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is a 1989
action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...
-
platform Platform may refer to: Arts * Platform, an arts centre at The Bridge, Easterhouse, Glasgow * ''Platform'' (1993 film), a 1993 Bollywood action film * ''Platform'' (2000 film), a 2000 film by Jia Zhangke * '' The Platform'' (2019 film) * Pla ...
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
originally developed by Laser Soft, published by
Telenet Japan was a Japanese Video game developer, video game and software developer founded in October 1983 by Kazuyuki Fukushima. The company had several video game divisions including: Wolf Team, Laser Soft, Renovation Game (Japanese publishing division), ...
and
NEC is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation, headquartered at the NEC Supertower in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It provides IT and network solutions, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Inte ...
for the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD. A
home computer Home computers were a class of microcomputers that entered the market in 1977 and became common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a s ...
version was released for
PC-8801 The , commonly shortened to PC-88, are a brand of Zilog Z80-based 8-bit home computers released by Nippon Electric Company (NEC) in 1981 and primarily sold in Japan. The PC-8800 series sold extremely well and became one of the four major Japanes ...
,
MSX2 MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Cor ...
,
PC-9801 The , commonly shortened to PC-98 or simply , is a lineup of Japanese 16-bit and 32-bit Personal computer, personal computers manufactured by NEC from 1982 to 2003. While based on Intel processors, it uses an in-house architecture making it inc ...
and
X68000 The is a home computer created by Sharp Corporation. It was first released in 1987 and sold only in Japan. The initial model has a 10 Megahertz, MHz Motorola 68000 Central processing unit, CPU, 1 Megabytes, MB of Random Access Memory, ...
. A
super deformed ''Chibi'', also known as ''super deformation'' (''SD''), is an art style originating in Japan, and common in anime and manga where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby with stubby limbs, oversized heads, and ...
-style
remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...
was also released in 1992 for the
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
. It is the second entry in the
eponymous An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...
series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese schoolgirl teenager chosen to become the Valis warrior by wielding the titular mystical sword, after defeating the demon lord Rogles. The dream world Vecanti fell under the rule of emperor Megas, whose hatred towards his brother Rogles and bloodthirsty tendencies seeks to wipe out traces of the former tyrant, including his supporters. Gameplay varies between each version but all share similar elements, as the player explores and search for
item Item may refer to: Organizations * '' Instituto del Tercer Mundo'' (ITeM), the Third World Institute * ITEM club, an economic forecasting group based in the United Kingdom Newspapers * '' The Item'', an American independent, morning newspap ...
s and
power-up In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a Game mechanics, game mechanic. This is in contrast to an Item (game), item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that ca ...
s, while fighting enemies and defeat bosses. Work on ''Valis II'' did not start for a period of two and a half years, as the team became understaffed when several members had left after '' Valis: The Fantasm Soldier''. Telenet began shifting their focus in order to establish themselves in the
LaserDisc LaserDisc (LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. It was developed by Philips, Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer, and the movie studio MCA Inc., MCA. The format was initially marketed in the United State ...
market when the development moved toward. It was the first title created by Laser Soft, an internal gaming division of Telenet formed specifically to explore games for the CD-ROM format, and they also cooperated with
Renovation Game was a Japanese video game and software developer founded in October 1983 by Kazuyuki Fukushima. The company had several video game divisions including: Wolf Team, Laser Soft, Renovation Game (Japanese publishing division), Renovation Products ( ...
(Reno), which handled the home computer version. The staff hired animators for the project, as people within the
anime industry is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
were becoming interested in the
video game industry The video game industry is the tertiary industry, tertiary and quaternary industry, quaternary sectors of the entertainment industry that specialize in the video game development, development, marketing, distribution (marketing), distribution, ...
. Both the TurboGrafx-CD and computer versions were made simultaneously, but each under different development lines. The Genesis remake was slated for a European release by
UbiSoft Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include '' Anno'', '' Assassin's Creed'', ' ...
, as part of a multi-game licensing deal with Telenet's North American subsidiary
Renovation Products was a Japanese video game and software developer founded in October 1983 by Kazuyuki Fukushima. The company had several video game divisions including: Wolf Team, Laser Soft, Renovation Game (Japanese publishing division), Renovation Products ( ...
, but it was never officially released in the region. Each version of the game have since been re-released through download services for other
platform Platform may refer to: Arts * Platform, an arts centre at The Bridge, Easterhouse, Glasgow * ''Platform'' (1993 film), a 1993 Bollywood action film * ''Platform'' (2000 film), a 2000 film by Jia Zhangke * '' The Platform'' (2019 film) * Pla ...
s and
compilation Compilation may refer to: *In computer programming, the translation of source code into object code by a compiler **Compilation error **Compilation unit *Product bundling, a marketing strategy used to sell multiple products, such as video game co ...
s. ''Valis II'' on the TurboGrafx-CD garnered generally favorable reception from critics since its initial launch, some of which reviewed it as an import title; praise was given to the audiovisual presentation for showcasing the potential of the CD-ROM format, but others felt mixed regarding various aspects. The home computer version carried sentiments similar to the original release, with some reviewers noting the overall dark tone of its plot. The Mega Drive/Genesis remake, however, received negative response from the gaming press. It was followed by ''
Valis III is a 1990 Action game, action-Platform game, platform video game originally developed by Telenet Japan, Laser Soft, published by Telenet Japan and NEC for the TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM², TurboGrafx-CD. A Sega Genesis version was relea ...
'' (1990).


Gameplay and premise

As with its predecessor, ''Valis II'' is an action-platform game starring Yuko Asou, a Japanese schoolgirl teenager chosen to become the Valis warrior by wielding the titular mystical sword. It takes place after the defeat of demon lord Rogles at the hand of Yuko. Time passes, however, the dream world Vecanti fell under the rule of emperor Megas, whose hatred towards his brother Rogles seeks to wipe out any trace of the former tyrant, to the point of murdering any supporters Rogles might have had. Furthermore, his bloodthirsty tendencies recognize Yuko and the Valis sword as viable threats to his claim of the throne, and he orders his minions to eliminate her first before she has the chance to thwart him. Despite details of the gameplay varying between each platform, all versions do share several similar features with '' Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'', and '' Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse'' as well. The player controls Yuko through two-dimensional
level Level or levels may refer to: Engineering *Level (optical instrument), a device used to measure true horizontal or relative heights * Spirit level or bubble level, an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical *C ...
s, battling enemies, jumping from ledge to ledge, and running until the player faces a
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, ...
at the end of each level. At certain points in the game, gameplay pauses, and cinematic cutscenes play regarding the game's storyline. The
home computer Home computers were a class of microcomputers that entered the market in 1977 and became common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a s ...
versions feature two
shoot 'em up Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs) are a Video game genre, subgenre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain typ ...
-like stages where Yuko flies over a constantly scrolling background. This version also introduces a separate menu inventory where the player can choose
power-up In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a Game mechanics, game mechanic. This is in contrast to an Item (game), item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that ca ...
s found during levels, as well as costumes that alters Yuko's overall offensive and defensive attributes. The
Mega Drive/Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
remake is an amalgamation of both the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD original and the home computer versions, featuring the ability to select power-ups and costumes. Yuko can also shoot projectiles upward against enemies. However, the game's physics are different, while characters interact via in-game
text box A text box also called an input box, text field or text entry box, is a control element of a graphical user interface, that should enable the user to input text information to be used by a program. Human Interface Guidelines recommend a single ...
es.


Development

''Valis II'' on the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD was the first title developed by Laser Soft, an internal gaming division of Telenet formed specifically to explore games for the CD-ROM format. It was directed by Masami Hanari, who acted as programmer, and produced by Fumiyuki Moriyama. Hiroshi Akahori, who co-wrote the game's scenario alongside Bunzō Matsui, and Yukito Ohayashi served as co-designers. Animator Osamu Nabeshima served as art director with
Tomokazu Tokoro is a Japanese animator and director, best known for directing the anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers ...
, best known for directing the
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Haibane Renmei is a 2002 Japanese anime television series based on an unfinished ''dōjinshi'' manga series by Yoshitoshi Abe, . The 13-episode series was directed by Tomokazu Tokoro, animated by Radix, and produced by Yasuyuki Ueda. It first aired on Fuji ...
'' and '' Hellsing Ultimate'', providing support as character designer. The soundtrack was co-composed by Kenichi Kamio and Shinobu Ogawa. Laser Soft also cooperated with
Renovation Game was a Japanese video game and software developer founded in October 1983 by Kazuyuki Fukushima. The company had several video game divisions including: Wolf Team, Laser Soft, Renovation Game (Japanese publishing division), Renovation Products ( ...
(Reno), which handled the home computer version. Tadashi Tadami, Hiroyuki Kai, Hiroshi Yoshida, as well as Masayasu Yamamoto collaborated as main programmers of the
PC-8801 The , commonly shortened to PC-88, are a brand of Zilog Z80-based 8-bit home computers released by Nippon Electric Company (NEC) in 1981 and primarily sold in Japan. The PC-8800 series sold extremely well and became one of the four major Japanes ...
,
MSX2 MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Cor ...
,
PC-9801 The , commonly shortened to PC-98 or simply , is a lineup of Japanese 16-bit and 32-bit Personal computer, personal computers manufactured by NEC from 1982 to 2003. While based on Intel processors, it uses an in-house architecture making it inc ...
, and
X68000 The is a home computer created by Sharp Corporation. It was first released in 1987 and sold only in Japan. The initial model has a 10 Megahertz, MHz Motorola 68000 Central processing unit, CPU, 1 Megabytes, MB of Random Access Memory, ...
versions respectively. Ogawa and Tenpei Sato co-arranged the mayority of music for the home computer version, with Sato focusing on tracks featured during animated cutscenes, while Masahiro Kajihara and an uncredited member under the pseudonym "Jizou Kurabo" each scored two pieces. Yamamoto recounted the creation process and history of ''Valis II'' in a 2007 interview, explaining that work on the sequel did not start immediately and several members had left after '' Valis: The Fantasm Soldier'', leaving the team were understaffed for a period of two and a half years.
Translation
by Shmuplations. ).
He stated that Telenet started shifting their focus to establish themselves in the
LaserDisc LaserDisc (LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. It was developed by Philips, Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer, and the movie studio MCA Inc., MCA. The format was initially marketed in the United State ...
market when development of the project went forward. Yamamoto claimed that the team made both the PC Engine CD-ROM² and home computer versions simultaneously, but remarked that each were created under different development lines. He also stated that the staff hired animators for the project, as people within the
anime industry is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
were becoming interested in the
video game industry The video game industry is the tertiary industry, tertiary and quaternary industry, quaternary sectors of the entertainment industry that specialize in the video game development, development, marketing, distribution (marketing), distribution, ...
, and wanted them to employ similar production standards and methods they would use in anime series for the game.


Release

''Valis II'' was first released for the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD in Japan by Telenet on June 23, 1989, and later in North America by
NEC is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation, headquartered at the NEC Supertower in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It provides IT and network solutions, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Inte ...
on May 23, 1990. The home computer version was first released in Japan for the
PC-8801 The , commonly shortened to PC-88, are a brand of Zilog Z80-based 8-bit home computers released by Nippon Electric Company (NEC) in 1981 and primarily sold in Japan. The PC-8800 series sold extremely well and became one of the four major Japanes ...
on July 8, 1989, then for the
MSX2 MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Cor ...
and
PC-9801 The , commonly shortened to PC-98 or simply , is a lineup of Japanese 16-bit and 32-bit Personal computer, personal computers manufactured by NEC from 1982 to 2003. While based on Intel processors, it uses an in-house architecture making it inc ...
on August 5, and later for the
X68000 The is a home computer created by Sharp Corporation. It was first released in 1987 and sold only in Japan. The initial model has a 10 Megahertz, MHz Motorola 68000 Central processing unit, CPU, 1 Megabytes, MB of Random Access Memory, ...
on November 18 under the name ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier II''. These versions contained more graphic cutscenes, while the X68000 version featured improved visuals. The release of the computer versions were also supplemented with a soundtrack album, distributed in Japan by
Toshiba EMI , formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. When ...
on August 27. A remake for the
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
, developed by Imaginative System Create (I.S.C.), was first released in Japan by Laser Soft as ''SD Valis'' on February 14, 1992. Telenet also released the game through its subsidiary
Renovation Products was a Japanese video game and software developer founded in October 1983 by Kazuyuki Fukushima. The company had several video game divisions including: Wolf Team, Laser Soft, Renovation Game (Japanese publishing division), Renovation Products ( ...
in North America as ''Syd of Valis'' in April 1992. A European release was planned by
UbiSoft Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include '' Anno'', '' Assassin's Creed'', ' ...
, as part of a multi-game licensing deal with Renovation, but it was never officially released in the region for unknown reasons. It features the same gameplay and plot as the TurboGrafx-CD original, but the character design was changed to a
super deformed ''Chibi'', also known as ''super deformation'' (''SD''), is an art style originating in Japan, and common in anime and manga where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby with stubby limbs, oversized heads, and ...
(SD) style, while the North American version incorrectly identifies Yuko as "Syd" and reuses artwork of another Telenet release called ''The Sugoroku '92: Nariagari Trendy'' for its front cover. A compilation titled ''Valis Visual Collection'' was released in 1993 by Telenet for the PC Engine CD-ROM², featuring the visual scenes from ''Valis II''. The original PC Engine version, as well as the home computer versions, were re-released in digital form for
Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
through
D4 Enterprise is a Japanese video game publisher currently specializing in content delivery services like Project EGG, EGGY and PicoPico over the Internet. The company has also collaborated with Nintendo to re-release Neo Geo, MSX and arcade titles for t ...
's Project EGG service. The game was included as part of the ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Complete'' compilation for Windows, published by Sunsoft in 2004 under a limited run of 2000 copies, which came bundled with a bonus CD and a figure. In 2011, D4 Enterprise re-released the compilation with ''SD Valis'' and an additional title as ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Complete Plus'', which came bundled with a CD soundtrack instead. The PC Engine version was also made available by
Sunsoft , is a Japanese electronics manufacturer, video game developer and publisher. They are known for their video games under the brand name Sunsoft. History In April 1971, Sun Electronics Corporation (alternatively called Sun Denshi) was founded i ...
as part of the "PC Engine Archives" line on the
PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...
in 2011. In 2021, the media company Edia announced a reprint of the PC Engine version to commemorate the series' 35th anniversary. The PC Engine version was re-released physically and digitally as part of ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection'' for the
Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
in Japan by Edia on December 9, 2021. The physical edition of the collection is also planned for an English localization by
Limited Run Games Limited Run Games, Inc. is an American video game distributor based in Apex, North Carolina. The company produces and sells limited quantities of physical video game copies via its website and select retail stores. Josh Fairhurst and Douglas B ...
. This version was later re-released separately through the
Nintendo eShop The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served ...
by Edia first in Japan on February 10, 2022, and later in Europe and North America in March 2022. The Genesis remake was included as part of ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II'' for Switch. In 2023, the MSX2 version was included as part of ''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection III'' for Switch.


Reception

''Valis II'' on the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD garnered generally favorable reception from critics since its initial launch, some of which reviewed it as an import title. ''
The Games Machine ''The Games Machine'' was a video game magazine that was published from 1987 until 1990 in the United Kingdom by Newsfield, which also published '' CRASH'', ''Zzap!64'', '' Amtix!'' and other magazines. History ''The Games Machine'' ran head ...
''s Warren Lapworth lauded the anime-style cutscenes for showing off the PC Engine CD-ROM's capabilities, while finding the game's action to be simple but enjoyable. However, Lapworth felt that the in-game graphics were uninteresting due to the drab and repetitive backgrounds, and expressed similar thoughts regarding the sprites. ''
Joystick A joystick, sometimes called a flight stick, is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Also known as the control column, it is the principal control devic ...
''s Jean-Marc Demoly commended the increasing difficulty of each level that contributed to its playability, as well as the game's visuals for the original and well-drawn enemy sprites, controls and sound, but noted that Yoko's animation lacked flexibility. ''Génération 4''s Philippe Querleux gave positive remarks to the soundtrack and save system, finding it to be a very addictive title, but noted its increasing difficulty starting from the third level. An editor for ''
TurboPlay ''TurboPlay Magazine'' is a bi-monthly, U.S.-based video game magazine which was published by L.F.P. from June/July 1990 through August/September 1992. It was available via subscription only (US$9.95 per year). A total of 14 issues were release ...
'' was impressed by the game's visuals and music but disappointed by its perceived low difficulty. ''
Tilt Tilt may refer to: Music * Tilt (American band), a punk rock group, formed in 1992 * Tilt (British band), an electronic music group, formed in 1993 * Tilt (Polish band), a rock band, formed in 1979 Albums * ''Tilt'' (Cozy Powell album), 1981 ...
''s Alain Huyghues-Lacour commended the game for its graphics, animation and audio for showcasing the potential of the CD-ROM format. ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The magazine was fou ...
''s four reviewers praised the intermission scenes, CD-quality soundtrack and visuals. They also found the story entertaining, but its short length and low difficulty were faulted. ''Computer+Videogiochi'', the Italian edition of British gaming publication ''
Computer and Video Games ''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') is a British-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot web ...
'', compared the game with '' Rastan'' but noted its variety and animated sequences. In contrast, ''
Hardcore Gaming 101 ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' is an online video game magazine founded by Kurt Kalata in 2004. Kalata established the site after graduating college, when he noticed the overabundance of game strategy guides, and felt that someone should create more boo ...
''s Kurt Kalata criticized its linear stages for being dull and boring, English dub and overall audiovisual presentation, regarding ''Valis II'' as "just a very mediocre and forgettable action game, only memorable for some nice creepy enemy sprites."


Home computers

''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier II'' on home computers carried sentiments similar to the original release. ''Micom Basic Magazine'' analyzed the
PC-8801 The , commonly shortened to PC-88, are a brand of Zilog Z80-based 8-bit home computers released by Nippon Electric Company (NEC) in 1981 and primarily sold in Japan. The PC-8800 series sold extremely well and became one of the four major Japanes ...
version, praising the amount of visual scenes compared to the original '' Valis: The Fantasm Soldier'', background music and audio but criticized the overall graphical quality due to the limited colors. ''Technopolis'' Gēzō also analyzed the PC-8801 version and commended the music, graphics, and variety of selectable suits. The writer also expressed that the game's story "makes me cry". Japanese publication ''MSX Magazine'' reviewed the
MSX2 MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Cor ...
version, giving positive ratings for its playability, visuals, scenario and overall value. ''Software Gids'' Dennis Lardenoye also reviewed the MSX2 version, giving positive remarks to the visuals, sound and overall game quality. ''Oh!X''s Hiroyuki Urakawa reviewed the
X68000 The is a home computer created by Sharp Corporation. It was first released in 1987 and sold only in Japan. The initial model has a 10 Megahertz, MHz Motorola 68000 Central processing unit, CPU, 1 Megabytes, MB of Random Access Memory, ...
version, noting the overall dark tone of its plot. In the same retrospective outlook discussing the original TurboGrafx-CD release, Kurt Kalata of ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' found it to be a better-designed title than the first entry but criticized the 8-bit computer version for the choppy action, finding the X68000 version to be more enjoyable.


Mega Drive/Genesis

''SD Valis''/''Syd of Valis'' received negative response from the gaming press. It received scores of 19.5 out of 30 and 3.9718 out of 10 in public polls taken by ''Mega Drive Fan'' and the Japanese ''
Sega Saturn Magazine ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues incl ...
'' respectively. ''
Games-X ''Games-X'' was a multi-format weekly computer and video game magazine published in the United Kingdom. It was launched in May 1991. The publisher was Europress. Editor Hugh Gollner later described it "a big mistake" in terms of finances. See al ...
'' criticized its gameplay, short length and overall presentation. ''Consoles +'' Navarro and Laurent Defrance commended the audio and manga-style character sprites but faulted their small size. They also criticized the game's imprecise scrolling, playability and length. ''Joypad''s Olivier Prézeau gave positive remarks to its audiovisual presentation and controls, however ''
Joystick A joystick, sometimes called a flight stick, is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Also known as the control column, it is the principal control devic ...
''s Jean-Marc Demoly found it unpleasant to play, stating that "''Syd Of Valis'' is a game that I strongly advise against, unless somewhere deep inside you, a small dose of masochism is present." ''
MegaTech ''MegaTech'' (sometimes styled with the katakana メガテケ) was a publication from EMAP aimed specifically at the Sega Mega Drive gaming market. The magazine was started in 1991. The launch editorial consisted of a small team including Pa ...
''s Mark Patterson and Paul Glancey lambasted its presentation for the lack of options, simplistic sprites and low sound quality. Both Patterson and Glancey summarized that it was a "pretty poor attempt at producing a cute beat 'em up." ''
Sega Force ''Sega Force'' was an early 1990s publication that covered the Sega console range ( Sega Mega Drive, Mega-CD, Master System and Game Gear). History ''Sega Force'', along with ''Nintendo Force'', was initially announced in mid-1991 by Newsfiel ...
''s Paul Mellerick bashed its "very dull" gameplay despite "great" levels and enemies, writing that "even platform addicts will only play it for a while". ''
Sega Pro ''Sega Pro'' was the first publication from Paragon Publishing and catered for the Sega consoles: the Master System, Game Gear and the Mega Drive. Early editorial staff included Dominic Handy (editor), Les Ellis (games editor), Dave Perry (de ...
''s James Scullion gave ''SD Valis'' a mediocre outlook, recommending saving money for some other game. ''
Console XS Paragon Publishing Ltd (or Paragon for short) was a magazine publisher in the UK, which published computer games and other entertainment titles from 1991 to 2003. Brief history Paragon Publishing Ltd was formed in a small office in Trowbridge, ...
'' found it "mildly disturbing" due to the visual style. ''Video Games'' Michael Paul faulted the controls for being slippery and imprecise, while gearing his criticism towards the graphical design, low-detailed sprite animations, audio and repetitive enemy patterns. In contrast to most reviewers, ''
GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
''s Feline Groovy gave high marks to the visuals, sound, controls and fun factor. In a retrospective article from ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' dedicated to the SD remake, Kurt Kalata noted that the game's level design was improved over the original ''Valis II'' but equally dull.


Notes


References


External links


''Valis II''
at
GameFAQs GameFAQs is a video gaming website that hosts guides and other resources, as well as an active Internet forum, message board forum. It was created in November 1995 by Jeff Veasey and has been owned by Fandom (website), Fandom, Inc. since October ...

''Valis II''
at
Giant Bomb ''Giant Bomb'' is an American video game website and wiki that includes personality-driven gaming videos, commentary, news and reviews, created by former ''GameSpot'' editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis. The website was voted by ''Time (maga ...

''Valis II''''Valis: The Fantasm Soldier II''
an
''Syd of Valis''
at
MobyGames MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controlle ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valis 02 1989 video games Action games MSX2 games NEC PC-8801 games NEC PC-9801 games Platformers PlayStation Network games Sega Genesis games Side-scrolling platformers Single-player video games Sunsoft games Telenet Japan games TurboGrafx-CD games Valis (video game series) Video game sequels Video games developed in Japan Video games featuring female protagonists Video games scored by Tenpei Sato X68000 games