The world’s done for—unless you can build an army to fend off the darkness. But there’s a catch: You can only enlist the souls of the dead.
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth skillfully blends Norse mythology and Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) to create a rousing epic. You’re Lenneth, a winged warrior whose quest to save Asgard brings her to Earth. Here, you’ll draft soldiers, sorcerers, and other powerhouses who are about to meet their maker.
Level them up in battles against all manner of monsters, arm them with the best loot you can find, and ship them back to Asgard to join the doomsday dustup known as Ragnarok. That is, if you can bear to say goodbye to your new pals after learning their spellbinding backstories.
Novel gameplay features make this beautifully ported PlayStation classic feel unique among JRPGs. Though combat is turn-based, carefully timing your companions’ attacks lets them unleash awesome special abilities. Towns and dungeons are 2D side-scrolling affairs with some nifty platforming elements, including shooting ice crystals into walls and using them as ledges to reach hidden treasure.
This massive, complex saga has aged remarkably well thanks to pixel-perfect retro visuals and an atmospheric, character-driven story. Know how Thor’s hammer is impossible for most folks to pick up? You’ll find Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth just as hard to put down.