The battles have evolved, the story is new, the graphics are unreal, and the addiction level continues to rise. Does this mean that Valkyrie Profile 2 is just what the role-player ordered – a fulfilling game that takes the series even further? 

Real-Time, Times Two

In the first Valkyrie Profile, battles were conducted in 2D along with the rest of the game. That formula worked great at the time, but you can't stay in the past forever. Thus, Valkyrie Profile 2 has an evolved version of the original battle system. Players are able to take four characters into battle just as before. Each party member is assigned to a different face button (X, square, circle, or triangle).

Combo attacks are bigger and more powerful. Linking different characters' moves together is as easy as pressing the different face buttons in any random sequence. A more strategic assault could lead to further damage – you'll have to think a little more carefully before taking on boss battles. But for the most part, Valkyrie Profile 2 is without combat restrictions.

What about the combo-stopping move enemies loved to use in the first game: an old-fashioned block? Enemies aren't so quick to use it this time around. When you see the battle screen for the first time you'll understand why. In Valkyrie Profile 2, battle movement is three-dimensional.

All battles are separate from the rest of the game, just as you'd expect. Once an enemy is encountered in the outside world, your party will be transported to a 3D world that is not unlike the first Tomb Raider. These graphics are much more attractive of course. Battle environments are pretty decent in size, giving you plenty of areas to search for and defeat enemies. 

Monsters, you'll quickly discover, are everywhere. They cannot be attacked until your party gets close enough. The same is true for their retaliation. However, some monsters – especially bosses – have a strong list of attacks. In many cases that list includes a range attack. Running away won't do any good because the enemy can still reach your party. If you're lucky there will be a pillar, a wall, or some other environmental barrier that you can hide behind. Otherwise you'll be hit. Dodging attacks is next to impossible. Enemies have the potential to miss, but it's rare.

In one of the more strategic developments, Valkyrie Profile 2 lets you separate party members for individual attacks. This can be confusing and difficult at times but is necessary to win some of the less forgiving battles. Players can split the party in half or group three together and leave the other character to battle alone. This is an effective way to sneak up on distracted and/or oblivious enemies. It allows you to be in two places at the same time, giving enemies who block something to consider. While one of your spell-casters is trying to penetrate the monster's defenses, a sword fighter could move in from another angle and deal some serious damage.

Separating party members is also a way to keep enemies from killing your weakest link. Suppose you've just gotten a new character, and he or she needs to reach a certain level in order to be freed. Unless you backtrack to a previous, less challenging area, the new character might not be strong enough to survive the battles you are currently fighting. This is not normally the case -- new characters typically come in at about the average level of your party. But if you're like me and level up one or two characters above the rest, there could be some discrepancies.

By separating your party, you could put the stronger character (who has more HP) in front to take the brunt of the attacks. This is also true when the characters are joined together as one party. However, the only way to successfully protect a character from long-range attacks is through separation.

Interestingly, when all this happens – when you target an enemy (by getting close and pressing any of the party attack buttons) or vice versa – the game switches to a 2D, side-by-side perspective. The graphics stay where they are. All characters, objects, spells, environments, etc., utilize the best parts of PlayStation 2. But the game keeps that classic, 2D perspective found in the original. It goes back to the third-person view as soon as the attacks finish. If you were the one being hit, then you'll regain control of the situation once your enemy is done dishing damage. 

Get Excited

It's hard to get excited about current-gen graphics when PlayStation 3 is less than two months away. That said, Valkyrie Profile 2 will blow your mind. Every environment (which there are a ton of) is enhanced by an unfathomable level of detail.

The building interiors alone could get your attention. When artificial light isn't being mimicked, the sun leaves eye-catching shadows and a gorgeous glow as it streaks through several windows. And though the game is still a side-scroller outside of combat, the backgrounds have evolved far beyond the static backdrops of the first game. The depth as you move around is extremely impressive. Every background you'll see has this immense depth that makes it appear that you could walk right into them. 

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria lives up to expectations, delivering a mammoth quest of exciting and skillful battles. Fans of the original will be more than pleased, but that shouldn't stop newcomers from diving in. Though not as mainstream as Kingdom Hearts II, Silmeria should not be missed by anyone who likes RPGs.

Gameplay: 8.9
Valkyrie Profile 2 builds on the original’s best features, taking them in a new and exciting direction. As with most recent RPGs, the gameplay outweighs the story. Silmeria’s quest is interesting, no doubt. But the combat is downright addictive, having more combo and strategic possibilities than any other RPG in this nature.

Graphics: 9.5
Jaw-dropping. Heart-stopping. Totally stunning, beautiful, and unrivaled, Valkyrie Profile 2’s realistic visuals are the best PlayStation 2 has seen since the release of Resident Evil 4 last fall.

Sound: 9
Great music and solid voice acting keep Silmeria sounding great at all times.

Difficulty: Medium
More hardcore challenges minus a few of the excruciating moments present in the original.

Concept: 8.3
Silmeria breathes new life into the beloved hardcore RPG, creating an experience that, like the first, is traditional in a non-traditional way. The act of side-scrolling world exploration, 3D enemy hunting, and 2D combo-based combat is unique, addictive, and makes for another fantastic RPG.

Overall: 8.9
Like the first, there aren’t many games in Silmeria’s nature. Namco’s “Tales” series is the closest you’ll get to something similar. But whether you like Tales or the first Valkyrie Profile should not be the deciding factor in choosing to play – or not to play – Silmeria. This is a great game on its own, and if you’ve ever enjoyed a turn-based RPG or strategy game, you would be wise to play Valkyrie Profile 2.