| Valkyrie Profile | |
|---|---|
 Logo ofValkyrie Profile | |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Developer(s) |
|
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Creator(s) | Masaki NorimotoYoshiharu Gotanda |
| Artist(s) |
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| Composer(s) | Motoi Sakuraba |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation,PlayStation Portable,PlayStation 2,Nintendo DS,PlayStation 3,Android,iOS,Windows,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5 |
| First release | Valkyrie Profile December 22, 1999 |
| Latest release | Valkyrie Elysium September 29, 2022 |
Valkyrie Profile (ヴァルキリープロファイル,Varukirī Purofairu) orValkyrie (ヴァルキリー,Varukirī) is a series ofrole-playing video games created by Masaki Norimoto and Yoshiharu Gotanda, primarily developed bytri-Ace and published bySquare Enix (formerlyEnix). The series is notable for featuring elements fromNorse mythology.
TheValkyrie Profile series has been distinguished for its inventive gameplay.[1] Aesthetically, the series is known for its muted colors and melancholic ambiance.[1] As the player, one usually takes the role of avalkyrie, one of a host of female figures who choose warriors who may die in battle and lead them into the afterlife, though sometimes one plays as a mortal called upon by the divine beings.[1]
| Title | Year | Platform | Developer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valkyrie Profile | PlayStation,PlayStation Portable,iOS,Android | tri-Ace Tose (PSP) | An enhanced port,Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, was released for the PlayStation Portable in Japan and North America in 2006 and in thePAL region in 2007. | |
| Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria | PlayStation 2 | tri-Ace | The second game of the series, taking place hundreds of years before the original game. | |
| Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume | Nintendo DS | tri-Ace | Known asValkyrie Profile: The Accused One (ヴァルキリープロファイル 咎を背負う者) in Japan, it is a prequel to the original game. | |
| Valkyrie Anatomia | iOS, Android | Dokidoki Grooveworks | Ended service in 2020 worldwide and in 2021 in Japan. | |
| Valkyrie Elysium |
| Windows,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5 | Soleil Inc. | Action role-playing game and the third home console installment for the series.[2] |
The music of all theValkyrie Profile games was composed byMotoi Sakuraba.[3]Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria has two original soundtracks, Alicia and Silmeria. Each soundtrack is divided into two discs totalling 70 songs from the game. Prior to the release, a special artifact box was released which included a copy of the game, ten musical tracks, a keychain, and a figurine.[4] The in-game score was written as MIDI tracks, allowing it to fit easily onto the DS cartridge.[5] Drawing from the darker themes of the narrative, Sakuraba created a subdued and emotional score that noticeably moved away from his score forSilmeria while still being separate from his work onValkyrie Profile. The score included original composition and arranged versions of tracks from Sakuraba's scores forValkyrie Profile.[6] The soundtrack conversion for the DS cartridge was done by sound design studio Noisycroak.[7] A two-disc soundtrack album was published by Square Enix's music label on November 5, 2008.[8] For the album release, Sakuraba used the MIDI originals as reference and redid all the tracks with full orchestration. While faithful to the original, the larger range of sounds resulted in some differences.[5] A twelve-track arrange album, handled by Sakuraba, was published alongside the main soundtrack album.[9] Producer Yoshinori Yamagishi mentioned his favorite way of drawing out emotion in players was through music and sound effects, helping to both immerse new players in the world of the game and play upon the nostalgia of series fans.[10] The game utilizes a mixture of music from the franchise and new compositions.[10]
Severalmanga have been written based on the series. They areValkyrie Profile,Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, andValkyrie Profile: The Dark Alchemist. A mangaanthology calledValkyrie Profile Enix Supercomic Gekijoh is based on thePlayStation Portable version ofValkyrie Profile: Lenneth.
| Game | Units sold | Famitsu | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valkyrie Profile | 709,000[11] | 35/40[12] | 81/100[13] |
| Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth | 248,000[14][15] | - | 80/100[16] |
| Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria | 400,000 (JP)[17] | 34/40[18] | 84/100[19] |
| Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume | 230,000[20] | 32/40[21] | 74/100[22] |
| Valkyrie Elysium | 40,362 (JP)[23] | 33/40[24] | 65/100[25] |
Overall, theValkyrie Profile series received positive critical reception both in Japan and the West. The series has shipped 2.2 million copies by 2016.[26]
SomeValkyrie Profile games have been included in various lists of top games. In a 2006 reader's poll conducted byFamitsu, the firstValkyrie Profile was voted the 27th best video game of all time.[27]Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth receivedIGN's award for Best PSP RPG of 2006.[28]Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria received IGN's award for "Best Game No One Played".[29]