Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

[Aussie2B]

For those of you into Valkyrie Profile and tri-Ace's other games like myself, you might be interested in hearing that while the announcement was planned to made at the upcoming Jump Festa, news leaked out a bit early and tri-Ace's new project is a sequel to Valkyrie Profile, or rather, a prequel taking place several hundred years before the events of Valkyrie Profile, starring the younger, softer Valkyrie Silmeria. It's going to be on PS2 (which marks the first time tri-Ace has managed to release THREE games for one console, haha), and the Japanese release is planned for 2006 (but tri-Ace is notorious for delays). Obviously, it's WAY too early to determine if there will be a US release or not, but I would say there are some factors that don't bode well for that (poor sales in the US for the first title, the late PS2 release, etc.) But, anyway, here's what you REALLY want to see:

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5869

Yes, it's frustrating that we only get bits and pieces of this page, but at least we get to see that the amazingly talented artists Kou & You Yoshinari are back. If you remember the destroyed city of Dipan in Valkyrie Profile, that other girl, Alicia, is the princess of that kingdom (and I speculate it's Silmeria's human form). There's also a 3D cinematic shot of the princess.

It'll also be interesting to see how this affects the collecting side of things. I wonder if it'll bump up the price of Valkyrie Profile even further. Similarly, assuming VP2 gets a US release, I wonder if it'll receive the same disappointing sales that result in a ridiculously high market value later on.

[PDorr3]

Maybe there will be a VP reprint if this comes to the US....

[Aussie2B]

I dunno, when was the last time ANY game has come out in the US for PlayStation 1? Isn't it more or less officially dead at this point?

[calthaer]

Yeah...I'd like to be into VK 1, but unfortunately, it's a little tough to get...

Until I do play it, I'm not really sure what's to get so juiced up about re: the 2nd one, at least for me.

The PS1 might be dead for all intents and purposes, but a re-release (even emulated) would be good marketing for them if they ever hope to sell the 2nd game to the masses.

[PDorr3]

I dunno, when was the last time ANY game has come out in the US for PlayStation 1? Isn't it more or less officially dead at this point?

anything is possible, I mean look at rhapsody and persona 2.....

[Ed Oscuro]

Ahh, Valkyrie Profile...amazed me that I couldn't find a single copy of the old Namco Valkrie game on FC, and even PC-Engine copies of the '89 arcade game were rare, but eBay seemed to be swimming in copies of VP...all going for well over $90. o_o

[Bluteg]

Aussie2B you are my new hero. Unfortunatly I sold my VP for $80 payed $30 at EB, Actually less as it was buy two get one free at EB. As a business major I could not resist that profit. Now I have to track down another copy and hopefully I can find it for $5 at a pawn shop this time. Hell it worked for Tekken 5 and God of War got both for $15 each with a free 1st party memory card in each case. Helluva deal I say.

[hezeuschrist]

*sigh*

On the list it goes. Can they all start focusing on the next gen stuff now so I can catch up on my current gen RPG's already? Geez.

[GrayFox]

*sigh*

On the list it goes. Can they all start focusing on the next gen stuff now so I can catch up on my current gen RPG's already? Geez.

They would need to stop making games for a few years in order for me to catch up, on anything.

There's just too much out right now, its fantastic, and ridiculous at the same time.

[Aussie2B]

Heh, my guess is that tri-Ace doesn't even have a development kit for the PS3 yet. tri-Ace has never been known as an early adopter of new consoles. It all comes down with what Square Enix will provide them with, and it's my feeling that they're cautious with tri-Ace, trying to set them up for the best possible sales (which kind of backfires when titles get delayed for years, haha). Back when Star Ocean: Blue Sphere was released for GBC well after GBA had already come out, they were asked why they hadn't just programmed it as a GBA title, and their response was that they simply didn't have a GBA development kit.

[Kid Fenris]

If you're considering an expensive eBay grab for Valkyrie Profile, take note that the original game's getting ported to the PSP. It'll also have some new movie sequences and a feature that somehow links it with Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria.

http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/news/20051209_05.html

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75203

Man, I can't wait for actual details on Silmeria. It's good to see Valkyrie Profile turning into the trilogy it was meant to be. I hope we won't have to wait another six years for Valkyrie Profile: Hrist.

I wouldn't fret over Silmeria's odds of coming to America, as Square-Enix has managed to release all of their major PS2 RPGs over here, and Valkyrie Profile has a cult following at the very least. The PSP port also stands a good chance, assuming they don't have to translate it all over again from scratch.

[Aussie2B]

I don't know, with how the PSP is going in the US, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it did stay in Japan. I mean, the Tales series is certainly more popular in the US than Valkyrie Profile, yet the port of Tales of Eternia didn't leave Japan. And knowing Sony of America's stance on things, they probably wouldn't allow it to come to the US unless the graphics were redone into 3D. :/

Anyway, I'm holding off on getting too excited about this PSP port considering that the only thing to show is an easily faked logo. I've learned from experience that news sites are often full of crap, and considering there's been a rumor about a PSP port since Suikoden I & II was announced (a rumor created out of wishful thinking by the fans), I feel it's best to wait for something concrete and official to trust.

But getting back to VP2, a full scan has surfaced where we can now get a view of a battle and some CG:

http://rpgamer.com/games/valkyrie/va...yriesil001.jpg

Some sites are also showing pages of art with Silmeria and Frei (Freya in the Japanese version), but they're just being idiots and showing scans from the Valkyrie Profile Material Collection. :/ If anyone sees these, they're related to the first game, not any new title, and came out in the Material Collection years ago.

[Kid Fenris]

I don't know, with how the PSP is going in the US, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it did stay in Japan. I mean, the Tales series is certainly more popular in the US than Valkyrie Profile, yet the port of Tales of Eternia didn't leave Japan. And knowing Sony of America's stance on things, they probably wouldn't allow it to come to the US unless the graphics were redone into 3D. :/

Namco's been cautious in translating Tales games, mostly because they don't make the bulk of their American sales in RPGs. Square Enix does, however, and they need a meatier PSP lineup.

And I'm not sure if I buy this new rumor about Sony shooting down 2-D games for the American PSP market. Even if it's true, Square Enix could push through a VP remake. It's really up to them.

Anyway, I'm holding off on getting too excited about this PSP port considering that the only thing to show is an easily faked logo.

Paul "Butter Force Ape" Brown is clearly behind this.



EDIT: Square Enix updated their Jump Festa site with images of Lenneth and Silmeria. Tri-Ace, on the other hand, just has a Silmeria logo. Perhaps they're not doing the port.

Man, I love this shot.