Today, August 29, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of Valkyrie Profile. This article reflects on why this RPG was initially overlooked and what continues to make it an exceptional title even after a quarter-century.
Its initial North American release saw Valkyrie Profile largely overlooked, which is quite understandable. Enix, the Japanese publisher, had only recently re-established its US presence, likely spurred by the booming JRPG market post-Final Fantasy 7 and Sony`s successful global distribution of Star Ocean: The Second Story. However, gaining traction for a new PlayStation 1 RPG, even one from Tri-Ace (developers of Star Ocean 2), was challenging. The Dreamcast was already available, the PlayStation 2`s US launch was just around the corner, and Squaresoft had released Chrono Cross, a highly anticipated sequel to Chrono Trigger, only weeks prior.
During my freshman year of college, just before my birthday weekend, I sought a new RPG to fill time between classes. My options were Valkyrie Profile or Chrono Cross. Having thoroughly enjoyed Star Ocean 2 the previous summer, my intuition guided me towards Valkyrie Profile.
I have never once regretted that decision. Valkyrie Profile was—and still is—among the greatest RPGs of its era, a game that, despite widespread acclaim from its devoted fanbase, remains criminally underplayed. Even after 25 years, no other game has managed to capture its unique magic.
As suggested by its title, Valkyrie Profile`s narrative is deeply rooted in Norse mythology, albeit with considerable creative liberty. Lenneth, the eponymous Valkyrie, is summoned to serve Odin, the supreme deity of Asgard. Odin foresees the impending Ragnarok, and with the Aesir gods` conflict against the Vanir intensifying, they require human souls—einherjar—to bolster their forces. Lenneth`s mission is to seek out the souls of the recently deceased on the earthly plane of Midgard, train them, and transport them to Asgard before the gods` ultimate confrontation. Beyond this, she must also resolve numerous issues plaguing Midgard, such as the undead spilling from Niflheim, a rebellious former einherjar, and humans overstepping their bounds.
From the very beginning, it`s evident that Midgard stands in stark contrast to the divine splendor of the gods` realm, portraying a place of profound suffering. Villages teeter on the edge of collapse, and desperation drives many to partake in perilous activities for survival. Illicit trades like smuggling, thievery, and even human trafficking flourish in this harsh, bleak world, where many seem to live with one foot already in the grave. One can`t help but ponder if the cataclysm of Ragnarok might offer a small mercy, bringing an end to the pervasive suffering.
Gifted with spiritual concentration, Lenneth can perceive the struggles and anguish of the departed. As she takes their souls under her wing, she witnesses their final moments and tragic destinies. Her initial recruits include a proud princess and a gruff mercenary, both entangled in a treacherous noble`s convoluted plot that leads to their demise. Many more tragedies unfold: a warrior makes a Faustian pact to cure his sister`s blindness, only to be consumed by his inner demons; a magic academy headmistress is brutally murdered by her own husband, who has been transformed into a monster by a vengeful student. These are just a few examples. Not every death appears undeserved, as not all of Lenneth`s recruits are inherently virtuous individuals. Their utility to Odin is paramount, and Lenneth`s role is to hone them into formidable fighters.
Insights into Midgard`s geopolitical landscape are gained through the interwoven sagas of the departed. While the gods typically show little concern for human affairs, Lenneth encounters various personalities that disrupt her ongoing mission. There`s an einherjar who seems uncannily familiar with Lenneth. Then there`s Brahms, the lord of the undead, who appears to hold someone significant to Lenneth and the gods captive to prevent his destruction. And, of course, the brilliant sorcerer Lezard Valeth, whose creepy obsession with claiming the Valkyrie as “his” is only surpassed by the immoral lengths he will go to achieve it.
The persistent tragic undertones of Valkyrie Profile distinguish it from most RPGs of its time, but much of what makes it special to this day are its unique, interconnected gameplay mechanics. A defining feature is the game`s distinct structure. Exploration is largely open-ended, allowing players to visit areas, recruit einherjar, and venture into dungeons at their discretion. Progression, however, is governed by a timer system: chapters are divided into a set number of “periods,” and actions—recruitment, exploration, resting—all incur a specific time cost. Upon reaching the end of a chapter`s periods, Lenneth receives an evaluation from Asgard. Actions such as sending suitable einherjar and discovered artifacts to Asgard contribute to her performance review. Excelling in these tasks yields rewards, leading to the next chapter. While certain characters and locations become available in specific chapters, players generally aren`t forced to complete everything immediately, offering substantial freedom.
Another defining gameplay element lies in its dungeons. These are presented as 2D, side-scrolling platformer-style challenges, replete with traps, enemies, jumps, and various gimmicks. They frequently feature unique obstacles and puzzles that Lenneth must overcome, adding a puzzle-solving dimension to the platforming action. Fortunately, Lenneth possesses a useful tool: a crystal projectile. This offers a wide array of uses: temporarily freezing enemies, creating barriers and platforms, and even refracting light or manipulating distant objects. She can also execute advanced movement techniques by generating and shattering crystals in diverse ways, propelling her into hidden areas (and enabling some enjoyable speedrunning tactics).
However, Valkyrie Profile`s most memorable and distinctive component is its combat system. Tri-Ace`s previous Star Ocean titles introduced action gameplay elements into traditional RPG mechanics, and Valkyrie Profile follows a similar concept but with an entirely different execution. Each turn in combat sees you controlling four characters, each assigned to a specific face button. Depending on their equipped weapons, each character has access to predefined attacks, which they perform upon button press. Some attacks possess special properties, such as breaking an enemy`s guard or launching them airborne for juggling. Landing enough hits in a single turn fills a gauge, allowing you to unleash one of your party member`s ultimate attacks. With strategy and practice, players can learn to chain combos and supers akin to those found in fighting games.
Nevertheless, enemies won`t always make it easy; they will guard, parry, and sidestep when possible, disrupting your combat flow and making them significantly harder to defeat. Observing and understanding the properties of your attacks—how they connect, how many hits they deliver, if they can juggle or damage grounded enemies—is crucial both for overcoming strong opponents and for maximizing post-combat rewards. Learning how enemies react to your attacks and conduct their offense is equally important, as you can also dodge, counter, and guard, provided you have the appropriate skills. As impressive as this sounds, I`m actually simplifying the combat; it boasts an immense amount of skill and nuance that will challenge both seasoned RPG veterans and experienced action-game players alike.
An intricate skill system further enhances Valkyrie Profile`s gameplay depth. Learning skills not only aids characters in combat but also boosts their “Hero Value” and grants them positive traits, making them more suitable for service in Valhalla. Passive character skills provide stat increases, negate negative character traits, and often align with specific requests from the gods. Combat skills include auto-healing and low-HP survival techniques, counterattacks, added effects to normal strikes (such as splash damage and extra hits), and potent techniques to catch enemies off guard.
WARNING: Spoilers for Valkyrie Profile`s ending, including its true ending, follow.
Everything culminates in the game`s final chapter, where Lenneth leads the einherjar in an assault on the Vanir stronghold. After her triumphant emergence, one might anticipate a glorious celebration in Valhalla. However, that is not what awaits you. The ending received for this stellar performance is… underwhelming. And brief. Eerily so, as if something is being withheld. And indeed, it is! Valkyrie Profile features multiple endings, and part of its enduring impact on players` memories stems from the clever trick it plays.
The key to unlocking the true, best ending in the game deviates radically from what players are typically led to expect. It`s easy to assume that performing the game`s assigned tasks exceptionally well would yield greater rewards and, consequently, a superior ending. But Valkyrie Profile challenges this assumption. Instead, it prompts you to question and doubt your designated mission.
Throughout the game, there are hints that Odin and the gods are not entirely noble, viewing humanity merely as useful tools for their battles and service. By strictly adhering to Odin`s commands, Lenneth unwittingly becomes his obedient pawn. But what if Lenneth were to disobey? Obviously, outright rebellion under the watchful eye of a powerful deity would place her directly in his crosshairs for elimination.
To liberate Lenneth from Odin`s control, the player must subtly enact small acts of rebellion over time: sending up only the minimum required number of einherjar, choosing to retain some of the gods` sacred treasures found in dungeons, and visiting places linked to a forgotten past. Even the simple act of removing the ring Odin bestowed upon Lenneth when consulting with Asgard between chapters will help diminish his influence over her. Lower the “Seal Value” sufficiently, and upon entering a specific area in Chapter 7, a series of dramatic events will unfold, leading to a moment of reckoning for Lenneth with the fate of all realms hanging in the balance.
The unique requirements to access this ending were quite a shock to players when the game first launched, and even now, it remains a standout feature. We are conditioned in games to follow instructions for praise and rewards, rarely pausing to question the underlying reasons. Valkyrie Profile, conversely, only reveals the full truth about its world to those who deliberately and defiantly experiment with its core systems.
Valkyrie Profile has inspired sequels, spin-offs, and spiritual successors, influencing many games that followed. Some of these subsequent titles have been excellent in their own right, while others less so. However, all games that have come since have diverged in some way from the original gameplay elements that made Valkyrie Profile such a fantastic experience. Perhaps it was a case of lightning in a bottle—the world of games and game development has evolved so significantly since its initial release that replicating the same magic is impossible. This is why its limited availability on modern platforms is particularly tragic: only a compromised mobile port and a PS4/5 re-release of the PSP version exist. I can only hope that this changes eventually, because there is truly nothing else quite like Valkyrie Profile, and perhaps there never will be. When I first played it all those years ago on PS1, I was captivated. A quarter of a century later, I still am.