In a surprise announcement during March's State of Play, Valkyrie Elysium was officially announced by Square Enix as a true sequel to 1999's Valkyrie Profile. Although Valkyrie Profile got a number of follow-ups, including Valkyrie Profile 2 on the PS2, these games were prequels set before the events of the original game. So, it's a welcome surprise that Valkyrie Elysium is a true sequel to the first entry, even if it's been over 20 years in the making.
The trailer for Valkyrie Elysium was shown off during PlayStation's State of Play for March 2022, where it revealed the game's Norse-myth inspirations, action-RPG combat, and cel-shaded graphics. Players control Valkyrie, who is sent by the All-Father in an attempt to prevent Ragnarok. As in previous games, players can also recruit Einherjar to summon and battle alongside them. However, it's Valkyrie Elysium's placement on the series' timeline that may prove to be the most interesting for longtime fans.
As confirmed on the official properties like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, tri-Ace's Valkyrie Profile series developed a cult following and has maintained a dedicated fanbase in the decades since.
Valkyrie Elysium: Why It Took 23 Years To Get A Valkyrie Profile Sequel
It's not immediately clear why it took so long for Valkyrie Profile to get a real sequel, although the game featured multiple endings so it may have just been simpler from a creative standpoint to focus on prequels instead. There are also behind-the-scenes factors to consider, with tri-Ace being acquired by a different company in 2015 and different developers leaving the studio throughout the years. Sales could be another factor since the Valkyrie Profile series has performed modestly compared to other Square Enix properties.
2022 is already a huge year for JRPGs, and Valkyrie Elysium is ing a pretty competitive and crowded field (most of which is filled with other Square Enix IPs). After years of prequels, ports, and a PSP remake, it's great that Valkyrie Profile is finally getting a true sequel and it will be interesting to see which ending Valkyrie Elysium follows. The reveal trailer can be found below:
Valkyrie Profile is one of the best JRPGs on the original PlayStation, but the follow-up entries have received a somewhat mixed reception. Thus far, Valkyrie Elysium looks promising and its placement on the series' timeline is definitely intriguing. More information on the game will likely be shared as Valkyrie Elysium approaches its 2022 release date.
