Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
A prequel about two souls in one body defying gods.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, the second game in the Valkyrie Profile series, was created by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix. It came out for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and North America, then in 2007 in Australia and Europe, and later saw a reissue as a Square Enix "Ultimate Release." The story occurs centuries before the first game and centers on two characters, Silmeria and Alicia, who inhabit the same body. Together, they try to stop a disaster that might spark a war between humans and gods. The game earned generally positive reviews, praised for its resemblance to the original and its impressive visuals, though it was noted for a confusing interface and high difficulty.
The game is structured into chapters, but unlike its predecessor, players can freely explore towns and dungeons without time limits. Dungeon navigation uses a 2D side-scrolling platform style. Characters move differently: only Alicia can jump, swing a sword, and shoot photons. Photons bounce off surfaces, freeze enemies and objects in crystal temporarily, and let Alicia swap places with crystallized foes, which is key for puzzles. Alicia can start battles by attacking an enemy (giving her the first move with a full attack point gauge) or by touching one (which may leave her at a disadvantage with an empty gauge). Sealstones, found on daises and in shells within dungeons, grant special effects. A Sealstone on a daisy affects enemies in its radius and boosts other Sealstones' ranges. If Alicia carries one, it affects her whole party; if an enemy holds it, only that enemy party is affected. Placing a Sealstone in a shell cancels its effect. Sealstones can be restored at springs using magic crystals, and once restored, they can be equipped from any spring instead of returning to their original spot when the player leaves the dungeon.
Combat uses a real-time 3D battlefield with the Advanced Tactical Combination (ATC) system. Actions consume attack points (AP), which are used for attacking and dashing. AP replenish by defeating enemies, taking hits, using the charge function, or moving over time—time only passes when the player moves, letting them pause to plan. When an attack happens, the screen zooms in on the party for coordinated offense or defense. A leader assault can end battles early if the enemy leader is destroyed, granting bonus experience. Characters can equip up to
- Developer
- tri-Ace
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Platform
- PlayStation 2
- Release
- 2006 (Japan, North America); 2007 (Australia, Europe)
- Genre
- Role-playing game
- Setting
- Midgard and Asgard
Lore & Background
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria takes place in an alternate timeline from the first game. The story revolves around Silmeria, a valkyrie who disobeyed Odin and was reincarnated into the body of Alicia, Princess of Dipan. Silmeria awakens within Alicia, leading many to believe the princess is insane. The king imprisons Alicia and announces her death, but secretly sends her to a small palace outside Crell Monferaigne. Odin sends the current valkyrie, Hrist, to retrieve Silmeria's soul, forcing Alicia and Silmeria to flee into the wilderness to avert a war between the gods and Midgard.
Gameplay is divided into chapters, with dungeon exploration in a 2D side-scrolling platform manner. Alicia can jump, swing a sword, and shoot photons that freeze enemies and solve puzzles. Combat uses a real-time 3D battlefield with the Advanced Tactical Combination system, relying on attack points. New features include breaking off enemy parts to obtain accessories or crafting materials, and a second player can control party members via a second controller. Equipment is bought with OTH currency, and runes on equipment allow skill learning through color-linked configurations.
Reader's Guide
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria received generally positive reviews for its similarity to the original and its beautiful graphics, though critics noted a convoluted interface and high difficulty. The game introduced mechanics such as the photon system for puzzles, enemy part breaking for loot, and a real-time combat system with attack points. Its story is independent of the first game, set in an alternate timeline where events differ—for example, in the original, Silmeria was imprisoned in a crystal by Brahms, but here Brahms is the one imprisoned. The game features 40 einherjar, but only 20 can be recruited per playthrough due to random artifacts. Its legacy includes being a cult classic among RPG fans for its challenging gameplay and unique dual-character narrative, though it never received a direct sequel. The re-release as a Square Enix 'Ultimate Release' helped maintain its availability.
Did You Know?
- The game takes place in an alternate timeline from the first Valkyrie Profile, where Brahms is imprisoned in a crystal instead of Silmeria.
- Alicia is the only character who can jump, swing a sword, and shoot photons, which can freeze enemies and switch places with them.
- There are 40 different einherjar in the game, but only 20 can be recruited per playthrough due to random artifacts.
- A second player can control one or more party members in combat using a second controller.
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