Nearly the entire game is presented via 2D graphics. The only time a 3D engine is used is when Lenneth must fly to another location on the world map. It might sound strange for an RPG to rely on a 2D presentation, but it has been done before with games like Ys and Popful Mail. It's a refreshing change from the pre-rendered backgrounds and polygons that are so prevalent in other RPGs. When exploring the towns and dungeons the graphics really are beautiful. There is a ton of parallax scrolling reminiscent of the 16-bit days. Many times there are obstructions in the foreground, so Lenneth actually walks behind them, giving the game a pseudo-3D look. Animation is another high point. Each character moves fluidly in battles and the spells and special attacks never get old. On more than one occasion when I was exploring one of the dungeons I marveled at the graphics. In some instances I was reminded of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (the motion blur that trails Lenneth when jumping is just one example). While some people might be put off by the old-school 2D look of the game, I commend the programmers for taking this artistic route.

Aurally the game delivers on all levels. The music is a mixture of sentimental orchestrated pieces and upbeat rocking tunes. Each music track fits the mood perfectly without being blatantly obvious. Surprisingly the battle music never gets old and the familiar music that plays when searching out souls always manages to enchant. Luckily there is an option to listen to the music tracks if you so desire. The sound effects are pretty much standard fare, but the voices are worth mentioning. For the most part they are exceptionally done. There were a few instances in the game where I thought the voices could have used some work, but overall it's a much better job than found in a majority of games released. I have no qualms with stating that the voices are on par with, and in some cases better than Working Designs' best efforts.

The most difficult attribute to explain in Valkyrie Profile is its gameplay. In the simplest of terms this is how the game progresses. You will begin on the overworld map. There are 24 periods in each chapter and these periods are used up each time you enter a town or a dungeon. By pressing the start button, Lenneth will enter into a trance and detect the destination that should be traveled to next, which will either be a town or a dungeon. If it's a town, you can expect the game's story to be propelled forward, and there's a good chance that you will receive another soul into your party. Some of these story sequences are short while some can last over ten minutes. When you enter into a dungeon you will be able to explore its many rooms in search of killing the evil monsters that lurk inside as well as seeking out treasures. The enemies can be seen and upon touching them or striking them with Lenneth's sword, you will enter into a turn-based battle (more on the battle system in a minute). Not only can Lenneth jump and use her sword to attack enemies, but also she has a crystal beam that can be shot out. Upon hitting a wall or the floor, the beam will create a blue crystal. These crystals can be used as stepping-stones to reach new areas. There is also a map function very reminiscent of Super Metroid that will show the areas that you have explored already. Some of the later dungeons are pretty big so the auto-map definitely comes in handy.

Upon completing the dungeon you will be given some treasure chests. The items within them are sacred and you will have the choice of either keeping them or giving them to Lord Odin. Your evaluation level will decrease if you decide to keep the treasures, so it's a decision you have to weigh heavily. For the most part I usually gave the treasures to Odin since many times he will give them back on a job well done. The whole basis of gathering characters and leveling them up via battle is to raise their attributes to Odin's liking. At the end of each chapter you will be given a list of attributes that detail what kind of warrior is needed to help the Gods in their battles. It is your task to meet those demands by acquiring the characters and leveling them up with experience points. Each time the character levels up, he or she gains capacity points. These points are then used to train the characters and to increase their hero points by adjusting their traits. Once you feel you have a character that will meet the demands, you can transfer him or her up to the Gods. That, in a nutshell, is how it plays out, but as you will discover, there is so much more depth to the game.

As I mentioned earlier, the very basic objective of Valkyrie Profile is to collect souls (characters) and raise them to meet the demands of Lord Odin. While it sounds simple in theory, it can be a very difficult decision. Because of the story elements and the fact that you may keep some of the characters for quite some time, you may very well become attached to the characters. On more than one occasion I found it difficult to have to spend so much time on one character only to have to send him or her up to the Gods, thus never using the character again. Luckily, the game does reward you for your hard work. If the person you transferred performs well in battles, you will receive more treasures and materialize points (MP) at the end of each chapter. You are also updated on how that warrior is performing and some stories will be shown so you can still relate to the characters even after they have left your party. MP are very important in the game because there are no stores to buy weapons, armor, or items. Instead, you must use your divine powers to conjure up equipment. So, the better you do in meeting the demands of Odin, the more MP you will receive and the easier it will be to create the items you need the most. But, it even goes deeper. Some treasures that you will find on your adventures will be able to be transmutated into new items by using MP. Since spells are learned by finding tomes and new spells can be made by transmutation, you will find yourself spending time exploring all of the possibilities made available to you. If you find yourself in a crunch for MP, you can convert unneeded items into MP.

The battle system assigns each member of your party to a button on the controller. Only four warriors can be fighting at any one time. Each character will have unique attacks and some will strike low and some will strike high. The object is to develop a combination that will allow for the most hits. Once a combination is executed correctly, special moves will be able to be accessed that will allow the characters to strike with even more deadly force. It becomes a necessity to learn how to pull off combos in order to defeat the tougher enemies and boss creatures. In addition, if characters are able to hit the monster while it is still in the air from a previous hit, blue crystals will appear. Likewise, if the monster is hit while still laying on the ground, purple crystals will roll out. These crystals help increase the experience points earned for the battle. As you can discern, quite a bit of strategy will have to be used when it comes time for battle. Even though battles do occur at an alarming rate, once you've truly become involved in the game you will be looking forward to battling. You will be constantly acquiring new characters and they will need to be leveled up. The game forces you to always be changing your battle party and with each new character comes new challenges. This keeps the battles fresh as well as exciting.

Every so often a game comes along that not only redefines a genre but also sets the bar by which other games will be judged. Valkyrie Profile is that game. Some people might be quick to dismiss it as being just another RPG in what's becoming a very crowded market on the PlayStation. Unfortunately for them, they would miss out on one of the most addictive and original RPGs to be released thus far. Hopefully I've managed to adequately describe how Valkyrie Profile plays. The game has so much depth and so many things to do that it's quite difficult to explain it thoroughly. The replay value is increased due to the different choices that you can make throughout each chapter. It's your decision who you'll transfer up to the Gods, and that will have an effect on how well you perform. Valkyrie Profile comes highly recommended and is by far the best role-playing game I've played so far this year.