Tri-Ace's Valkyrie Profile hopped from JRPG to action, 2d platformer, and puzzle with ease - almost organically so, while boasting elegant sprite art and animations in the process. If the jumble of genres isn't unique, the way they're utilised to reinterpret JRPG stereotypes certainly is.
Exhibit A: Its distinguished combat system occupied the middle ground between action and turn-based, locating the challenge in combo experimentation and optimisation, forming creative attack sequences that mutate in parallel to loadout or enemy changes. All contained in short bursts thanks to the format, and brimming with minute details both RPG (element/type weaknesses, row-based formations), and non-RPG (range, pushback, guard crush, supers, etc.), adding ever more complex layers to the idea. Enchanting as they may be, the lengthier battle animations can get overly cinematic, which detracts from the battle flow to an extent. The equally adventurous gameplay structure offered another unique viewpoint, abandoning conventional linearity and instead simply leaving players free to prepare for an impending final boss, split into chapters that evaluate their performance to determine the ending. An 'open' world whose main storyline runs secondary to the character substories and dungeon crawling.
Speaking of which, the powerful scenes also work in its favor, particularly the recruitment sections that stage brief but grim stories - of course, naturally due to the subject matter. Even still, the highlights (Yumei, Lucian, Shiho & Suo, etc.) are devastating. Furthermore, its abundance of RPG systems evoke Tri-Ace's past, revisiting Star Ocean's multi-dimensional character growth and large roster, but expanded for a greater progression-related purpose. The weakest aspect of the bunch turns out to be the clumsy, slippery platforming. Normally, this would hamper dungeons, but most still contained a fair few tricky (if occasionally obtuse) puzzles and rewarding secrets, synergising well with its diverse movement options.
A monumental work; ambitious, stately and polished at the same time, but more importantly: A refreshing reconstruction of JRPGs, far removed from the genre's worst vices.
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The einherjar stories are way too short, which really blunts their emotional impact. Not to mention the loose plot threads and missing contexts. More interwoven narratives like Arngrim's would have made the game a lot better.
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Soundtrack is gas too!