Reviving a series with a spin-off is a move that defies convention, if not common sense – lest we forget Nintendo’s decision to bring back Metroid Prime with much-derided 3DS co-op shooter Federation Force. A shift away from the 2D/3D hybrid approach of the original Valkyrie Profile games for the series’ first home console entry in 15 years, however, makes sense for modern platforms, with Elysium’s turn-based tactics having been swapped for realtime combat. This is more a character-action game than an RPG, then, and to Soleil’s credit the spectacle sometimes comes close to matching a certain Japanese studio’s lustre. Yet perhaps inviting such comparisons isn’t wise with the queen of the genre returning to her throne within weeks – and if you’re seeking a story rooted in Norse mythology, there’s a much more highly anticipated one just around the corner.
Fortunately, fighting its corner is one of Elysium’s strengths. Tasked by the All-Father Odin to save the world, your Valkyrie descends to the mortal realm of Midgard on a series of straightforward missions where your goal is primarily to purify souls – which in practice means cutting down anything that moves. Combat consists of light and heavy attacks with easily executable combos; variety comes from unlocking new weapons, of which you can equip up to two to swap quickly between. Spears, for example, can be swept in a wide arc for crowd control, while the rapid thrusts of a rapier can whittle down the health of a lone opponent.