Review by: Cole Jones

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume is a game with as many shortcomings as breakthroughs, but it’s one whose brilliance truly shines through repeated playthroughs. Not many games allow you to literally play Devil’s Advocate through every aspect of the storyline like this one does, and even if its combat may be left up to you to figure out along the way, it's ultimately an enjoyable game that any Strategy RPG fan will get their money’s worth out of.

Valkyrie Profile DS is a morosely morbid take on old Norse mythology that stars a despondent young man named Wylfred who blames all his life's problems on the Valkyrie, Lenneth. While that could be the start of any pity party, this time around, Wyl isn’t entirely in the wrong. As a young boy, Wylfred's father’s life was taken on the battlefield by the Valkyrie, leaving his entire life in shambles as his mother tried to unsuccessfully pick up the pieces. As Wylfred finally comes of age, he sets out to make his mark on the world as a mercenary and meets his demise at the sword of his first opponent. But instead of a “game over”, he’s saved by the demonic mistress Hel and brought back to do what he’s always wanted: raise his mighty sword and take down Lenneth.

Longtime fans of the PlayStation classic Valkyrie Profile will feel right at home with Valkyrie Profile DS, as its group-based battle style practically mirrors its elder statesman. As you make your way across the traditional Strategy-RPG battle grid, any of your four characters able to attack join in on the battle, which takes place on its own screen. In addition to team attacks, your comrades can surround the enemy to take advantage of “Active Formations” that grant you extra attacks and boosts that become invaluable to collecting “sin” – the game’s overkill bonus points that net you extra items from mistress Hel after the battle.

A vital part of any traditional RPG is its ability to grind and boost your characters to the max. Valkyrie Profile eschews this age-old mechanic in favor of a rigid, linear path (with a teensy-weensy bit of optional battles on the side) that can leave players hoping to power through the adventure left out in the dry. As such, the game can be downright daunting when you're occasionally thrust into an unsuspectingly tough battle; leading to some drastic party decisions further down the line.

However, instead of allowing you level to your hearts content, Valkyrie Profile DS focuses on moral choices and maximum replayability. As the sole person who wields Hel’s deadly Covenant Plume, Wylfred has the power to take the life of any of his teammates and acquire their superhuman strength. While this would normally be a total bummer in most games, Valkyrie Profile DS packs a solid NewGame+ mode to let you keep your leveled up characters and pick up new comrades along the way. With such brisk pacing for an SRPG (8-15 hours for most playthroughs), it's a game that's intended to be played through more than once.

Part of Valkyrie Profile DS's replayability comes from its design, but the other part comes from an overwhelming lack of clarity. Instead of giving you a tutorial on the merits of defensive playing or guiding you with your Covenant Plume usage, VPDS leaves a lot up to the player. It really isn't until at least your second playthrough that everything from the battle system, to the multi-branching macabre story, begins to really "click;" resulting in a few pulled hairs the first time around. I was able to make it to the “bad end” rather easily my first time around, but skilled players will likely need a guide or at least three or four playthroughs to get where they want to with VP’s core story.

As it stands, however, Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume is still a great game for either starved SRPG fans or those looking to get their feet wet with a multi-branching title that lets you choose your destiny. Its archaic, mildly blasphemous story, is a blast to play from either side, and even though the battle system may be simple, it’s great when you finally get the hang of the techs and formations. With a pinch more clarity and a bit of leveling it would have been great, but as it stands, Valkyrie Profile for the DS is still a solid game for fans of the genre.