VALKYRIE ELYSIUM

About

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM is a single player hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Square Enix and was released on November 11, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Valkyrie Elysium," a digital deluxe edition of the action RPG series, players control Valkyrie, a redeemer created by Odin to save a doomed world from Ragnarok. The game features a high-speed combat system with a wide range of abilities, and its unique art style depicts a beautiful yet collapsing world. This edition includes the game and an exclusive sword.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 532 reviews

story83 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

Engaging combat system that allows for flashy combos and elemental interactions.
Visually appealing with a distinct art style and character designs.
Multiple endings and character backstories add depth to the gameplay experience.

Weak and predictable story that lacks depth compared to previous entries in the series.
Repetitive level design with limited enemy variety and linear progression.
Technical issues such as camera problems and a lack of animation canceling hinder the overall gameplay experience.

story
458 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The story of "Valkyrie Elysium" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable and lacking the depth of its predecessors. While it draws from Norse mythology and features a valkyrie tasked with purifying souls, the narrative is often described as simplistic and linear, with character development feeling minimal until the later chapters. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant step back from earlier titles in the series, with some players enjoying the combat and visuals but feeling disappointed by the story's execution and engagement.
- “The story draws from Norse mythology, following a valkyrie chosen by Odin to purify souls and prevent Ragnarok.”
- “The story starts off a bit slow, giving you time to settle into the world and learn the nature of your character, and it gradually builds up more and more as you play, especially if you don't focus purely on the main story and do the side quests, it gives you a lot of development for the world and characters in addition to what the main story provides.”
- “The game is very story driven, a big minus for me most of the time, but the story is pretty well written and the voice acting is very good, so in this particular game I find myself listening to all the dialog, and not skipping scenes.”
- “The storytelling is simplified compared to older Valkyrie Profile titles, focusing more on action than philosophical depth.”
- “The story is predictable (especially if you've played Valkyrie Profile 1 & 2).”
- “The story is so thin that it's nearly non-existent, and what little narrative does exist was for me, so excruciatingly boring, that I started mashing past all dialogue and skipping all cutscenes about five hours in, because I just could not bear it any more.”
gameplay
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by fast-paced, arcade-like combat with a combo system, though it can feel repetitive and clunky at times. While some players appreciate the engaging mechanics and exploration, others criticize the lack of depth, poor level design, and a reliance on familiar tropes from other action RPGs. Overall, the gameplay is seen as solid but not without its flaws, with mixed opinions on its execution and enjoyment factor.
- “Gameplay centers on fast-paced battles.”
- “I enjoyed the exploration and the combat mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is fun, though it isn't particularly tight.”
- “The gameplay is clunky at times and has unusually short terrain pop up.”
- “The gameplay is alright for the most part but would certainly benefit from faster animation from your character.”
- “The gameplay is very bland and not all that engaging in my eyes.”
graphics
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The graphics of "Valkyrie Elysium" have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the cel-shaded art style and character designs, while others criticize the visuals as dated and reminiscent of earlier console generations. Although some find the graphics enjoyable and well-executed, others note performance issues and a lack of depth in the environments, leading to an overall perception that the visuals do not fully meet modern gaming standards. Despite these criticisms, the game's aesthetic has its charm, appealing to fans of the franchise while leaving some players wanting more.
- “Visually, Valkyrie Elysium uses a cel-shaded art direction with pastel tones, giving it a distinct but somewhat minimalist aesthetic.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere in the levels are totally beautiful and very immersive.”
- “The art style is nice, and the graphics are pretty good, especially considering the game's budget.”
- “I think the disappointing part is the graphics could, at first glance, date the game to something made in the mid-2010s, not 2022.”
- “The graphics truly do set a high standard on the store page that this game 'looks' amazing, but that's all it is...looks.”
- “Unfortunately, the archaic level design and grubby visuals make the adventure feel like it would be more at home back on the PS3.”
music
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
39%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke nostalgia, while others found it repetitive and lacking in punch. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable and immersive, contributing positively to the gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and generic qualities.
- “The soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, known from earlier entries, enhances the mythic atmosphere.”
- “Music is top notch, graphics and atmosphere in the levels are totally beautiful and very immersive.”
- “My man Motoi 'JRPG Jesus' Sakuraba is back at it again with another killer soundtrack.”
- “Music is repetitive and quickly becomes annoying.”
- “Didn't even like the soundtrack that much, which rarely happens (very bad sign).”
- “But early on I found the same looping music to be boring and lack punch after listening to it for hours.”
optimization
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly during high-particle scenes and boss fights. While some users reported smooth performance without crashes, others noted that the game's optimization could be significantly improved, especially regarding DLSS support and the handling of character close-ups. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics and gameplay have potential, the optimization leaves much to be desired.
- “The performance of the game has been great without a single crash (my system: i5 4460, 16 GB, RX 6600 XT).”
- “Performance has been pretty good, no crashes, no stutter.”
- “Great fluid combat and well optimized.”
- “This game is poorly optimized for PC and a lot of people, myself included, had issues with game crashes.”
- “Optimization is rough, with the game stuttering and tanking in framerate when enemies or the player produce particle effects/magic, and that's something you do every few seconds in this game.”
- “Graphics are alright, but there are some illogical performance issues where the FPS rate drops significantly on character close-ups.”
character development
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
46%
11%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the valkyrie's growth from a mission-focused character to a more compassionate companion, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and rapid shifts in relationships among party members. While character designs are frequently highlighted as visually appealing and unique, many reviewers feel that the narrative fails to fully explore character arcs, leaving potential development underutilized. Overall, the game excels in aesthetics but struggles to deliver a compelling character-driven story.
- “Character development was incredible, the valkyrie goes from caring about nothing but her mission to going out of her way to help her companions to ease their mind when they're worried about something.”
- “And there are things I like, such as the character design of the main cast and their development (especially Taika), the weapon variety that includes a familiarity level that encourages the player to stick and practice with each of them, the skill tree being simple and resource-capped (instead of level cap) that prevents the main character and weapons from reaching max level early and maintains a bit of challenge.”
- “The things we loved about VP: the lovable characters, Valkyrie's character development, and just overall good storytelling altogether; this game doesn't even hold a candle to that.”
- “Sure, valkyries were meant to stay stoic and detach from their einherjar, but the way they designed the story and character development, coupled with poor stage design really didn't help.”
- “No character development (even party members go from 'I just met you' to 'we're basically best friends now' instantly).”
- “The character development here is nonexistent, save for the valkyrie with a teensy weensy character development at the end of the story.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
10%
80%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the lack of tedious side quests and the rewarding nature of exploration, others find the combat repetitive and the need for grinding to achieve 100% completion frustrating. Many agree that the game does not require extensive grinding for progression, but completionists may face a significant grind due to the need to replay on different difficulty levels. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as manageable but can become tedious, especially for those aiming for full completion.
- “Side quests aren't too tedious, which is a good thing.”
- “Weapon and character leveling is nice and not grindy.”
- “I only have half the einjeriar I'm supposed to have because the game drip feeds them to you over long, boring, and tedious Devil May Cry-esque missions, and I'm too utterly bored by the story (or the complete lack thereof in the early game) that it feels like a slog to get to 'the good part,' if there even is one.”
- “100%ing this game unfortunately requires a lot of weapon grinding, doing hard mode and playing through again a very forgettable story, and wondering if the people that wrote this game intended for Odin being bad as a plot twist.”
- “The game itself is already repetitive but as it stands if you want to be a completionist, you're forced to play on all the difficulties that have achievements tied to them (normal, hard, valkyrie) and each time start over completely from 0 and do all the grindy parts of the game again on top of everything else.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by Motoi Sakuraba's evocative soundtrack and beautiful graphics. While many appreciate the mythic and melancholic mood, some feel it lacks the depth and storytelling of earlier entries in the series. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and environmental storytelling creates a compelling and engaging atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, known from earlier entries, enhances the mythic atmosphere.”
- “Music is top notch, graphics and atmosphere in the levels are totally beautiful and very immersive.”
- “The mood and atmosphere of the game is generally sad with no comedic scenes in between.”
- “And the last thing I'd like to touch on is the atmosphere and stories the older games had that this one just doesn't really pull off.”
- “Finally, the atmosphere is there, supported by the texts you find in the game which depict a bit of the world around you.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find moments of heartwarming storytelling and emotional engagement, others criticize the overall narrative as boring and lacking depth. The game offers entertaining gameplay but fails to deliver a consistently impactful emotional experience, leaving some players feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.
- “The story is pretty good too, and at least one of the endings is very heartwarming, which was a pleasant surprise, because I was fully expecting to have my heart broken and my soul crushed by the feels.”
- “It's entertaining where it needs to be, emotional where it needs to be, but it won't blow your socks off by any means.”
- “I think the most heartbreaking thing about Elysium is that unless you're just a very forgiving player or this happens to be 100% your jam, your most likely experience will be feeling just intrigued enough to keep playing, but just bored and frustrated enough that you'll regret it the entire time.”
- “Boring story with boring side quests.”
- “Middle game with amazing and fun gameplay buried by a boring story, cheap cutscenes, and high price.”
- “Boring story.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of Elysium has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, leveraging nostalgia for the Valkyrie series without delivering substantial content or innovation. Reviewers feel that the game exploits long-time fans through its superficial connections to past titles, likening it to other companies that prioritize profit over quality. Overall, the sentiment is that the game lacks originality and depth, making it a disappointing experience for those hoping for a meaningful revival.
- “It very much is a nostalgia cash grab from a once prestigious RPG company, but much like the president's constant letters about NFTs, Square is slowly just showing it no different than many of the other cash grab companies.”
- “For the most part, slapping on the title 'Valkyrie' has just made this a cash grab, exploiting the nostalgia for most long-time fans of the series.”
- “A shameless cash grab by Square Enix... dull, lifeless, and boring.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on high settings for the most part, players have reported performance issues during the final boss fight, including freezes and glitches such as characters getting stuck in walls. Additionally, prerendered cutscenes do not function on the Steam Deck, but outside of these issues, the game generally performs well.
- “The game runs great on high settings, with only minor drops at the highest settings.”
- “Aside from some prerendered cutscenes not working on the Steam Deck, the overall stability is impressive.”
- “Overall, the game maintains a solid performance, providing a smooth experience for players.”
- “The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
- “Only performance issues occurred during the final boss, with a couple of freezes during their attacks while running on the high preset.”
- “Glitches like enemies getting stuck in walls and others stuck beyond the blocked-off fighting area.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its comedic elements, such as a hilariously unexpected "bad" ending and the amusing mechanic of escaping situations by chugging. Players find the humor reminiscent of other comedic styles, like that of Bleach's soul reaper. Overall, the game successfully delivers a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- “The 'bad' ending was hilarious.”
- “You can break out of any situation by chugging, which is kinda funny.”
- “Funny enough, it's similar to Bleach's Soul Reaper.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with a rating of 6/10, indicating some minimal value but overall a lack of compelling reasons to revisit the experience. Many users find it mediocre, suggesting that it does not offer enough variety or engagement for repeated playthroughs.
- “Mediocre game, no replayability whatsoever.”
- “Some replay value.”

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62%Critics’ scoreBased on 35 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

22h Average play time

5-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM is a hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 22 hours playing VALKYRIE ELYSIUM.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM was released on November 11, 2022.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM was developed by Square Enix.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM is a single player game.

Similar games include Tales of Arise, Visions of Mana, Darksiders 3, Asterigos Curse of the Stars, Dragon Quest Heroes 2 and others.

VALKYRIE ELYSIUM

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