Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Avid RPG fans will already know what I am about to say,
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a unique and innovative RPG game with fresh new battle
play and appealing characters.
It is so good that Sony could have used it as the banner game for the new PS3.
The story predates Valkyrie Profile 2: Lenneth on the PSP.
One can only hope that they will find more of the fascinating females to weave a game around.
First, on what is so unique.
Most RPGs do the game in 3D mode while wandering about, and switch to 2D mode for the battles.
Valkyrie Silmeria reverses this pattern. The wandering and story part being in 2D – albeit gorgeous 2D,
and exploding the battle sequences into 3D.
It's one of those things that seems obvious when it finally occurs.
The 2D scenes are incredibly well done.
The camera is rotated as the characters walk, which gives the appearance of a 3D world.
The characters are beautifully done with detailed attention to the finery of their clothing,
and best of all – the facial expressions and body language imbue the characters with life and appeal.
The story -- impetuous Valkyrie who has dissed Oden is remanded to a body of a human,
which effectively puts her on ice until Oden decides to revive her.
Well, it doesn't quite work and the inhabited body and soul of Princess Alicia becomes a dual
personality - between the meek and timid Alicia and the assertive battle wise Silmeria,
bent upon confronting Oden's plans.
It is amazing to watch the skill with which the designers developed the two characters in
one body – the voice change, the commanding tone, even the stance clue us to the Valkyrie taking over.
Other characters are well developed and respond to the switches between Alicia/Silmeria.
Most particularly so, Rufus whose behavior reflects consternation in dealing with this entity.
The battle sequences start out simple but gradually, if you are going to stay alive,
will require more complex combos and deployment of your crew.
There is a helpful function demarking both your attack zone the enemy's.
Again, freezing entities into ice crystals, as was employed in the previous game is used,
but in this case becomes an even more important means of navigating the environments.
The game manual is well done, but if you want to get all the juice out of this one, I would advise getting,
Prima's Official Strategy Guide for the game.
The only criticism I have is the Valkyrie's name – Silmeria is too easily misspelled to Slimeria,
and I bet that I wasn't the only one. Brunhilde, now that's a name.
Reviewed by: Editor - 11/06
Ages: Teen