These seem to work similarly to action RPG ally fighters and monster companions.
Are there Valkyrie Elysium pre-order bonuses available?
Valkyrie Elysium does have pre-order bonuses, along with a Digital Deluxe Edition that packs a nice surprise.
Players who pre-order either digital edition on PS4 or PS5 get an in-game item, Alscir: Sword of the God of Light. Physical edition pre-orders come with a PSN avatar instead.
The $74.99 PlayStation Digital Deluxe Edition also comes with 72-hour early access to Valkyrie Elysium, the in-game item Svartaljr: Sword of the Goddess of the Underworld, and best of all, the digital version of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth. Originally released on PSP, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is being ported to PS4 and PS5 on September 9, 2022 and will be available to purchase separately.
Valkyrie Elysium Digital Deluxe Edition pre-orders for PlayStation consoles include a port of the PSP game Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth.
Both the physical and digital PS4 editions of Valkyrie Elysium will include a free upgrade to the PS5 version.
On PC, standard and deluxe editions grant 72-hour early access and exclusive wallpapers. The Steam Digital Deluxe Edition also includes Svartaljr: Sword of the Goddess of the Underworld. Neither PC edition includes Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, and there’s no sign it’s coming to PC at all. The Steam Digital Deluxe Edition costs $64.99, $10 cheaper than its PlayStation counterpart.
This article was originally published on
