Update 23/09/2022: Unfortunately, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth for PS4 and PS5 has been delayed until December 22.
Original post:
Today, Square Enix officially announced a September 29 console release for Valkyrie Elysium (and November 11 for Steam), confirming earlier reports resulting from store leaks. That’s good news, but the publisher buried the lede on what is arguably the most exciting part, at least for fans of classic games: Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is coming to PlayStation 4 and PS5 (though not Steam) on the same day.
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is the 2006 PSP port of the original Valkyrie Profile, which initially released on PlayStation in 1999. It quickly made its mark with a compelling story, unique take on a Norse mythology setting, and inventive combat system that combined turn-based battles with a layer of strategic timing and nifty combo system. It spawned a number of sequels (of which Elysium will be the latest), but some would say none of them have surpassed the original. The PSP port didn’t add much, other than FMV cutscenes, but by that time, the PS1 version was hard to find (and expensive on the second-hand market), so a fresh release was welcome. It also served as the basis for the version that’s now available on mobile.
The PS4/PS5 release of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will be an emulated version of the PSP game, like Echochrome and Super Stardust Portable (which is, presumably, why there’s no Steam version). Like those other PSP classics, it’s got quick save and rewind features, and I imagine there’ll be trophies, too. It’ll be available both on its own and bundled into the Digital Deluxe edition of Valkyrie Elysium.
There’s a chance Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth could wind up in the PlayStation Plus Deluxe Classics Catalogue, too – maybe not at launch, but down the line, as another addition to the PSP lineup that’s currently a little thin. And even if it doesn’t, the standalone release shows that, with the emulator already available and supported by Sony, there’s a new window for third-party publishers to re-release their games using that tech, which is an exciting prospect.
And finally, if course, a release date for Valkyrie Elysium is good news, too. The latest entry in the series puts an action RPG spin on things that shows a lot of promise in the trailers shown so far, while retaining the same unique atmosphere that set the original apart in the first place. It’s definitely a game anyone who enjoys JRPGs should be looking forward to.
Still, as a fan of classic games, and PS1-era JRPGs especially? It’s the news about Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth – and the thought that this could pave the way for so many more PSP ports to modern platforms – that has me most excited.
