Valkyrie Elysium and PSP Version of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth Releases this Fall

It appears that nostalgia for PS1 and PS2 games is hitting an all-time high, bolstering enough energy for publishers to revisit some of their lesser-known franchises. This is the case for Valkyrie Elysium, a new entry in a franchise that started with Valkyrie Profile on PS1 in 1999. In fact, the series has not seen a console release since Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria on PS2, making Valkyrie Elysim’s sheer existence significant. Despite this, Square Enix seems eager to bring the series back into the hands of fans with the new entry and a modern version of the PSP port of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, a remake of the first game. News of both games was recently shared via a press release alongside a new trailer. 

Releasing on PS4 and PS5 on September 29th, with the Steam release launching later this year on November 11th, Valkyrie Elysium is a brand new game developed by Soleil Ltd who worked on Ninjala, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, and more. There doesn’t appear to be any overlap between Elysium’s developers and the original team at Tri-Ace but there could be slight overlap considering Square Enix is publishing the Tri-Ace-developed Star Ocean: The Divine Force. It’s also not clear as of yet who is developing the new version of Lenneth. 

Speaking of, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will be available as a part of the PS5/PS4 Digital Deluxe Editions of Valkyrie Elysium which will be priced at $74.99 USD, however, the PSP port’s release was recently pushed back for a final polish. According to a press guide, the new port of Lenneth includes new features such as Rewind, Quick save/load, and Visual Presets. It is interesting that Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is currently only slated for PS4 and PS5. One can assume a Steam version of Lenneth will eventually be released but for now, it is exclusive to PlayStation. The latest press release confirms that Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will be available as a separate purchase and released on December 22nd. 

The Digital Deluxe Elysium pre-order also includes 72-hour early access to Elysium and an in-game item “Svartaljr: Sword of the Goddess of the Underworld” and that weapon is the only item currently revealed for the Steam Digital Deluxe Edition. Pre-ordering either Steam version will get 72-hour early access and original wallpapers. Those who just want the base Elysium game and pre-order through PSN will get the “Alscir: Sword of the God of Light” in-game item and an Elysium avatar.

Many fans of the Valkyrie series seemed a little put off by the art direction of Elysium when it was first announced. However, there seems to be more excitement around it following the new release date trailer and the inclusion of Lenneth, a fan favorite. Valkyrie Elysium looks like an epic take on Norse mythology with the iconic character design we’ve come to know from RPGs from Square Enix. The 3D action looks exciting enough to keep us interested as the tale develops and the creature design is fascinating. That said, the game definitely looks more like the more reserved titles being published by Square Enix; the game will probably rely more on gameplay structure and satisfying mechanical loops rather than pushing the boundaries on graphics or environmental design. I for one, enjoy getting more games rather than a handful of blockbusters as it allows for more experimentation and the potential for more obscure franchises to get new titles. 

Whether one jumps into the latest game or picks up the classic title, the release of Valkyrie Elysium should be an exciting day for fans of the series and those who like fantasy RPGs as well. 

Find more information about Valkyrie Elysium on the official website. Screenshots were used courtesy of official Square Enix press kits.