$59.99VALKYRIE ELYSIUM Fast Combat in a Dying World
Play a Valkyrie fighting to save a realm Odin built her to rescue, one battle at a time.
Is VALKYRIE ELYSIUM worth it?
VALKYRIE ELYSIUM is worth it if…
- you want fast hack and slash combat with combos, summons and elemental tactics
- you enjoy dark Norse mythology and a grim, atmospheric world
- you like story choices that lead to multiple endings
- you would rather play a stylish action game than a slow, methodical RPG
Screenshots
Combat built on speed and air
The Soul Chain system lets the Valkyrie pull herself across the battlefield, so fights move in three dimensions instead of standing still. You string together weapons, spells and skills into long combos, and the Arts Gauge fills as you keep the chain alive. Spend it on Divine Arts, the heavy techniques that end an argument quickly.
The rhythm matters. A well-timed guard or dodge keeps your offense running, and enemies on the higher difficulties will punish sloppy play. Combat is the part of the game that works best, and it is where the hours go. One honest note: enemy variety is thin, so the same foes return often in new colors. If the fighting itself hooks you, that matters less than it might otherwise.
Einherjar at your side
Summon Einherjar, warrior spirits chosen by the Valkyrie, to fight beside you. Each one carries an element, and calling them imbues your attacks with that element's bonus, which matters because enemies have weaknesses worth exploiting.
They are more than damage on a timer. A well-timed summon can pull attention off you in a crowd, and certain Einherjar open barriers blocking your path through a mission. Between battles you upgrade weapons, skills and the pairing of Einherjar and Divine Arts, shaping a loadout that suits how you like to fight. The story around them is where the game's heart sits: these are the people the Valkyrie recruits, and their tales are told in fragments you find along the way.
What should you know before playing?
How long is the game, and do choices matter?
A first playthrough runs roughly 15 to 20 hours, shorter if you skip side content. The story branches toward multiple endings, and you can reach the others without replaying the whole game from scratch. There are also secondary campaigns that fill in the origins of certain characters, if you want more after the credits.
Is the story any good?
It divides people. The setup, a Valkyrie serving a suspiciously calm Odin in a world ending around her, works for some and falls flat for others, and much of the interesting lore about your Einherjar sits in audio logs rather than scenes. Come for the combat and the atmosphere more than the plot, and the writing will bother you less.
Do you need to know the older Valkyrie games?
No. This is a new take on the setting rather than a direct sequel, and the story stands on its own. Longtime series fans tend to have stronger feelings about the changes than newcomers do, so if you are coming in fresh, nothing is missing.
How hard is it?
There are several difficulty settings. On lower ones you can mostly improvise; on Normal and above, enemies hit hard and interrupt your attacks, so guarding, dodging and timing your summons properly becomes necessary. The highest difficulty rearranges enemy placements for a sterner test.
How does it look and sound?
The world uses a stylized, painterly art style with a harsh, toon-shaded edge that suits a realm in collapse, and the cutscenes carry a cinematic weight. Motoi Sakuraba's soundtrack is a genuine strength, and the voice acting holds up well too. Character models draw more mixed opinions than the environments do.
